Sen. Lakesia Collins

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2024-2025 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2025-2026 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision requiring workers to be appropriately trained to provide services under the Community Care Program, provides that only training curriculum approved by the Department on Aging may be used to fulfill training requirements for workers who provide in-home services. Requires the curriculum to consist of 24 hours of pre-service training and 12 hours of annual in-service training. Provides that the Department shall only approve training curriculum that (i) has been developed with input from consumer and worker representatives, and (ii) requires comprehensive instruction by qualified instructors on the required competencies and training topics. Provides that changes to the competencies, curriculum topics, or instructor qualifications shall be made only with input and approval of the Home Care Worker Training Subcommittee of the Community Care Program Advisory Committee. Provides that no person may perform in-home services under a program authorized under the Act unless that person has received pre-service training and remains current on his or her annual in-service training. Provides that pre-service training hours and in-service training hours shall be paid at the worker's regular rate of pay. Provides that starting no later than July 1, 2024, workers who have met the requirements to perform in-home services and the records of trainings they have completed shall be placed on the Health Care Worker Registry maintained by the Department of Public Health. Creates the Home Care Worker Training Subcommittee within the Community Care Program Advisory Committee. Provides that the purpose of the Subcommittee is to address the challenges of recruiting, training, and retaining the home care workforce needed to meet growing demand. Sets forth the Subcommittee's membership and its responsibilities. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Oscar Lawton Wilkerson Jr. of Markham.

Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Changes the definition of "physician assistant", "physician assistant practice", "board", and "collaborating physician". Removes the definition of "disciplinary board" and changes references from the "disciplinary board" to the Illinois State Medical Board throughout the Act. Provides that a physician assistant shall be deemed by law to possess the ability to prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices without delegation of such authority by a physician. Provides that such ability shall include prescribing of Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances. Provides that to prescribe Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances under the Act, a physician assistant shall obtain a mid-level practitioner controlled substances licenses. Provides that when a written collaboration agreement is required under the Act, delegation of prescriptive authority by a physician is not required. Provides that a physician assistant who files with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training and at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification shall not require a written collaborative agreement. Provides the specified scope of practice of a physician assistant with optimal practice authority. Provides that a physician assistant shall be able to hold more than one professional position. Makes changes in provisions concerning the physician assistant title, collaboration requirements, and the written collaborative agreement. Makes other changes and corresponding changes to the Act and to the Illinois Controlled Substances Act.

Declares the week of March 12 through March 18, 2023 as Illinois Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. Declares March 18, 2023 as Illinois Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day. Encourages municipalities, media organizations, and residents to participate in Illinois Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week and Day. Recognizes those living with MS, their families, and the healthcare professionals and medical researchers who provide assistance to those affected by MS.

Amends the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act. Removes all references to and the definition of "small employer". Provides that the Act applies to employers with at least one employee (rather than employers with fewer than 25 employees). Requires the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Board to (i) establish annual automatic increases to the contribution rates and (ii) verify employee eligibility for auto-enrollment in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and applicable federal and State laws. Makes changes regarding penalties for employers who fail, without reasonable cause, to enroll an employee in the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program (Program). Provides that, for purposes of the penalties, the Department of Revenue shall determine total employee count for employers using the annual average from employer-reported quarterly data. Provides that the Department may provide notice regarding penalties in an electronic format to be determined by the Department. Removes a provision authorizing the Department to implement the penalties 9 months after the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Board notifies the Director of Revenue that the Program has been implemented. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Act applies to employers with at least 5 employees, rather than at least one employee. (Current law applies to employers with fewer than 25 employees.) Provides that a small employer is an employer that employed less than 5 employees during any quarter of the previous calendar year, rather than less than 25 employees at any one time throughout the previous calendar year. Provides enrollment deadlines. Provides that small employers may, but are not required to, establish payroll deduction arrangements for retirement savings arrangements. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 820 ILCS 80/5 820 ILCS 80/30 820 ILCS 80/60 820 ILCS 80/85 Adds reference to: 820 ILCS 115/15 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-15 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 208, as amended by HA 3, will not impact any public pension fund or retirement system in the State of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 0208, as amended by House Amendment 3, would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Balanced Budget Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to Senate Bill 208, as amended by House Amendment 3, as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in Senate Bill 208, House Amendment #3; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Housing Affordability Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Correctional Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Dept of Corrections) Corrections Population Impact: None; Fiscal Impact: $68,984,327 over a ten-year period House Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 820 ILCS 115/15 Adds reference to: New Act 30 ILCS 105/5.990 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Requires employers to provide paid leave to employees for any purpose. Sets forth provisions regarding employer responsibilities, unlawful employer practices, and other matters. Provides that an employee who works in this State is entitled to earn and use a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave during a 12-month period. Makes it unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain, deny, change scheduled work days or hours to avoid paid leave, or discipline an employee for the exercise of any right under the Act. Authorizes the Department of Labor to administer and enforce the Act. Provides for the imposition of civil penalties. Authorizes individuals to file civil actions with respect to violations. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Paid Leave for All Workers Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective January 1, 2024

