Sen. Jil Tracy

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In the provision defining "eligible employment" for the purpose of allowing a teacher to return to teaching in subject shortage areas without impairing his or her retirement status or retirement annuity, changes the ending date of the employment from no later than June 30, 2019 to no later than June 30, 2021. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that, in a case regarding temporary guardianship, if no limited or plenary guardian has been appointed in a case regarding temporary guardianship, the court may grant an extension up to an additional 60 days or until a limited or plenary guardian has been appointed. Provides that the court may appoint separate individuals or entities or co-guardians to act as the guardian of the person and the guardian of the estate of a person with a disability under certain circumstances. Provides that a guardian is entitled to reasonable and appropriate fees, if certain conditions are met. Provides that fees awarded to a guardian shall be considered as a first-class claim for administrative expenses and paid from the guardianship estate from the decedent's estate. Adds procedures regarding the succession of a new Public Guardian. Makes formatting changes in Sections concerning: definitions; statutory forms; short-term guardians; preliminary hearings; domestic violence orders of protection; sterilization of the ward; and notice of rights of the ward. Changes references to "best interest" to "best interests". Amends the Illinois Power of Attorney Act. Provides that if an agent seeks guardianship of the principal, the petition for guardianship must delineate the specific powers to be granted to the guardian that are not already included in the power of attorney. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes language providing that in a case where there has been an adjudication of disability but choice of guardian remains at issue and the court has never appointed a limited or plenary guardian for the person with a disability, the court may grant an extension up to an additional 60 days or until a limited or plenary guardian is appointed. Deletes language providing that: if the respondent is unable to pay the fee of the guardian ad litem or appointed counsel, the court may enter an order for the petitioner to pay all such fees or such amounts as the respondent may be unable to pay; and in cases where the Office of the State Guardian, the public guardian, an adult protective services agency, or the Department of Children and Family Services is the petitioner, no guardian ad litem or legal fees shall be assessed against such petitioners. Provides instead that: the court may allocate guardian ad litem fees and costs; and no legal fees, appointed counsel fees, guardian ad litem fees, or costs shall be assessed against the Office of the State Guardian, the public guardian, adult protective services, the Department of Children and Family Services, or the agency designated by the Governor under the Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act.

Creates the Illinois Automated Dialing and Solicitation Task Force to review the Telephone Solicitations Act (815 ILCS 413/) and develop ideas to update the Act.

Encourages the Illinois State Board of Education, special education cooperatives, and each school district in this State to consider the potential benefits of inclusive education for children with and without disabilities in Illinois.

Declares June 7, 2019 as "Medal of Honor Day" and honors those who received the Medal of Honor.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a person working under the Adult Protective Services Program or an Ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, Department of Children and Family Services employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 1 felony. Provides that a person also commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by discharge of a firearm, he or she knows the individual battered to be a person working under the Adult Protective Services Program or an Ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, Department of Children and Family Services employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Defines "Department of Children and Family Services employee".

Declares May 29, 2019 as "529 College Savings Day" in the State of Illinois and urges all Illinoisans to explore the benefits that 529 college savings plans offer families.

Creates the Sexual Harassment Victim Representation Act. Prohibits unions from designating the same union representative to represent both a victim of sexual harassment and the alleged perpetrator in any disciplinary proceeding.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes the requirement for each Legislative District to be divided into two Representative Districts. Modifies provisions concerning legislative redistricting. Provides specified requirements for each Legislative District, Representative District, and Congressional District for redistricting purposes. Replaces the current method of legislative redistricting with the following: a sixteen-member commission, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the most senior Supreme Court Justice of a different political party in accordance with specified criteria, shall adopt and file with the Secretary of State redistricting plans for Legislative, Representative, and Congressional Districts following a series of public hearings by August 1 of the year following a federal decennial census; permits the public to submit maps during the map drawing process for consideration by the Commission; and, if a redistricting plan is not adopted by August 1 of the year following a federal decennial census, then a seventeenth member shall be appointed to the Commission and redistricting plans shall be filed by September 1. Adds provisions concerning the membership of the Commission and budgetary matters related to the Commission. Effective upon being declared adopted and applicable to redistricting beginning in 2021 and to the election of General Assembly members beginning in 2022.

Amends the State Revenue Sharing Act. Provides that each school district having Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund receipts totaling 13% or more of its total revenues in the previous fiscal year shall receive an additional amount equal to 11% of the total amount distributed to the school district from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund. Requires the State Board of Education to identify those school districts to the Department of Revenue. Provides that the total amount of additional distributions shall not exceed $4,353,136. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: (1) provides that school districts having Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund receipts totaling 13% or more of their total revenues in fiscal year 2018 are entitled to the additional distribution (in the introduced bill, the eligibility of districts is determined each fiscal year); (2) provides that the additional distribution shall be made only in fiscal year 2020 and shall be 19% (in the introduced bill, 11%) of the total amount distributed to the school district from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund during fiscal year 2018; and (3) provides that the total amount of additional distributions shall not exceed $4,769,101 (in the introduced bill, $4,353,136). Effective immediately.