Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In a provision concerning expedited licensure for service members and spouses, provides that a department shall waive any application, examination, or licensure fee for a service member or the service member's spouse. Removes references to fees.
Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides legislative findings. Provides that a primary goal of the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center is to develop a strategic plan for nursing workforce in the State by selecting priorities to be addressed, including: (1) for license renewals beginning in 2024 and each renewal thereafter, to develop and require the completion of a supply survey of all licensed nurses at initial licensure and each license renewal thereafter; and (2) no later than 2026, to develop a nurse demand and employer survey to be collected biennially.
Creates the Digital Forgeries Act. Provides that an individual depicted in a digital forgery has a cause of action against any person who, without the consent of the depicted individual, knowingly distributes a digital forgery, creates a digital forgery with intent to distribute, or solicits the creation of a digital forgery with the intent to distribute: (1) in order to harass, extort, threaten, or cause physical, emotional, reputational, or economic harm to an individual falsely depicted; (2) with reckless disregard for whether such a creation, distribution, reproduction, or manipulation will cause physical, emotional, reputational, or economic harm to an individual falsely depicted; or (3) in order to incite violence or interfere with an official proceeding. Allows a prevailing plaintiff to be awarded damages, costs, and additional relief. Allows the court to grant injunctive relief maintaining the confidentiality of a plaintiff using a pseudonym.
Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. In a provision requiring a public safety employer to pay the entire premium of its health insurance plan for a public safety employee, the employee's spouse, and the employee's dependent children after the employee suffers a fatal or catastrophic injury in the line of duty, requires the employer to offer any individual who qualifies for such premium payments the choice of any health insurance plan available to currently employed full-time public safety employees.
Amends the Department of Employment Security Law. Directs the Department of Employment Security to work with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to identify employment opportunities in the State for persons who are in arrears in child support obligations.
Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall deliver a report to the General Assembly on how to incentivize dual language instruction in schools. Provides that the report shall also include: (i) expanding dual language programs and instruction, (ii) developing a strategic plan for scaling dual language programs, (iii) possible public-private partnerships to expand dual language programs, (iv) potential funding mechanisms and models, including how to leverage the use of existing State and federal resources and how to sustain funding for dual language programs, (v) how to build the supply of qualified teachers for dual language programs, including potential partnerships with private or nonprofit teacher preparation or development programs and college teacher preparation programs, potential alternative certification routes, exchange programs with other countries, and financial incentives, and (vi) standards for measuring student progress in dual language programs.
Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that school districts shall provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl. Specifies the elements of the instruction. Provides that students shall be assessed on the fentanyl instruction.
Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the court shall not order any assessments, such as fees, fines, or administrative costs, except for assessments made in traffic, boating, or fish and game law, or municipal ordinance violations as provided in the Act, against a minor subject to the Minors Requiring Authoritative Intervention Article, Addicted Minors Article, or Delinquent Minors Article of the Act or against the minor's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Provides that, except for assessments made in traffic, boating, or fish and game law, or municipal ordinance violations as provided in the Act, any judgment, order, agreement, or other legally enforceable encumbrance directing a minor or his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian to pay assessments prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act is null, void, and not collectible if there remains a balance due, including interest, penalties, or collection fees. Provides that, if the court orders community service for the minor, community service shall not interfere with the school hours, school-related activities, or work commitments of the minor or the minor's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Provides that, one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall report to the General Assembly: (1) the number of judgments, orders, agreements, or other legally enforceable encumbrances vacated pursuant to this provision in each judicial district; and (2) the total balances of fees, fines, and administrative costs vacated in each judicial district. Makes other changes. Amends various other Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that a school board's sequence of honorable dismissal list shall include the race or ethnicity of a teacher if provided by the teacher. Effective January 1, 2024.
Amends the Community-Law Enforcement and Other First Responder Partnership for Deflection and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Changes the Act name to the Community Partnership for Deflection and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Modifies and adds definitions. Provides that A law enforcement agency, other first responder entity, or local government agency (rather than only a law enforcement agency or other first responder entity) may establish a deflection program in partnership with one or more licensed providers of substance use disorder treatment services and one or more community members or organizations. Provides that a deflection program may involve a pre-arrest diversion response and proactive identification of persons thought likely to have an untreated or undiagnosed mental illness. Provides that a local deflection program shall also include case management and restorative justice aspects. Provides that a deflection program may accept, receive, and disburse, in furtherance of its duties and functions, any funds, grants, and services made available by the State and its agencies, the federal government and its agencies, units of local government, and private or civic sources. Provides that activities eligible for funding under the Act include naloxone and related harm reduction supplies (rather than related supplies) necessary for carrying out overdose prevention and reversal (rather than overdose reversal) for purposes of distribution to program participants or for use by law enforcement, other first responders, or local governmental agencies and wraparound participant funds to be used to incentivize participation and meet participant needs. Provides that the Legislative Reference Bureau shall reassign the Act in the Illinois Compiled Statutes (to reflect the addition of local government agencies to the Act).
