Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the 2015 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities also carries over to the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year. Provides that, for the 2019 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities also carries over to (i) the surviving spouse of a veteran who did not obtain the exemption before death, but who would have qualified for the exemption in the current taxable year if he or she had survived and (ii) the surviving spouse of a veteran whose death was determined to be service-connected and who is certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being a current recipient of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Provides that, in the case of a surviving spouse who is certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being a current recipient of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, the property is exempt. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Higher Education Veterans Service Act. Requires each public college and university to use its best efforts to hire a veteran of the United States armed forces as the Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services. Provides that the Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services must create and maintain a contact list of all veterans attending the public college or university and may communicate with veterans of the public college or university via email or other electronic means. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 49/15 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/19-1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, provides that, in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, Komarek School District 94, Berkeley School District 87, and Schiller Park School District 81 may issue bonds if the voters of those districts approve a proposition for the bond issuance and certain conditions are met. Provides that the debt incurred on the bonds shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 49/15 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/19-1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, provides that, in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, Greenview Community Unit School District 200, Komarek School District 94, Williamsville Community Unit School District 15, Berkeley School District 87, Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401, Maroa-Forsyth Community Unit School District 2, and Schiller Park School District 81 may issue bonds if the voters of those districts approve a proposition for the bond issuance and certain conditions are met. Provides that the debt incurred on the bonds shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, adds language providing that, in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, Greenview Community Unit School District 200, Williamsville Community Unit School District 15, Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401, and Maroa-Forsyth Community Unit School District 2 may issue bonds if the voters of those districts approve a proposition for the bond issuance and certain conditions are met. Provides that the debt incurred on the bonds shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation. Effective immediately.
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 140/1.1 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 160/2 from Ch. 127, par. 4002 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Public Use Trust Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (currently, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources only) have the power to enter into a trust agreement with a person or group of persons under which the State agency may receive or collect money or other property from the person or group of persons and may expend such money or property solely for a public purpose within the powers and duties of that State agency and stated in the trust agreement. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Toll Bridge Act. Provides that the county board may enter into an agreement establishing a toll rate schedule for a period not to exceed 99 years. Provides that the amendatory Act is declarative of existing law and shall be given retroactive effect. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, a school board shall require its schools to connect at-risk students in need of academic support to either community-based or in-school academic support; defines "at-risk student". Provides that each school district shall inform the parent or guardian of an at-risk student about the community-based or in-school academic support available in that school district or the community in which the school district is located. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, each school district must provide a parent or guardian of an at-risk student information about appropriate and available community-based or in-school academic support services; defines "at-risk student" and specifies what those services may include. Provides that a school district shall not be responsible for any costs or transportation associated with a student's participation in community-based academic support services. Effective July 1, 2020.
Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, each school district must include in each course in its curriculum instruction on speech communication. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/27-23.13 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. With regard to the prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma, provides that a pupil must complete one year chosen from music, art, foreign language, vocational education, or speech (rather than music, art, foreign language, or vocational education). House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/27-22 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1-2 from Ch. 122, par. 1-2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1-2 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1H-115 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-5 105 ILCS 5/2-3.71 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71 105 ILCS 5/10-19 from Ch. 122, par. 10-19 105 ILCS 5/10-19.05 105 ILCS 5/10-20.56 105 ILCS 5/10-30 new 105 ILCS 5/17-2.11 from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.11 105 ILCS 5/17-2A from Ch. 122, par. 