Sen. Lakesia Collins

Amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2023, the minimum widow's annuity shall be no less than 150% (rather than 125%) of the Federal Poverty Level for all persons receiving widow's annuities on or after that date, without regard to whether the deceased policeman or fireman is in service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district from withholding a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, but clarifies that it applies to public high schools (rather than school districts). Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that at the end of each school year, the school district shall catalogue and report to the State Board of Education the total amount that remains unpaid by students due to the prohibition. Provides that on and after 3 years from the effective date of the amendatory Act, the prohibition provisions are inoperative.

Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Provides that the "overseer of military veterans assistance" shall be construed to mean the commanders of the various congressionally chartered veteran service organizations, or the Superintendent of a County Veterans Assistance Commission. Provides that funding for Veterans Assistance Commissions shall be derived from: (i) a tax levied under the Counties Code and the Illinois Public Aid Code; (ii) funds from the county general corporate fund; and (iii) State funds from the Department of Human Services. Provides that congressionally chartered veteran service organizations and county Veterans Assistance Commissions, if applicable (rather than military veterans organizations), shall undertake the assistance of military veterans and their families. Provides that in a county having 2 or more congressionally chartered veteran service organizations, the congressionally chartered veteran service organizations may come together to form a Veterans Assistance Commission that shall act as the central office for all veterans and their families and for the families of deceased veterans. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that in a county having a population of less than 3,000,000 in which there is created a County Veterans Assistance Commission, the county shall levy for assistance to military veterans and their families a tax of an amount which, when added to the unobligated balance available for such purpose at the close of the preceding fiscal year will equal .02% of the last known assessed value of the taxable property in the county. Requires County Veterans Assistance Commissions to be in charge of the administration of general assistance benefits and other public aid benefits provided under the Illinois Public Aid Code for military veterans and their families. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants that have a County Veterans Assistance Commission to levy for assistance to military veterans and their families a tax of an amount which, when added to the unobligated balance available for such purpose at the close of the preceding fiscal year, will equal .02% of the last known assessed value of the taxable property in the county, or will equal .03% of such assessed value if such higher amount is authorized by the electors of the county. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 305 ILCS 5/12-21.5 from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.5 305 ILCS 5/12-21.13 from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.13 Adds reference to: 330 ILCS 45/11 rep. Replaces everything after the enacting clause and reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with various changes. Eliminates Illinois Public Aid Code language that changed the placement of certain taxation provisions. Eliminates Counties Code language that added certain taxation provisions. Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Changes the term "overseer of military veterans assistance" to "administrator of military veterans assistance". Deletes language concerning almshouses, orphan asylums, and facilities for indigent persons who are mentally ill. Deletes references to "military veterans organization". Makes changes concerning military discharges and other matters. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Further amends the Counties Code. In a provision permitting a county with a Veterans Assistance Commission to impose a tax on all taxable property for the purpose of providing assistance to military veterans and their families, provides that the tax shall be separate from all other taxes which the county is authorized to levy. Provides that in counties where a Veterans Assistance Commission has been properly created, those County Veterans Assistance Commissions shall be in charge of the administration of the assistance provided under certain provisions of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Further amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Makes changes to the definition of "veteran service organization". Provides that it shall be the duty of the commander, quartermaster, or commandant (rather than the commander) of each veteran service organization to send the commander, quartermaster, or commandant (rather than the commander) of every other organization a written list of the names of all persons to whom assistance has been granted during the preceding month. Provides that in a county having 2 or more veteran service organizations, the Veterans Assistance Commission of such county may (rather than shall) act as the central service office for all veterans and their families and for the families of deceased veterans. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may teach up to 15 (instead of 5) consecutive days per licensed teacher who is under contract. Provides that a school district may hire an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License for teacher absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who is under contract, if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the superintendent of an employing school board to notify the State Superintendent of Education and applicable regional superintendent of schools if the superintendent has reasonable cause to believe that a license holder committed an act of sexual misconduct that resulted in the license holder's dismissal or resignation from the school district. Requires a public or nonpublic school or independent contractor to conduct an employment history review of certain applicants for employment. Requires the governing body of each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school to adopt a policy under which notice concerning an alleged act of sexual misconduct between an educator and a student is provided to the parent or guardian of that student. Sets forth the information that must be included in the notice. Amends the Personnel Record Review Act. Specifies that provisions requiring an employer to review and delete records concerning disciplinary actions that are more than 4 years old do not apply to a school district sharing information related to an incident or attempted incident of sexual misconduct. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/21B-75 105 ILCS 5/26A-30 Expands the provisions requiring the governing body of each school district, charter school, and nonpublic school to implement procedures for notice concerning an alleged act of sexual misconduct between an employee, agent, or contractor of the school and a student. Requires notice to be provided to the student prior to notification of the student's parents or guardian. In provisions concerning employment history review by a public or nonpublic school or contractor (instead of independent contractor) of certain applicants for employment, limits provisions to allegations or findings or sexual misconduct (rather than abuse or sexual misconduct). Requires an employer who has or had an employment relationship with an applicant to provide additional information about disclosed matters and records. Removes provision permitting a school or contractor from hiring an applicant on a provisional basis. Requires the State Board of Education to develop templates for employment history review. In provisions concerning confidentiality, permits disclosure to the parents or guardians of students of sexual misconduct between an employee, agent, or contractor of the school and the student. In provisions concerning suspension or revocation license, endorsement, or approval, adds sexual misconduct as grounds to initiate suspension or revocation. Changes the effective date to July 1, 2023 (rather than immediate). House Floor Amendment No. 3 Makes grammatical changes.

