Sen. Chris Balkema

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Prohibits a company that provides solar project installation services or solar facility installation services from installing a solar project or solar facility in Illinois without posting and maintaining, with the Illinois Power Agency, a surety bond in the amount of $2,000,000 or such higher amount as is annually set by the Agency by rule. Requires the Agency to adopt rules to establish requirements for the mandated surety bonds and procedures for posting and maintaining those bonds. Requires the rules adopted by the Agency to prescribe the type and amount of the surety bond required and the conditions under which the Agency is entitled to collect moneys from such bonds. Authorizes the rules adopted by the Agency to contain any other provisions the Agency deems necessary to administer the provisions of the amendatory Act. Directs the Agency to annually adjust the amount of the required surety bond beginning 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Creates the Solar Installation Fund. Provides that any moneys forfeited to the State from the required surety bonds shall be deposited into the Solar Installation Fund and shall, upon approval by the Governor and the Director of the Agency, be used by and under the direction of the Agency for the purpose of ensuring that certain rebate and warranty obligations of such a company are met. Authorizes the Agency to enter into contracts and agreements it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of the amendatory Act. Provides that neither the State, nor the Director of the Agency, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damages or injuries arising out of or resulting from any action taken under the provisions of the amendatory Act. Allows the Agency to approve or disapprove any surety bond. Allows a person whose surety bond is disapproved to contest the disapproval. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Downstate Firefighter and Downstate Police Articles, but only with respect to a person who, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, is entitled under the Downstate Firefighter Article or Downstate Police Article to begin receiving a retirement annuity or survivor's annuity and who elects to proceed under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions about commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.

Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires school boards to publicly report, on their school district's website, a list of the curriculum to be used for student instruction during the school year. Requires that the report also include any procedures that are in effect at each school for the documentation, review, or approval of the curriculum used for student instruction. Allows a school district to update the report on an ongoing basis, but requires the report to be updated at least one month prior to the start of each school semester. Requires the State Board of Education to impose a civil penalty of $1,000 per day for each day a school board fails to post the required update after one week of notice. Requires each school district to notify the parents or guardians of students when the report is posted and when any subsequent updates are made to the report. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.