Designates Interstate 57 as it travels from Pesotum to Champaign as the "ISP Special Agent V. Lee Bensyl Memorial Highway. Rescinds the directive in Senate Joint Resolution 16 of the 102nd General Assembly that designates Illinois State Route 51 in Oconee after Special Agent Bensyl.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "autonomous vehicle" as a motor vehicle that possesses the capability (enabled or not) for automated functions to control movement of the vehicle along 2 axes of direction simultaneously. Provides that, before selling or continuing to operate a new or used autonomous vehicle in this State and before updating the software or hardware of any automated driving system on such a vehicle, a manufacturer shall submit to the Department of Transportation documentation regarding the level of driving automation, along with a filing fee in an amount to be determined by the Department. Provides that the Department shall assemble an Automated Driving Systems Review Committee to evaluate submitted documentation and make determinations concerning the level of automated driving capabilities and the suitability of the vehicle for operation on public roads. Provides that an autonomous vehicle classified as having Level 2 Driving Automation may be sold to consumers and registered for use. Provides that the owner of the automated vehicle shall file an annual report with the Department of Transportation stating the number of miles driven per year, the estimated number of miles driven using equipped automated driving systems, and any collisions that occurred involving the vehicle. Prohibits the sale or operation of autonomous vehicles classified as having Level 3, 4, or 5 Driving Automation. Provides that a resident may file a request for the Automated Driving Systems Review Committee to review an existing vehicle sold or registered in this State, and that the Secretary of State shall receive and investigate complaints of a dealer selling a vehicle prohibited for sale under the new provisions. Provides that a person who operates a prohibited vehicle is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and that such a vehicle is subject to impoundment. Provides penalties for the unauthorized sale or modification of an autonomous vehicle.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a Life Skills Reentry Center for Women. Provides that the Life Skills Reentry Center for Women shall build valuable life skills and prepare women committed persons for reentry into society while maintaining safety and security. Provides that the Center shall focus on committed persons who are ready to make needed changes in order to successfully reintegrate into their community upon release from the custody of the Department of Corrections. Provides that the Center shall offer educational, job readiness, and cognitive behavior therapy courses to women committed persons who have one to 4 years remaining on their sentence and qualify for placement at the Center. Provides that the Chief Administrator for the Women's Division of the Department of Corrections shall determine eligibility of women committed persons for the program and shall assign eligible committed persons to the Center based upon the conduct of the women committed at other correctional institutions, their desire to rehabilitate, and the likelihood of their non-recidivism. Provides that the programs offered at the Center include: prevocational and reentry related life skills, adult basic education, high school equivalency courses, literacy courses, creative writing courses, training for vocations, including welding, manufacturing, restaurant management, and custodial maintenance. Provides that women assigned to the Center may participate in Alcoholics Anonymous, other 12-step programs for recovery from alcoholism or substance use disorder, worship and chaplaincy services, religious studies, family days, job partnership programs, substance use disorder therapy programs, critical thinking, cultural self-awareness programs, and various mental health services, including art therapy.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a specialized educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who is employed in a teaching position at an accredited institution of higher education in this State that has officially announced its intent to cease all academic programming at the time the announcement was officially made or was employed in a teaching position at an accredited institution of higher education in this State that has ceased all academic programming within 5 years prior to or on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, meets specified criteria. Provides that the specialized educator endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed. Provides that the holder of a specialized educator endorsement shall be permitted to teach in the content area in which he or she previously taught at the accredited institution of higher education. Effective immediately.
Creates the Adult Content Age Verification Act. Defines terms. Provides that a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors shall be subject to civil penalties if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material. Provides that the Attorney General may investigate alleged violations and initiate a civil action for an injunction and to assess civil penalties. Provides that the civil penalties shall be deposited into the Cyber Exploitation of Children Fund, which shall be expended for the investigation of cybercrimes involving the exploitation of children and for no other purpose. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for disqualification for licensure or suspension or revocation of a license, includes the sex offense of abuse by an educator or authority figure under the definition of "sex or other offense". Amends the Sex Offenses Article of Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits abuse by an educator or authority figure if that person holds a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to a student in a school, the student is at least 18 years of age, the person is at least 4 years older than the student, and the person either (1) commits an act of sexual conduct with the student or (2) commits an act of sexual penetration with the student. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure is a Class 3 felony for the first offense and a Class 2 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that consent of the victim is not a defense to abuse by an educator or authority figure. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Includes abuse by an educator or authority figure under the definitions of "sex offense" and "sexual predator".
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning Substitute Teaching Licenses, requires an applicant who is enrolled in an approved educator preparation program to have either earned at least 75 credit hours or completed 3 semesters in an educator preparation program (rather than requiring the applicant to have earned at least 90 credit hours). Provides that a school district may not require an individual who retired within the last 5 years while holding a valid Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher if substitute teaching for no more than one year. Provides that a retired educator may not be charged an application fee for a Substitute Teaching License if certain conditions are met.
Amends the Coroner Division of the Counties Code. In provisions regarding preliminary investigations where a drug overdose is determined to be the cause or a contributing factor in a death, modifies the definition of "overdose" to exclude death caused by fentanyl, which shall be considered poisoning. Provides that, in every case in which fentanyl is determined to be the cause or a contributing factor in the death, the coroner or medical examiner shall report the death to the Department of Public Health as "fentanyl poisoning". Provides that, in the monthly report of overdose deaths, the Department shall also report on fentanyl poisoning deaths.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning participation in the Fund by a person who holds an elective office, provides that a person who holds an elective office and has not elected to participate in the Fund with respect to that office shall not be disqualified from receiving service credit for service in that elected office as long as the member participated in a non-elected position with the employer for which the member is now an elected official; the employer has continued to make member contributions for that period of service; and there is no gap in service credit between the 2 positions. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
Creates the Counseling Compact Act. Provides that the State of Illinois enters into the Counseling Compact. Specifies that the Compact's purpose is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services. Sets out provisions concerning the privilege to practice, obtaining a new home state license, active duty military personnel, telehealth, adverse actions, Counseling Compact Commission, data systems, rulemaking, oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement. Contains other provisions concerning the Commission, the Compact, and the procedures governing participating in and construction of the Compact. Amends the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. Requires the Professional Counselor Licensing and Disciplinary Board to submit a report to the General Assembly with recommendations of any statutory changes and budgetary changes needed to comply with the requirements of the Counseling Compact. Requires the Board and Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to modify, if needed, Board and Department rules to comply with the requirements of the Counseling Compact. Provides that the changes to the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act are effective immediately.
