Sen. Andrew Chesney

Amends the Wildlife Code. Removes the prohibition on the use of a silencer or other device to muffle or mute the sound of the explosion or report resulting from the firing of any gun. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons when the person knowingly uses, attaches, or possesses with the intent to use or attach any device or attachment of any kind for silencing the report of any handgun, unless the use, attachment, or possession with the intent to use the device or attachment is on the premises of a firing or shooting range; or possesses any device or attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any other firearm if the device or attachment is not possessed in compliance with the National Firearms Act (rather than a person commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons when the person possesses any device or attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm). Provides that a person commits the offense of unlawful sale or delivery of firearms when he or she knowingly transfers or gives a suppressor or silencer to a person not authorized to possess the suppressor or silencer under federal law. Provides that a violation of this provision is a Class 3 felony. Effective immediately.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that each year the Director of Natural Resources may designate that Veterans Day, as federally designated, is a day when sport fishermen may fish waters wholly or in part within the jurisdiction of the State, including the part of Lake Michigan under the jurisdiction of the State, and not be required to obtain a license or stamp. Provides that the amendatory provisions shall not apply to commercial fishing.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that certain penalties regarding the operation of an uninsured motor vehicle apply to any operator of a motor vehicle subject to registration under a law of another state that is similar to the Code.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to $500 for individuals who serve as volunteer emergency workers for or on behalf of a volunteer fire protection association. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Provides that, to qualify for the credit, the volunteer emergency worker may not receive compensation for his or her services of more than $10,000 for the taxable year. Removes provisions concerning volunteer fire protection associations. Makes changes to the definition of "volunteer emergency worker". Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Requires a county clerk or board of election commissioners to cross-check each voter registration roll with the national Change of Address System information gathered by the United States Postal Service to determine if the changed address of each person who has filed a change of address has resulted in the removal of that person from the voting precinct or voting election district in which he or she was enrolled as a voter. Requires the county clerk or board of election commissioners to automatically remove, from each voter registration roll that contains a self-removed person's former address, that person from the voter roll of his or her former precinct or former election district.

Amends the Election Code. Requires the State Board of Elections to create a form to be used by an election authority to remove a voter from its roll. Provides that the county clerk of the county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from an electronic reporting system for death registrations as provided in the Vital Records Act and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who died during the preceding month.

Creates the COVID-19 Religious Exemption Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner because of such person's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to his or her belief. Requires all health care facilities to adopt written access to care and information protocols that are designed to ensure that belief-based objections do not cause impairment of patients' health and that explain how belief-based objections will be addressed in a timely manner to facilitate patient care. Provides that it is unlawful for any public or private employer, entity, agency, institution, official, or person to deny admission because of, to place any reference in its application form concerning, to orally question about, to impose any burdens in terms or conditions of employment on, or to otherwise discriminate against, any applicant, in terms of employment, admission to or participation in any programs for which the applicant is eligible, or to discriminate in relation thereto, in any other manner, on account of the applicant's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination that is against the applicant's beliefs. Provides that it is unlawful for any public official, guardian, agency, institution, or entity to deny any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or to condition the reception in any way of any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or in any other manner to coerce, disqualify, or discriminate against any person, otherwise entitled to such aid, assistance, or benefits, because that person refuses to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to the person's belief. Allows any person injured by any public or private person, association, agency, entity, or corporation by reason of any action prohibited by the Act to bring an action. Provides that a person who brings an action shall recover threefold the actual damages, the costs of the action, and reasonable attorney's fees, but in no case shall recovery for each violation be less than $2,500 plus costs of the action and reasonable attorney's fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that the Invest in Kids credit applies permanently (currently, the credit applies for taxable years ending before January 1, 2023). Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Deletes the mental state of "knowingly" from the elements of the offense of resisting or obstructing a peace officer, firefighter, or correctional institution employee.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to adopt a policy to (i) allow the parent or legal guardian of a child to notify the school principal or a designee in writing that the parent or legal guardian objects to the use of specific course material and (ii) allow the child to use alternative course material. Requires the alternative course material to be provided at the expense of the parent or legal guardian. Requires the content of the alternative course material to be sufficiently equivalent to the specific course material to enable the child to meet State standards in a particular subject area. Effective July 1, 2022.