Sen. Chapin Rose

Mourns the death of Michael J. Wildman of Monticello.

Amends the School Code. Removes the exception for a school district in which there is only one school with fewer than 4 teachers to the requirement that each school district employ a superintendent. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that continuous glucose monitors shall be covered under the medical assistance program for children with diabetes who are under the age of 19 and otherwise eligible for medical assistance under the Article.

Amends the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that a permit for incidental taking under the Act shall not be required if a federal conservation agreement, including, but not limited to, a candidate conservation agreement, habitat conservation plan, or safe harbor agreement that includes conservation practices conducted in the State in effect and approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. Provides that incidental taking of species that are listed as endangered or threatened by the State only and not listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall follow the provisions under the Act. Provides that of the remaining appointed members, one member shall be a landowner representing the State's largest general farm organization. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an employer who is a member of a recognized religious sect or division of a recognized religious sect and who is adherent of established tenets or teachings of that sect or division by reason of which the employer is conscientiously opposed to benefits to employers and employees from any public or private insurance that makes payment in the event of death, disability, impairment, old age, or retirement or makes payments toward the cost of, or provides services in connection with the payment for medical services, including the benefits from any insurance system established by the Social Security Act may apply to the Director to be exempted from the payment of premiums and other charges assessed under this Code, with respect to, or if the employer is a self-insuring employer, from payment of direct compensation and benefits to and assessments required by this Code on account of, an individual employee who meets the requirements of this Code. Provides the requirements for completing the application process. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2020, in addition to all other rates of tax imposed under the Acts, a tax of 3.75% is imposed on the selling price of D.O.T. Class C common fireworks. Provides that "D.O.T. Class C common fireworks" has the meaning ascribed to it in the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2020, each month the Department shall pay into the Fire Prevention Fund 50% of the net revenue realized for the preceding month from the tax on the selling price of D.O.T. Class C common fireworks. Amends the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Provides that D.O.T. Class C common fireworks may only be purchased by individuals over the age of 18. Provides that the provision prohibiting the sale and use of fireworks does not apply to D.O.T. Class C common fireworks. Provides that fireworks may only be discharged by individuals over the age of 18. Effective immediately.

Creates the State Power Purchase Agreement Act. Provides that the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) is designated as the lead agency for the development and promotion of a program to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy power purchase agreements with State agencies. Provides for the selection of qualified renewable energy power purchase agreement project developers. Allows State agencies to enter into renewable energy power purchase agreements with renewable energy developers for the construction and use of solar or wind energy, or both, on State property controlled by the State agency or on which daily operations of the State agency occur. Provides further requirements concerning the awarding of contracts to developers and purchase of power under power purchase agreements. Specifies the duration of power purchase agreement contracts. Provides for third-party financing of renewable energy power purchase agreement projects. Provides for the use of moneys saved by State agencies by entering into renewable energy power purchase agreements. Provides for reporting to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Defines terms. 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 Dual Credit Quality Act. Provides that a highly qualified high school instructor, as determined by a school board, may, with the approval of the community college, teach up to 8 hours of credit-bearing college-level courses for dual credit per academic year without having to meet any of the academic credential requirements under the Act, higher certification requirements, or additional requirements under the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Secretary of Human Services to seek a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to allow the State to include on the face of every LINK card issued to a recipient of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or cash assistance under the Code a photo of the cardholder. Requires the Department of Human Services to provide the General Assembly with various good faith cost estimates including the estimated cost of replacing every still-valid LINK card with a card that contains on its face a photo of the cardholder and the estimated cost of "phasing in" new photo identification cards issued under the current contract with the current LINK card vendor. Provides that the Department shall suggest a process to the General Assembly that allows the caregiver of a recipient of SNAP benefits or cash assistance under this Code to use the recipient's LINK card on the recipient's behalf. Provides that the General Assembly shall through legislation determine whether it wishes to implement the waiver based on projected cost estimates and other matters.