Declares June 12, 2022 as "Women's Veterans Day" to commemorate the day women were officially added as regular members of the United States military, to recognize the critical role of women in the military forces, and to commemorate the sacrifices and valor displayed by Illinois women veterans.

Declares May of 2022 as "Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois.

Rescinds Illinois' 1863 ratification of the Corwin Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Amends the School Code. Makes technical and revisory changes in a Section concerning waivers of School Code mandates. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.56 105 ILCS 5/10-20.83 new 105 ILCS 5/24-6 105 ILCS 5/27A-5 105 ILCS 5/34-18.78 new 105 ILCS 5/34-85e new 110 ILCS 305/160 new 110 ILCS 305/175 new 110 ILCS 520/135 new 110 ILCS 520/150 new 110 ILCS 660/5-245 new 110 ILCS 660/5-260 new 110 ILCS 665/10-245 new 110 ILCS 665/10-265 new 110 ILCS 670/15-245 new 110 ILCS 670/15-260 new 110 ILCS 675/20-250 new 110 ILCS 675/20-270 new 110 ILCS 680/25-245 new 110 ILCS 680/25-265 new 110 ILCS 685/30-255 new 110 ILCS 685/30-275 new 110 ILCS 690/35-250 new 110 ILCS 690/35-270 new 110 ILCS 805/3-29.20 new 110 ILCS 805/3-29.25 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code to provide for pay and benefits to school district employees and contractors who provide educational support services for a school closure or e-learning day. Provides for COVID-19 paid administrative leave for school district employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Provides for the return of sick leave used during the 2021-2022 school year to teachers and employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois to provide for the return of sick leave used during the 2021-2022 school year to university or community college district employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Provides for COVID-19 paid administrative leave for employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 With respect to the Section of the School Code concerning e-learning days, provides that the definitions of "employee" and "school district" apply only to the amendatory provisions concerning payment to employees by school districts for e-learning days. Makes corresponding changes in the provisions of the School Code concerning charter schools. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adds an exception to paying employees and contractors of a school district who provide educational support services for a school closure or e-learning day if the school day is rescheduled and the employee will be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits on the rescheduled day when services are rendered. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) The extent to which HB 1167 (H-AM 2) might have an indirect impact upon the Chicago Teacher Pension Fund, TRS or IMRF by allowing for the return of sick leave to a teacher who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is not known. An updated impact note will be issued after CGFA staff conducts a consultation with the aforementioned systems. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) The extent to which HB 1167 (H-AM 3) might have an indirect impact upon the Chicago Teacher Pension Fund, TRS or IMRF by allowing for the return of sick leave to a teacher who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is not known. An updated impact note will be issued after CGFA staff conducts a consultation with the aforementioned systems. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (State Board of Education) HB 1167, as amended by HA-3 does not have a fiscal impact to the State Board of Education. There will be increased costs to school districts; however, that amount is not known. The State Board recommends the sponsors consult with IMRF and TRS regarding potential fiscal impact to the State. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (State Board of Education) HB 1167, as amended by HA-3 does not have a fiscal impact to the State Board of Education. There will be increased costs to school districts; however, that amount is not known. The State Board recommends the sponsors consult with IMRF and TRS regarding potential fiscal impact to the State.

Congratulates the 2021-2022 Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team on a historic season.