Sen. Doris Turner

Amends the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act. Provides that every employer covered under the Act shall permit an employee or an employee's family or household member who is a victim or alleged victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence to utilize for personal use an employer-provided electronic device to document or communicate an act of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence committed against the employee or the employee's family or household member. Requires employers to grant an employee who is a victim or alleged victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence or an employee who has a family or household member who is a victim or alleged victim or domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence access to any photographs, voice or video recordings, sound recordings, or any other digital documents or communications stored on an employer-provided electronic device issued to the employee whenever such photographs, voice or video recordings, sound recordings, or other digital documents or communications are needed by the employee or the employee's family or household member during a criminal action or proceeding to establish or support an allegation of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence. Provides that, if an employee is seriously injured or incapacitated, the employer shall grant access to the described materials to a family or household member of the employee who requests access from the employer and whose interests are not adverse to the employee as it relates to the domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or other crime of violence. Provides that every employer covered by the Act shall post and keep posted, in conspicuous places where employees are employed, a notice, to be prepared or approved by the Director of Labor, explaining these provisions. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 710 makes a technical change to the Illinois Financial Services Development Act. Specifically, it amends a section related to the short title of the act. This bill does not introduce new policies or directly affect specific groups, but rather updates existing legislative language.

Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Defines "acute sexual assault" as a sexual assault that has recently occurred within a specified time. Replaces various references to "sexual assault" with "acute sexual assault". Deletes the definition of "prepubescent sexual assault survivor". Changes provisions regarding hospitals located in counties with a population of less than 1,000,000 and within a 20-mile radius of a 4-year public university with respect to a sexual assault treatment plan approved by the Department of Public Health. Makes changes in various provisions concerning plans of correction and penalties for hospitals that commit specified violations of the Act. In provisions regarding requirements for medical forensic services, provides that the provisions of the Act are not intended to prohibit a qualified medical provider from offering an Illinois Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit to a sexual assault survivor who presents at a treatment hospital or approved pediatric health care facility with a nonacute complaint of sexual assault if there is a compelling reason for evidence collection, or upon the request of the survivor. In provisions regarding the prohibition on billing sexual assault survivors directly for certain services, changes references to the Office of the Attorney General to references to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the MC/DD Act, the ID/DD Community Care Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the administrator of a facility or establishment under any of those Acts shall ensure that the facility or establishment has an automated external defibrillator and policies and procedures for the rendering of automated external defibrillation in the facility or establishment. Provides course requirements for persons certified to provide automated external defibrillation. Provides that a facility or establishment shall contract with or employ a physician who shall be the automated external defibrillation medical director for the facility or establishment and who shall oversee and coordinate specified requirements.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, no Later than July 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall create educational materials that shall be posted publicly on its website and distributed to all school districts in the State that serve any grades kindergarten through 8 on the implementation of American Sign Language instruction into a school's curriculum. Includes a list of educational materials. Allows the State Board to receive assistance from outside organizations, State agencies, or individuals with expertise in American Sign Language that the State Board deems appropriate to assist with the creation of the education materials.

Amends the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Modifies legislative findings. Provides that "facility" includes stadiums, arenas, or other structures for the holding of athletic contests and other events and gatherings, including, without limitation, professional women's sports. Provides that a person may not, on the basis of sex, be prohibited from participating in or receiving any of the benefits of programs or activities at facilities funded under the Act, including facilities established or supported by bonds issued under the Act. Requires the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to report to the Governor and the General Assembly on any male or female professional sports projects brought to the Authority by a professional sports team in the State. Provides that the Authority shall notify the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, and Minority Leader of the Senate of the proposal within 2 weeks of receiving a formal request or inquiry. Provides that, before the General Assembly authorizes the issuance of additional bonds under the Act to fund facilities for professional men's sports teams, each chamber of the General Assembly may hold a hearing to publicly review any proposal submitted to the Authority. Repeals provisions relating to a dissolved advisory board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the definition of "public works" includes all federal construction projects administered or controlled by a public body if the prevailing rate of wages is equal to or greater than the prevailing wage determination by the United States Secretary of Labor for the same locality for the same type of construction used to classify the federal construction project. Makes a conforming change. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that no law enforcement agency shall make an offer of employment for the position of probationary police officer, probationary part-time police officer, full-time law enforcement officer, or part-time law enforcement officer without requiring the execution of a signed release from the applicant, directing any and all entities that previously employed the individual to produce or make available for inspection all employment records, including background investigation materials collected in connection with making an offer of employment, duty-related physical and psychological fitness-for-duty examinations, work performance records, criminal, civil, or administrative investigations of conduct, arrests, convictions, findings of guilt, pleas of guilty, or pleas of nolo contendere. Provides that, with specified exceptions, all records shall be produced without any redaction and no nondisclosure, separation, or settlement agreement shall prevent the production of these records. Provides that the provisions do not apply to the extent that they would impair an existing collective bargaining agreement. Sets forth provisions concerning: (i) the procedures for requesting employment records; (ii) the deadlines for providing the records; (iii) the penalties for failing to produce the records in accordance with the provisions; and (iv) an example of an acceptable release form. Requires the receipt of a written release for an entity to have immunity for the release of information. Makes other changes to immunity-related provisions. Amends the Sheriff's Merit System Law of the Counties Code. Provides that the county board of any county having a population of at least 75,000 must adopt and implement, by ordinance, the merit system provided by the Sheriff's Merit System Law. Provides that the county board of any county having a population of less than 75,000 (rather than 1,000,000) which does not have a merit board or merit commission for sheriff's personnel may adopt and implement, by ordinance, the merit system provided by the Sheriff's Merit System Law. Makes other and conforming changes.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice for any seller of accident insurance or health insurance to solicit individuals who are residents of a nursing home or long-term care facility or individuals who are over the age of 65, unless the seller: (1) does not require a purchasing decision in the first communication to the potential enrollee; (2) advises the potential enrollee of the benefit of examining the potential enrollee's current insurance plan and discussing any changes with a family member, friend, or other advisor before making any decisions; (3) provides a phone number that may be called if the potential enrollee or the potential enrollee's family members, friends, or other advisors have any questions; and (4) allows the potential enrollee to opt out of any future communications with the seller. Provides that it is also an unlawful practice for any seller or provider of accident insurance or health insurance to enter into or amend an insurance policy with a person who: (1) is over the age of 65 and who has executed a power of attorney to give another person authority over medical decisions; or (2) has a medical condition, such as dementia, that would reduce the person's capacity to make informed decisions independently. Provides that the provision does not apply to a new insurance policy or an amendment to an insurance policy that is agreed to by a person with a lawfully executed power of attorney relating to the enrollee or potential enrollee's health or financial matters.

Creates the Farmland Transition Commission Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall establish a Farmland Transition Commission to examine current barriers individuals ages 21 through 40 face when trying to purchase or access farmland, review current incentives and policies to encourage the transfer of farmland to current or prospective farmers between the ages of 21 through 40, and to make recommendations on possible incentives or policies to assist these individuals in purchasing or accessing farmland. Specifies membership of the Commission. Provides that Commission members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Commission shall meet at least on a quarterly basis. Provides that the Commission shall file a report annually with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1 of each year on its recommendations for possible incentives to assist young farmers between the ages of 21 and 40 in acquiring access to farmland in the State. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission as needed. Provides that the Commission is dissolved and this provision is repealed on December 31, 2031.