Sen. Rachel Ventura

Mourns the death of John J. Konopek Sr.

Mourns the passing of Ruby Lofton of Bolingbrook.

Mourns the death of Deborah L. "Debbie" Jerisha.

Mourns the death of Paul Leroy Brumbaugh.

Creates the Office of Language Equity and Access Act. Provides that the Office of Language Equity and Access is created in the Governor's Office of New Americans to ensure equitable and meaningful access to State information, services, programs, and activities for persons who have limited English proficiency. Provides that the Director of the Office shall work with State agencies and use available resources within the Office of New Americans and Office of Equity to ensure that, among other things, each State agency takes reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services, programs, and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. Provides that the Office shall have a full-time Director who is bilingual and has experience in serving immigrant populations. Describes the duties and responsibilities of the Director. Provides that there shall be a bilingual employment plan, which would require designations of positions as bilingual and result in the hiring of qualified personnel who are bilingual. Provides that the Director shall comply with specified requirements concerning the need for interpreters and translators. Provides that the Director shall develop a template and mechanism for collecting, storing, and analyzing language access plans.

Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of Illinois Pension Code. Specifies that the provision that requires an employer to make an additional contribution to the System for certain salary increases greater than 6% excludes salary increases necessary to bring a school board in compliance with the changes to the minimum salary provisions of the School Code under the amendatory Act. Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the minimum salary, provides that the minimum salary shall be $50,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, $55,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, and $60,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall certify and publish the minimum salary rate to be used for the 2027-2028 school year (rather than for the 2024-2025 school year) no later than September 30, 2026 (rather than September 30, 2023); makes conforming changes.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that provisions restricting the mailing of postcards or letters under specified circumstances apply to companies not connected to the company from which the recipient has purchased or obtained goods, services, or other merchandise. Provides that postcards or letters sent in compliance with the consumer protections of the Truth in Lending Act or the Truth in Savings Act are deemed to be in compliance with this Section. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2024.

Creates the Second Chance Public Health and Safety Act and amends the Freedom of Information Act, the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Contains declarations and findings. Creates the Department of Returning Resident Affairs and sets forth its powers in relation to returning residents (residents who have been detained, are defendants in criminal prosecutions, are incarcerated, or have been incarcerated) and other matters. Provides that the Department shall develop and administer the Second Chance State Program for returning residents and provides for the establishment of hub sites to provide specified services to eligible individuals and other elements of the Program. Provides for the appointment of a Director of Returning Resident Affairs who has experience working with or for a community-based organization and was incarcerated in an Illinois Department of Corrections facility for not less than one year, as well as an Assistant Director and a General Counsel. Contains provisions regarding other matters. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Expresses support for the United Nations Resolution designating September 21 as "International Day of Peace" and declares September 21 of 2023 and 2024 to be "Day of Peace" in the State of Illinois. Urges the month of September in 2023 and 2024 to be used as a time of renewal, evaluation, and improvement of policies establishing regional peace and nonviolence in perpetuity. Proclaims the State of Illinois to be a Nonviolent State.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that all agency rules establishing procedures for contested cases may include procedures for requesting language assistance. Provides that, in a contested case, all parties shall be afforded an opportunity for an administrative hearing after reasonable notice in the preferred spoken language of the parties, if known by the agency. Provides that notice for the administrative hearings shall include instructions at the top of the notice, written in, at a minimum, English, Spanish, Polish, Gujarati, Urdu, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Tagalog, for assistance in translating the contents of the notice, and a statement written in those languages. Defines "language assistance". Provides that the administrative law judge has the duty to inquire and determine if a participant in the hearing needs language assistance to participate in or understand the hearing. Provides that if an individual for whom English is a second language knows some English, it should not prohibit that individual from being allowed to receive language assistance. Provides that the examination of the individual believed to be in need of language assistance must be done on the record, and the conclusion of the administrative law judge must be stated on the record. Provides that any party or witness has the right to request language assistance to participate in or understand the hearing at any time during the course of the hearing. Creates qualifications for the certification of administrative hearing interpreters.