17-2A 105 ILCS 5/18-8.15 105 ILCS 5/21B-45 105 ILCS 5/21B-110 new 105 ILCS 5/21B-115 new 105 ILCS 5/22-89 new 105 ILCS 5/24-11 from Ch. 122, par. 24-11 105 ILCS 5/24-12 from Ch. 122, par. 24-12 105 ILCS 5/24A-5 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-5 105 ILCS 5/27-3 from Ch. 122, par. 27-3 105 ILCS 5/27-6.5 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 105 ILCS 5/27-21 from Ch. 122, par. 27-21 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 105 ILCS 5/34-2.1 from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.1 105 ILCS 5/34-2.2 from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.2 105 ILCS 5/34-18.66 new 110 ILCS 152/20 110 ILCS 205/9.39 new 110 ILCS 947/65.100 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that the duration of a Financial Oversight Panel may be continued for more than 10 years after the date of its creation if the State Board of Education extends the Panel's duration. Provides remote learning requirements if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Makes corresponding changes. With respect to the evidence-based funding formula, provides that an organizational unit that meets specified criteria shall have district intervention money added to its base funding minimum. Provides that all Professional Educator Licenses that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021. Provides that certain requirements are waived for an applicant seeking an educator license if the Governor has declared a public health emergency. Provides that any diploma conferred during the 2019-2020 school year under graduation requirements that were modified by an executive order, emergency rulemaking, or school board policy prompted by a gubernatorial disaster proclamation as a result of COVID-19 is deemed valid and is not subject to challenge or review due to a failure to meet requirements. Makes changes concerning local school council elections in the Chicago school district. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act. Provides that Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education courses taken during the public health emergency declared by proclamation of the Governor due to the COVID-19 pandemic during calendar year 2020 must be transferable for students receiving a grade of "pass", "credit", or "satisfactory" and shall fulfill the prerequisite requirements for advanced courses. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to award emergency completion grants and competitive grants for public university student support services. Amends the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program provisions of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the requirement that an applicant have a household income no greater than 6 times the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides that the applicant's household income at the time of initial application shall be deemed to be the household income of the applicant for the duration of the pilot program. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1-2 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1H-115 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-5 105 ILCS 5/2-3.71 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71 105 ILCS 5/2-3.170 105 ILCS 5/10-19 from Ch. 122, par. 10-19 105 ILCS 5/10-19.05 105 ILCS 5/10-20.56 105 ILCS 5/10-21.9 from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.9 105 ILCS 5/10-30 new 105 ILCS 5/14-8.02f 105 ILCS 5/14-8.02h 105 ILCS 5/17-2.11 from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.11 105 ILCS 5/17-2A from Ch. 122, par. 17-2A 105 ILCS 5/18-8.15 105 ILCS 5/21A-5 105 ILCS 5/21A-30 105 ILCS 5/21A-35 105 ILCS 5/21B-20 105 ILCS 5/21B-35 105 ILCS 5/21B-45 105 ILCS 5/21B-50 105 ILCS 5/21B-110 new 105 ILCS 5/21B-115 new 105 ILCS 5/22-89 new 105 ILCS 5/24-11 from Ch. 122, par. 24-11 105 ILCS 5/24-12 from Ch. 122, par. 24-12 105 ILCS 5/24A-5 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-5 105 ILCS 5/27-3 from Ch. 122, par. 27-3 105 ILCS 5/27-6.5 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 105 ILCS 5/27-21 from Ch. 122, par. 27-21 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 105 ILCS 5/34-2.1 from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.1 105 ILCS 5/34-2.2 from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.2 105 ILCS 5/34-18.5 from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.5 105 ILCS 5/34-18.66 new 110 ILCS 152/20 110 ILCS 205/9.39 new 110 ILCS 947/65.100 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that the duration of a Financial Oversight Panel may be continued for more than 10 years after the date of its creation if the State Board of Education extends the Panel's duration. Provides remote and blended remote learning requirements if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Makes corresponding changes. With respect to the evidence-based funding formula, provides that an organizational unit that meets specified criteria shall have district intervention money added to its base funding minimum. Provides that all Professional Educator Licenses that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021. Provides that certain requirements are waived for an applicant seeking an educator license if the Governor has declared a public health emergency. Provides that any diploma conferred during the 2019-2020 school year under graduation requirements that were modified by an executive order, emergency rulemaking, or school board policy prompted by a gubernatorial disaster proclamation as a result of COVID-19 is deemed valid and is not subject to challenge or review due to a failure to meet requirements. Makes changes concerning local school council elections in the Chicago school district. Makes other changes, including changes concerning property tax relief pool grants, criminal history records checks, children with disabilities, new teacher induction and mentoring, and educator licensure. Amends the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act. Provides that Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education courses taken during the public health emergency declared by proclamation of the Governor due to the COVID-19 pandemic during calendar year 2020 must be transferable for students receiving a grade of "pass", "credit", or "satisfactory" and shall fulfill the prerequisite requirements for advanced courses. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to award emergency completion grants and competitive grants for public university student support services. Amends the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program provisions of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the requirement that an applicant have a household income no greater than 6 times the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides that the applicant's household income at the time of initial application shall be deemed to be the household income of the applicant for the duration of the pilot program. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 5 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1-2 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1H-115 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-5 105 ILCS 5/2-3.71 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71 105 ILCS 5/2-3.170 105 ILCS 5/10-19 from Ch. 122, par. 10-19 105 ILCS 5/10-19.05 105 ILCS 5/10-20.56 105 ILCS 5/10-21.9 from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.9 105 ILCS 5/10-30 new 105 ILCS 5/14-8.02f 105 ILCS 5/14-8.02h 105 ILCS 5/17-2.11 from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.11 105 ILCS 5/17-2A from Ch. 122, par. 17-2A 105 ILCS 5/18-8.15 105 ILCS 5/21A-5 105 ILCS 5/21A-30 105 ILCS 5/21A-35 105 ILCS 5/21B-20 105 ILCS 5/21B-35 105 ILCS 5/21B-45 105 ILCS 5/21B-50 105 ILCS 5/21B-110 new 105 ILCS 5/21B-115 new 105 ILCS 5/22-89 new 105 ILCS 5/24-11 from Ch. 122, par. 24-11 105 ILCS 5/24-12 from Ch. 122, par. 24-12 105 ILCS 5/24A-5 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-5 105 ILCS 5/27-3 from Ch. 122, par. 27-3 105 ILCS 5/27-6.5 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 105 ILCS 5/27-21 from Ch. 122, par. 27-21 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 105 ILCS 5/34-2.1 from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.1 105 ILCS 5/34-2.2 from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.2 105 ILCS 5/34-18.5 from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.5 105 ILCS 5/34-18.66 new 105 ILCS 5/34-85 from Ch. 122, par. 34-85 105 ILCS 5/34-85c 110 ILCS 152/20 110 ILCS 205/9.39 new 110 ILCS 947/65.100 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that the duration of a Financial Oversight Panel may be continued for more than 10 years after the date of its creation if the State Board of Education extends the Panel's duration. Provides remote and blended remote learning requirements if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Makes corresponding changes. With respect to the evidence-based funding formula, provides that an organizational unit that meets specified criteria shall have district intervention money added to its base funding minimum. Provides that all Professional Educator Licenses that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021. Provides that certain requirements are waived for an applicant seeking an educator license if the Governor has declared a public health emergency. Provides that any diploma conferred during the 2019-2020 school year under graduation requirements that were modified by an executive order, emergency rulemaking, or school board policy prompted by a gubernatorial disaster proclamation as a result of COVID-19 is deemed valid and is not subject to challenge or review due to a failure to meet requirements. Makes changes concerning local school council elections in the Chicago school district. Makes other changes, including changes concerning property tax relief pool grants, criminal history records checks, children with disabilities, new teacher induction and mentoring, and educator licensure. Amends the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act. Provides that Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education courses taken during the public health emergency declared by proclamation of the Governor due to the COVID-19 pandemic during calendar year 2020 must be transferable for students receiving a grade of "pass", "credit", or "satisfactory" and shall fulfill the prerequisite requirements for advanced courses. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to award emergency completion grants and competitive grants for public university student support services. Amends the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program provisions of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the requirement that an applicant have a household income no greater than 6 times the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides that the applicant's household income at the time of initial application shall be deemed to be the household income of the applicant for the duration of the pilot program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Uniform Act for the Extradition of Persons of Unsound Mind. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 405 ILCS 10/1 Adds reference to: New Act Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Carpet Stewardship Act. Provides that for all carpet sold in this State, producers shall, through a clearinghouse, implement and finance a statewide carpet stewardship program that manages the product by reducing the product's waste generation, promotes its reuse and recycling, and provides for negotiation and execution of agreements to collect, transport, process, and market the product for end-of-life recycling and reuse. Provides that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency must approve the carpet stewardship plan for the plan to be valid. Establishes requirements for review of the plan, carpet stewardship assessments, requirements for producers, retailers, and distributors of carpet. Requires the clearinghouse to submit annual reports to the Agency and pay specified administrative fees. Provides enforcement provisions for the Act. Establishes requirements for State procurement of carpet in the future. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: New Act Adds reference to: 415 ILCS 5/9.18 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides for the phasing out of ethylene oxide emissions by specified entities. Provides that, prior to issuing specified permits, the Environmental Protection Agency shall require submission of documentation demonstrating that the permit applicant is in compliance with laws governing the storage of ethylene oxide. Requires all permits issued by the Agency to grant the Agency the authority to modify them to change storage limitations, modify storage practices or equipment requirements, and grant the Agency the right to conduct unannounced inspections. Requires the Agency to conduct at least one unannounced inspection annually of the ethylene oxide storage system for each permit holder. Provides that owners or operators of ethylene oxide sterilization sources or ethylene oxide emissions sources shall provide the Agency with specified materials within 10 business days after receiving the Agency's conditional acceptance or denials of their plans. Requires entities conducting ethylene oxide sterilization operations to submit a letter to the Agency. Requires the submission or resubmission of a risk management plan to the Agency by specified dates. Requires the Agency to submit and make publicly available a report on or before June 30, 2021. Provides that if multiple applicants request to emit ethylene oxide in a collective sum that is greater than the annual collective maximum regional emissions, the Agency shall prioritize applicants seeking to provide medical services. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately. Pension Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 557, as amended by HA 1, amends the Environmental Protection Act in a manner that does not impact any public pension fund or retirement system in Illinois. State Debt Impact Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 557, as amended by House Amendment 1, would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in Senate Bill 557 (HA #1), therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) The Illinois EPA anticipates accomplishing the mandates of the legislation with existing resources. Judicial Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) Based on a review of the bill, it has been determined that the proposed legislation would neither increase nor decrease the number of judges needed in the State of Illinois. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 415 ILCS 5/9.18 new Adds reference to: 410 ILCS 70/1a from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-1a 410 ILCS 70/1a-1 new 410 ILCS 70/2 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-2 410 ILCS 70/2-1 new 410 ILCS 70/2.05 410 ILCS 70/2.05-1 new 410 ILCS 70/2.06 410 ILCS 70/2.06-1 new 410 ILCS 70/2.1 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-2.1 410 ILCS 70/2.1-1 new 410 ILCS 70/2.2 410 ILCS 70/2.2-1 new 410 ILCS 70/3 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-3 410 ILCS 70/3-1 new 410 ILCS 70/5 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-5 410 ILCS 70/5-1 new 410 ILCS 70/5.1 410 ILCS 70/5.1-1 new 410 ILCS 70/5.2 410 ILCS 70/5.2-1 new 410 ILCS 70/5.3 410 ILCS 70/5.3-1 new 410 ILCS 70/5.5 410 ILCS 70/5.5-1 new 410 ILCS 70/6.1 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-6.1 410 ILCS 70/6.1-1 new 410 ILCS 70/6.2 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-6.2 410 ILCS 70/6.2-1 new 410 ILCS 70/6.4 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-6.4 410 ILCS 70/6.4-1 new 410 ILCS 70/6.5 410 ILCS 70/6.5-1 new 410 ILCS 70/6.6 410 ILCS 70/6.6-1 new 410 ILCS 70/7 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-7 410 ILCS 70/7-1 new 410 ILCS 70/7.5 410 ILCS 70/7.5-1 new 410 ILCS 70/8 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-8 410 ILCS 70/8-1 new 410 ILCS 70/10 410 ILCS 70/10-1 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Provides that an approved federally qualified health center may provide medical forensic services to all sexual assault survivors 13 years old or older who present for medical forensic services in relation to injuries or trauma resulting from a sexual assault during the duration, and 90 days thereafter, of a proclamation issued by the Governor declaring a disaster, or a successive proclamation regarding the same disaster, in all 102 counties due to a public health emergency. Provides that under specified circumstances a federally qualified health center's areawide sexual assault treatment plan must include a procedure for ensuring a sexual assault survivor in need of such medical or surgical services receives the services at the treatment hospital. Requires an approved federally qualified health center to post specified signage at each public entrance to its facility if it is not open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Provides that the changes made by this amendatory Act are repealed on June 30, 2021 and that the unamended versions of the amended sections take effect on and after July 1, 2021. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Mourns the death of Laura M. O'Gorman.
Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that the term "business" means a business that has annual gross sales of less than $150,000,000 (currently, $75,000,000) as evidenced by the federal income tax return of the business.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews group accident and health policies providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness entered into on or after January 1, 2021 shall ensure that the insured have timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Provides that network adequacy standards for timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions must satisfy specified minimum requirements. Provides that if there is no in-network facility or provider available for an insured to receive timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions in accordance with the minimum network adequacy standards, the insurer shall provide necessary exceptions to its network to ensure admission and treatment with a provider or at a treatment facility in accordance with those network adequacy standards. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each qualified teacher is entitled to an income tax credit in an aggregate amount equal to 50% of the tuition costs incurred by that teacher at a public university in the State. Provides that each qualified teacher may take no more than 20% of his or her aggregate credit amount in any taxable year. Provides that the term "qualified teacher" means an individual who (i) graduated from a public university in the State, (ii) is employed as a teacher in this State during the taxable year, and (iii) has been employed as a teacher in the State for at least 5 consecutive years as of the first day of the taxable year. Effective immediately.