Sen. Jil Tracy

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that after an initial proclamation declaring that a disaster exists, the Governor may only extend that declaration or make further proclamations regarding the same disaster if the General Assembly passes a resolution within 5 calendar days that approves the extension or further proclamation. Provides that if, due to health or safety concerns, the General Assembly is unable to convene in either regular or special session to approve the extension or further proclamation, the extension or further proclamation may continue in effect until the General Assembly is able to convene in regular or special session if the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives submit written certification to the Governor that the General Assembly is unable to convene to provide the necessary approval of the extension or further proclamation. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that for any 5-year renewal cycle that includes the 2022-2023 school year, each professional educator licensee shall complete a total of 100 hours of professional development during the 5-year renewal cycle in order to renew the license (rather than being required to complete a total of 120 hours). For the 2022-2023 school year only, provides that a licensee with an administrative endorsement who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day is not required to complete an Illinois Administrators' Academy course (rather than being required to complete one course). In provisions related to the content of evaluation plans, allows a school district to waive, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any teacher in contractual continued service whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". In regard to rules adopted by the State Board of Education concerning educator evaluations, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, provides that factors related to methods of measuring student growth may not be used in any educator evaluation. In regard to the development of an evaluation plan for principals and assistant principals, allows a school district to waive, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any principal or assistant principal whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Excludes from the definition of "mandated reporter" the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Ombudsman's representatives or volunteers when such persons are prohibited from making a report under federal regulations.

Mourns the death of Larry Ehmen.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person who commits the offense of financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability may be tried in any county in which any part of the assets that the person obtained control over are held. Provides that a defense to aggravated battery of a person 60 years of age or older does not exist merely because the accused reasonably believed the victim to be less than 60 years of age. Enhances the penalties for theft and theft by deception if the victim is 60 years of age or older or a person with a disability or if the offense was committed in a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or a supportive living facility. Provides that theft, theft by deception, and financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability is a Class X felony if the value of the property stolen or illegally obtained exceeds $100,000 (rather than $1,000,000).

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is unlawful for a person who has been convicted of a felony to knowingly possess in any vehicle a weapon prohibited under the unlawful use of weapons statute or to knowingly possess firearm ammunition.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that incidental sales of finished compost do not need to be applied to agronomic rates in determining whether a person needs a permit to conduct a landscape waste composting operation at specified sites. Removes a provision requiring that no fee is charged for the acceptance of materials to be composted in order for a site having 10 or more occupied non-farm residences within 1/2 mile of its boundaries to be excepted from permit requirements.

Designates the equestrian campground within the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Chandlerville as the "Landon Equestrian Campground". Recognizes Regina Landon and the late Roger Landon on their dedication to the people of Illinois. Recognizes Michael Landon for continuing his parents' legacy and leading Saddle-Up for St. Jude.

Amends the Eviction Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that the eviction procedures and the enforcement of eviction judgments entered may not be suspended by an executive order under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act or any other provision of law. Provides that if the Governor has declared that the area where the applicable court is located falls within a disaster area, the court shall take into account any financial impact the disaster has had on the tenant or lessee's ability to pay rent. Provides that the court may delay or suspend the proceeding or delay the entry or enforcement of a judgment as equity may require.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions that limit the number of days and hours an annuitant may accept employment for without impairing retirement status, provides that the limitation does not apply to an annuitant who returns to teaching as a substitute teacher in a school district that has been granted a waiver by the System. Provides that a school district may apply for a waiver by providing to the System sufficient evidence that there is a substitute teacher shortage in the school district and an estimate of the number of paid hours in the school year that the annuitant will work. Effective immediately.