Sen. Andrew Chesney

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice under the Act to knowingly mail or send a postcard or letter to a recipient in the State if the postcard or letter does not disclose or disclaim any and all affiliations or lack thereof. Provides that all disclosures and disclaimers appearing on a postcard or letter must be conspicuously located at the top of the postcard or letter, be easily readable in clear and unambiguous language, and be printed in at least 14-point bold-face font in a black-outlined box. Prohibits mail that requests that the recipient contact the sender by mail, telephone, email, website, or other prescribed means without specified disclosure requirements. Makes other changes.

Creates the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force Act. Creates the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall develop a statewide plan to connect existing local projects and new projects to create a cohesive statewide history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois while creating new educational and tourism opportunities for the State. Establishes the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative and technical support to the Task Force. Provides that all members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the Task Force shall review available research, existing infrastructure and projects, best practices, and effective interventions to formulate recommendations. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report detailing the Task Force's findings and recommendations and needed resources. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before July 1, 2024. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2025.

Supports the "I-55 Managed Lane Project" and IDOT's efforts to pursue the project as a P3.

Designates the portion of Alpine Road from Harlem Road to Illinois Route 73 as the "CPL Nathan Carlson Memorial Highway".

Designates Illinois Route 140 as it travels through Meadowbrook as the "Cpl. Tommy N. Miller Memorial Highway".

Amends the Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois and the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Provides that "fireworks" and "consumer fireworks" do not include handheld or ground-based sparklers that are nonexplosive and nonaerial, sometimes producing a crackling or whistling effect, and containing 75 grams or less of pyrotechnic composition per tube or a total of 500 grams or less for multiple tubes (rather than only sparklers) or wood stick or wire sparklers containing not more than 100 grams of pyrotechnic mixture per item. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, a public school may obtain crisis response mapping data and provide copies of the crisis response mapping data to appropriate local, county, State, and federal first responders for use in response to emergencies. Provides that the crisis response mapping data shall be stored and provided in an electronic or digital format to assist first responders in responding to emergencies at the school. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall provide grants to public schools to cover the costs incurred in obtaining crisis response mapping data. Sets forth requirements for the crisis response mapping data. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the crisis response mapping data may be reviewed annually to update the data as necessary. Effective immediately.

Recognizes the accomplishments of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in increasing opportunities for women and girls in all facets of education. Recognizes the magnificent accomplishments of women and girls in sports, as well as the need to continue pursuing the goal of Title IX.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Adds to the definition of "brownfield site photovoltaic project", photovoltaics that meet the criteria that the project is interconnected to an electric utility, a municipal utility, a public utility as defined in the Public Utilities Act, or an electric cooperative as defined in the Public Utilities Act and is located on any part of the site, and within the property boundaries, of a coal-fueled electric generating plant in this State that was retired as of January 1, 2023, or that the generating plant owner commits to retire prior to the commercial operation date of the project. In provisions concerning renewable energy credits from new projects in the long-term renewable resources procurement plan, the Agency shall procure 55% from photovoltaic projects where at least 44% (rather than 47%) are from utility-scale solar projects and at least 3% are from projects that meet specified criteria. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2024 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $4.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage as defined in by the Department of Human Services. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for ID/DD facilities and MC/DD facilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2024 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $4.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage as defined in rule by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services emergency rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.