Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel

Amends the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article of the School Code. Provides that in a teacher evaluation plan, teachers who are due to be evaluated the year they are set to retire shall be offered the opportunity to waive their evaluation and to retain their most recent rating, unless the teacher was last rated as "needs improvement" or "unsatisfactory". Provides that the school district may still reserve the right to evaluate a retired teacher provided the district gives notice to the retired teacher at least 14 days before the evaluation and a reason for evaluating the retired teacher. Effective immediately.

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 Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2025.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, when hiring physical education, music, and visual arts educators, school districts must prioritize the hiring of educators who hold a teaching license and endorsement in those content areas. Provides that, if a school district is unable to hire a qualified candidate, the district may then hire a candidate who holds a valid professional educator license on a short-term basis. Provides that the professional educator license applicant must pass the content area test for which they are assigned to teach within one calendar year of the employment start date. Provides that, in order to retain employment for subsequent school years, the employee must complete 18 hours of course work in the content area in which they are teaching within 3 calendar years of their employment start date. Provides that in case of a reduction in force, districts may follow their local contract language for filling positions.

Creates the Dog Breed Insurance Underwriting Protection Act. Provides that with respect to homeowner's insurance policies and renter's insurance policies issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after the effective date of the Act, no insurer shall refuse to issue or renew, cancel, or charge or impose an increased premium or rate for a policy or contract, or exclude, limit, restrict, or reduce coverage under a policy or contract based solely upon harboring or owning any dog of a specific breed or mixture of breeds. Provides that with respect to homeowner's insurance policies and renter's insurance policies issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after the effective date of the Act, the provisions shall not prohibit an insurer from refusing to issue or renew or from cancelling a contract or policy nor from imposing a reasonably increased premium or rate for a policy or contract based upon the designation of a dog of any breed or mixture of breeds as a dangerous dog based on sound underwriting and actuarial principles reasonably related to actual or anticipated loss experience. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall have the authority to adopt rules that are not inconsistent with and that are necessary to administer and enforce the provisions. Effective 6 months after becoming law.

Amends the Early Mental Health and Addictions Treatment Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to implement a 2-year pilot program to provide FDA-approved 8-milligram naloxone nasal spray kits to licensed community substance use providers and public health departments in Cook County, DuPage County, Winnebago County, Sangamon County, and St. Clair County. Requires the Department to implement a data collection program to determine the number of 8-milligram naloxone nasal spray kits administered by emergency medical service providers and bystanders per overdose incident during the 2-year term of the pilot program. Provides that the data collected must also include the number of overdose reversals and deaths following the administration of the 8-milligram naloxone nasal spray. Requires the Department to prepare a report on the results of the 2-year pilot program and submit the report to the General Assembly by July 1, 2026. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board may investigate complaints concerning drone use by a law enforcement agency. Provides that if a pattern of willful and wanton violations is confirmed, the law enforcement agency shall take actions to prevent future violations through specified means. Provides that if the agency fails to take actions to address the violations and prevent future violations from occurring, then the Board may restrict the agency's ability to use its drones for a period not to exceed 3 months per incident. Amends the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Drones as First Responders Act. Defines "permitted special event". Adds various exemptions allowing the use of drones. Permits records of drone usage, including flight path data, metadata, or telemetry information of specific flights, to be disclosed subject to the Freedom of Information Act and rules adopted under that Act. Provides that the information relating to infrastructure inspections conducted at the request of a local governmental agency may be disclosed to that local governmental agency or, in the case of traffic and parking evaluations conducted at school, it may also be disclosed to the school or any engineering staff involved in the process. Provides that nothing in the Act prevents the disclosure of information through a court order or subpoena in connection with a criminal proceeding or if the disclosure is in regard to a completed traffic crash investigation. Changes drone usage reporting requirements of law enforcement agencies to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Makes other changes, and amends the School Code to make conforming changes. Provides that a drone may not be used over a school unless the parents are notified by a principal or administrator prior to the use of the drone.

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.

Urges the Illinois Department of Transportation and the High Speed Railroad Commission to move expeditiously in preparing a Statewide Integrated Network Plan, including the identification of desired service points and key transfer stations, the construction of a theoretical rail and bus schedule with timed transfers, the creation of a ridership and revenue model for the desired network, the estimation of needed infrastructure investments, and the development of a phased implementation plan.

Amends the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may certify 2 additional pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zones, including one in the City of Joliet and one in the City of Kankakee. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Recruiting & Retaining Public Employee Firefighters and Paramedics Task Force to study the recruitment and retainment of firefighters and paramedics throughout the State and suggest possible policies and legislation to aid local governments.