Amends the School Code. Deletes provisions requiring that the Board of Education shall, by November 15, adopt an annual budget for the use of education moneys for the next school year which it deems necessary to defray all necessary expenses and liabilities of the district, what the budget shall include, and that, before adoption, the budget shall be submitted to the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Education for incorporation. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Deletes a provision that permits a guilty minor to be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice for an offense that is a Class 3 or Class 4 felony violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act if the commitment occurs upon a third or subsequent judicial finding of a violation of probation for substantial noncompliance with court-ordered treatment or programming. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, upon the discharge of a youth, the Department of Juvenile Justice may continue to provide services to the youth for up to 12 months to allow the youth to participate in vocational, rehabilitative, or supportive programs. Provides that the continuance of services may be requested by the youth, the youth's parent or guardian, or the Director of Juvenile Justice. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Defines "pharmacy desert". Requires the Department of Public Health to provide an annual report to the General Assembly by December 31 of each year that identifies the locations of pharmacy deserts within the State and provides information about health issues associated with pharmacy deserts. Provides that if the annual report contains information from the federal government that identifies the locations of pharmacy deserts in the State and provides information on health issues associated with pharmacy deserts, then the requirements of the provisions shall be satisfied. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. In provisions concerning the affordable housing tax donation credit program, provides that the administrative housing agency must establish a goal of awarding a specific amount of tax credits for donations to sponsors that are minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or businesses owned by persons with disabilities.

Creates the Keep Illinois Home Act. Creates the Residential Rental Registry. Provides that no person shall allow to be occupied, rent to another for occupancy, or charge, accept, or retain rent for any dwelling unit unless the landlord has duly registered the dwelling unit with the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Includes provisions on the form of registration, failure to register, and the administration and enforcement of registry. Establishes the Right to Counsel Program for the purpose of providing any covered individual with legal representation at no cost in a covered matter. Requires the judicial branch to contract with or enter a memorandum of agreement with an administering entity to administer the Right to Counsel Program. Provides that the administering entity, within the funding available to it for the Right to Counsel Program, shall fund the provision of legal representation by designated organizations. Provides that a designated organization may subcontract with a nonprofit or community organization to provide legal representation to a covered individual and to provide tenant outreach and education. Provides that a landlord who is found liable in a judicial or administrative proceeding, including an eviction action, to a tenant of a dwelling unit for charging an amount of rent for that dwelling unit in excess of that allowed under this Act shall pay the prevailing tenant damages equal to 3 times the total monthly rent charged, together with the actual damages, the tenant's costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. Creates a Tenant Bill of Rights. Contains provisions relating to the Small Rental Property Owner Repairs and Improvement Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act adding a rental property capital improvement credit. Amends the State Finance Act, Code of Civil Procedure, Condominium Property Act, and Rent Control Preemption Act making conforming and other changes. Repeals the Retaliatory Eviction Act. Effective immediately.