Sen. Scott M. Bennett

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Limits a person's service in the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House, or Minority Leader of the Senate to ten years in any one office. Effective upon being declared adopted and applies to service on or after the second Wednesday in January, 2021.

Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Prohibits an employer from: (i) screening job applicants based on their wage or salary history, (ii) requiring that an applicant's prior wages satisfy minimum or maximum criteria, and (iii) requesting or requiring as a condition of being interviewed or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment that an applicant disclose prior wages or salary. Prohibits an employer from seeking the salary, including benefits or other compensation or salary history, of a job applicant from any current or former employer, with some exceptions. Provides for employers to establish a self-evaluation plan of the employer's pay practices. Sets forth permissible components of a self-evaluation plan. Requires the self-evaluation plan to be submitted to the Department of Labor for verification. Provides that an employer that has completed a self-evaluation plan that has been verified by the Department of Labor has an affirmative defense to liability for certain alleged violations of the Act. Provides that an employer that does not have a verified self-evaluation plan may be subject to civil penalties for violations of the Act. Limits defenses. Provides for penalties and injunctive relief.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the credit for student-assistance contributions sunsets on December 31, 2030 (currently, December 30, 2020). Provides that, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2020, the maximum student-assistance credit is $1,000 per contributing employee per taxable year (currently, $500). Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a person who has been granted a senior citizens homestead exemption need not reapply for the exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. Removes the term "committed person" and replaces it with "custodial detainee" throughout the Act. Requires health care providers that employ a health care worker to display a notice stating that physical battery (rather than physical assault) will be reported to law enforcement.

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that a business that intends to establish a new utility-scale solar power facility may apply for a high impact business designation. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Increases the long-term renewable procurement plan goals after the 2025 delivery year. Requires the long-term renewable procurement plan to include the procurement of new renewable energy credits. Provides that the Adjustable Block program shall be designed to be continuously open. Authorizes utilities to recover certain costs related to the Adjustable Block program. Excludes certain costs from a limitation on the costs of the Adjustable Block program. Makes other changes concerning the Adjustable Block program. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to open a proceeding to update the interconnection standards and applicable utility tariffs. Requires the Commission to revise certain standards for interconnection based on specified criteria. Establishes an interconnection working group. Makes changes to provisions concerning net metering and the distributed generation rebate. Requires the Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, to study and produce a report analyzing the potential for and barriers to the implementation of energy storage in Illinois. Requires the Agency to include a plan to procure energy from energy storage resources as part of its procurement plan for 2021. Extends a provision concerning a review, reconciliation, and true-up associated with renewable energy resources' collections and costs. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Sustainable Investing Act. Provides that any public agency or governmental unit shall develop, publish, and implement sustainable investment policies applicable to the management of all public funds under its control. Provides that the sustainable investment policy may be incorporated in existing investment policies developed, published, and implemented by a public agency or governmental unit. Provides that the sustainable investment policy shall include material, relevant, and decision-useful sustainability factors to be applied by the public agency or governmental unit in evaluating investment decisions. Provides that a public agency shall prudently integrate sustainability factors into its investment decision-making, investment analysis, portfolio construction, due diligence, and investment ownership in order to maximize anticipated financial returns, minimize projected risk, and more effectively execute its fiduciary duty. Specifies sustainability factors, and the ways in which such factors may be analyzed. Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act, the Public Funds Investment Act, and the Illinois Pension Code to make changes concerning investment policy and the Illinois Sustainable Investing Act. Provides findings and purpose provisions. Defines terms. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the sustainable investment policy developed under the Illinois Sustainable Investing Act shall include material, relevant, and decision-useful sustainability factors to be considered (currently, applied) by the public agency or governmental unit as one component of its overall evaluation of investment decisions. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a public agency or governmental unit from integrating additional factors into its investment decision-making, investment analysis, portfolio construction, due diligence, and investment ownership of public funds. Provides that the Act shall not apply to bank time deposits or bank processing services. Makes conforming changes.

Creates the Certified Professional Midwives Practice Act. Provides for the licensure of midwives by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and for certain limitations on the activities of licensed midwives. Creates the Illinois Midwifery Board. Sets forth provisions concerning application, qualifications, grounds for disciplinary action, and administrative procedures. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to set a repeal date for the new Act of January 1, 2031. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to make related changes.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that both individual and group tobacco cessation counseling shall be covered under the medical assistance program.

Creates the Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act. Requires an institution of higher education (including a business, technical, or vocational school) to designate at least one employee who works within the financial aid department, campus housing services, or any other appropriate office or department, as may be determined by the institution, to serve as a liaison between the institution and a homeless student or student in care who is enrolled at the institution. Sets forth the responsibilities of the liaison, the Board of Higher Education, and the institution. Effective August 1, 2021.