Sen. Dave Koehler

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning grant award amounts and required local matches, provides that the required local match and grant award amount are calculated by multiplying the required local match percentage and the grant award percentage by the recognized project cost, provided that, for the first application in which an applicant is funded (instead of only during the first application cycle after June 30, 2022), the amounts may be adjusted. Provides that to receive an adjustment, a school district on the 2004, 2005, or 2006 School Construction Grant List must initially apply and be approved during the first 3 application cycles after June 30, 2024. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Revenue, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall conduct a study to evaluate the property tax system in the State. Provides that the Department may also determine whether the existing property tax levy, assessment, appeal, and collection process is reasonable and fair and may issue recommendations to improve that process.

Creates the Responsible Outdoor Lighting Control Act. Includes legislative findings. Defines terms. Provides that all new, renovated, or retrofitted luminaires purchased with State funds after the effective date of the Act or installed after the effective date of the Act on a structure or land that is owned, supported, funded, leased, or managed by the State must follow specified outdoor lighting control requirements. Includes various exceptions to compliance. Allows the Attorney General, a municipality, or a county to enforce the Act by filing an action for injunctive relief in a circuit court. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall make available a resource guide for the public to add lighting to homes and businesses consistent with the requirements for luminaires on a structure or land that is owned, supported, funded, leased, or managed by the State under the Act, and provides that the guide must include references to publicly accessible websites of advocacy groups approved by the State that provide education, guidance, and specifications relating to the implementation of responsible lighting principles. Provides that, if the Act conflicts with any other federal law, State law, or local ordinance controlling lighting, outdoor luminaries, signage, outdoor advertising, displays, or devices that is more stringent than the Act, then the federal law, State law, or local ordinance controls to the extent it is more stringent than the Act. Effective 60 days after becoming law.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions allowing a county board to borrow money for any corporate purpose from any bank or other financial institution under specified conditions, modifies the definition of "financial institution" to include the Illinois Finance Authority.

Creates the Strengthening Community Media Act. Provides that a State agency shall direct at least 50% of its total spending on advertising to local news organization publications. Sets forth exceptions and reporting requirements. Provides that a local news organization shall not be sold to an out-of-state company without giving written notice 120 days before the sales occurs to specified individuals and organizations. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer that is an eligible news journalist employer shall be allowed a credit against the Personal Property Tax Replacement Income Tax for each qualified journalist hired by the eligible news journalist employer during the taxable year. Provides that an eligible news journalist employer is entitled to a credit against taxes in an amount equal to 50% of the wages paid for up to 150 qualified journalists. Provides that an eligible small business is entitled to a credit against taxes in an amount equal to the amount paid by the eligible small business to local newspapers or broadcasters for advertising in the State. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the Journalism Student Scholarship Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award scholarships to students who will work at a local news organization in the State for a period of not less than 2 years.

Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. Provides that a credit union regulated by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation that is a covered financial institution under the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act shall pay an examination fee to the Department subject to the rules adopted by the Department. Provides that the aggregate of all credit union examination fees collected by the Department under the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act shall be paid and transferred promptly, accompanied by a detailed statement, into the State Treasury and shall be set apart in the Credit Union Community Reinvestment Act Fund. Provides the limits to the amounts of funds that a credit union may invest in the purchase of an investment interest in a pool of loans when the investment is greater than the net worth of the credit union. Provides that credit unions may invest funds in derivatives transactions to aid in the credit union's management of interest rate risk if certain specified conditions are satisfied. Makes changes to provisions concerning conflicts between bylaws adopted by the subscribers of a credit union and the Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning rules adopted by the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Act. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Credit Union Community Reinvestment Act Fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Portable Battery Stewardship Act. Requires those who sell or distribute covered batteries or battery-containing products in the State to implement and participate in a battery stewardship plan. Details the role of retailers in the State and stewardship plan components. States goals for the stewardship program. Provides for funding of the program. Provides requirements for the collection and management of batteries covered by this Act. Details the education and outreach requirements of the program. Outlines the Agency's role. Details the penalties for violations of the Act. Details requirements for the marking, disposal, and collection of batteries covered by this Act. Provides for the collection of batteries independent of a battery stewardship program. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who is convicted of obscene depiction of a purported child is ineligible to receive a school bus driver permit. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that "child pornography" includes the depiction of a part of an actual child under 18 who by manipulation, creation, or modification, appears to be engaged in sexual activity. Creates the offenses of obscene depiction of a purported child and non-consensual dissemination of sexually explicit digitized depictions. Defines offenses and provides criminal penalties for violations. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides for the forfeiture to the State: (1) of any profits or proceeds and any property the person has acquired or maintained in violation of those offenses; (2) any interest in, securities of, claim against, or property or contractual right of any kind affording a source of influence over any enterprise that the person has established, operated, controlled, or conducted in violation of those offenses; and (3) any computer that contains an obscene depiction of a purported child. Amends the Bill of Rights for Children. Provides that under certain conditions, the parent or legal guardian of a child who is the victim of obscene depiction of a purported child may make a victim's impact statement on the impact which the defendant's criminal conduct or the juvenile's delinquent conduct has had upon the child. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a period of probation, a term of periodic imprisonment, or conditional discharge shall not be imposed for specified violations of the offense of obscene depiction of a purported child. Provides for enhanced penalties for specified violations of obscene depiction of a purported child. Provides that the court shall impose a consecutive sentence when the defendant is convicted of specified violations of the offense of obscene depiction of a purported child. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act to provide that a person convicted of obscene depiction of a purported child must register as a sex offender.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that an employer is responsible for harassment and sexual harassment of its employees by the employer's nonmanagerial and nonsupervisory employees, nonemployees, and third parties only if the employer becomes aware of the conduct and fails to take reasonable corrective measures. Changes the definition of "real estate transaction" to include any act that otherwise makes available such a transaction or alters a person's right to real property. Makes it a civil rights violation in a real estate transaction to: make unavailable or deny real property to discriminate in making available such a transaction; or use criteria or methods that have the effect of subjecting individuals to unlawful discrimination or discrimination based on familial status, immigration status, source of income, or an arrest record in a real estate transaction. Provides that an aggrieved party may take action to collect on a judicial order issued by the Circuit Court in an action initiated by the State, regardless of whether or not the aggrieved party intervened in an enforcement action of a Human Rights Commission order. Provides that, in imposing a penalty based on a real estate transaction violation, the Commission may order a respondent to pay a civil penalty per violation to vindicate the public interest, and in imposing a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest, a separate penalty may be imposed for each specific act constituting a civil rights violation and for each aggrieved party injured by the civil rights violation. Deletes language authorizing each commissioner of the Human Rights Commission to hire a staff attorney. Repeals language regarding the collection of information concerning employment discrimination in relation to persons affected by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Makes other changes.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that a municipality or park district may authorize and regulate the operation of low-speed electric scooters within the unit of local government on any or all highways, sidewalks, trails, or other public right of way where the operation of bicycles are permitted (rather than a person may operate a low-speed electric scooter where the operation of bicycles are permitted, including, but not limited to, bicycle lanes and bicycle paths, and shall have all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the rider of a bicycle under the Code, except in specified situations). Provides that the use of low-speed electric scooters within any municipality or park district is allowed only if authorized by the municipality or park district. Provides that an authorization or regulation by a county or park district shall apply only in the unincorporated area of that county or on park district property. Provides that a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter on a highway with a posted speed limit in excess of 35 mph (rather than a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter without a driver's license, instruction permit, or State identification card). Provides that a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter unless he or she is 16 (rather than 18) years of age or older. Provides that a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter while carrying any package, bundle, or article that prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars. Removes provisions from the introduced bill concerning vehicles and motor vehicles. Removes language from the introduced bill providing that an entity may not operate a low-speed electric scooter business within a municipality unless the municipality authorizes the operation of low-speed electric scooters within the municipal limits. Adds provisions relating to use of low-speed electric scooters, low-speed electric scooters in rights-of-way, and operation of low-speed electric scooters under the influence of alcohol or any drug. Exempts low-speed electric scooters from title, registration, and driver's licenses requirements. Effective immediately.