Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Establishes the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program for specified purposes. Provides that from appropriations for the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide financial assistance through grants, expense reimbursements, or subsidies to qualifying businesses or a qualified partner to cover expenses or losses incurred due to business interruptions caused by their forced closure or inability to carry out regular functions in an economically viable manner under Tier 3 of the Governor's Restoring Illinois plan. Provides for the adoption of rules. Provides for powers of the Department concerning the Program. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for the adoption of emergency rules. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Makes appropriations to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the 2015 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities also carries over to the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year. Provides that, for the 2019 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities also carries over to (i) the surviving spouse of a veteran who did not obtain the exemption before death, but who would have qualified for the exemption in the current taxable year if he or she had survived and (ii) the surviving spouse of a veteran whose death was determined to be service-connected and who is certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being a current recipient of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Provides that, in the case of a surviving spouse who is certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being a current recipient of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, the property is exempt. Effective immediately.

Creates the Energy Performance Contracting Act. Requires each governmental unit to implement cost-effective conservation improvements and maintain efficient operation of its facilities in order to minimize energy consumption and related environmental impacts, and reduce operating costs. Provides that any governmental unit may enter into an energy performance contract with a qualified energy service provider to produce utility savings or operating and maintenance cost-savings. Designates the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center as the lead agency for the development and promotion of a program of performance contracts in governmental units under the Act, and provides requirements and duties for that agency. Provides for the selection process of qualified energy service providers. Provides for audits, payments, and term requirements for energy performance contracts entered into under the Act. Provides for the monitoring and reporting of energy consumption and cost-savings under an energy performance contract. Provides for the use of savings from performance contracts. Provides that the provisions of the Act shall prevail and control over conflicting provisions of law, and that any conflicting provisions of any statute enacted prior to the Act are hereby repealed. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Authorizes the obtaining of a title to a materially altered vehicle primarily intended for use in parades. Provides that the title may be issued in the name of a veterans organization. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, for a vehicle that can obtain a registration sticker related to the exemption from window treatment requirements, the Secretary of State shall make the registration sticker available for any license plate offered by the Secretary.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish an online statewide direct admissions program to provide more high school seniors with the opportunity to obtain a postsecondary certificate or degree. Provides that the Board shall receive the grades of each high school student from district uploads to the Board. Provides that a student shall receive conditional acceptance to a public university or to a public community college based on his or her grade point average and college entrance examination scores relative to the benchmark grade point average and college entrance examination score set by the Board. Sets forth additional provisions of the program. Effective January 1, 2022.

Creates the Technology First Act. Creates the Technology First Council within the Department of Human Services to advise the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the use of supportive technology, instead of direct support staffing, as a solution for an individual who needs developmental disability services. Provides that the Council shall consist of the Secretary of Human Services and other members appointed by the Secretary, including one member who is a representative of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities; one member who is a representative of the Illinois Assistive Technology Program; one member who is the parent or guardian of a child with a developmental disability and who has significant experience with the use of supportive technology; and 2 members representing service providers who have significant experience using supportive technology to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. Requires the Council to make recommendations to develop State policy to encourage the use of supportive technology; identify and address areas in which sufficient support is not currently available or where additional options may be needed to assist individuals with developmental disabilities to gain access to supportive technology; develop educational materials for providers, families, and others about how supportive technology can have a positive impact on the independence, skills, and abilities of individuals with developmental disabilities; and other duties. Requires the Council to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly with its recommendations for the use of supportive technology for services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Amends the Conversion and Formation of School Districts Article of the School Code. Provides that, upon dissolution of an elementary district, each individual parcel of that elementary district must be annexed by the school district closest geographically to that parcel.