Sen. Rachelle Crowe

Mourns the death of Patrick Phillip "Pat" Sheppard.

Thanks State Senator Toi Hutchinson for her service to the people of Illinois.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title and applicability of the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 220 ILCS 5/16-101 Adds reference to: 220 ILCS 5/16-115A 220 ILCS 5/16-115E new 220 ILCS 5/16-118 220 ILCS 5/16-123 220 ILCS 5/19-115 220 ILCS 5/19-116 new 220 ILCS 5/19-130 220 ILCS 5/19-135 220 ILCS 5/20-110 815 ILCS 505/2EE 815 ILCS 505/2DDD Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Adds additional requirements concerning the obligations of alternative retail electric suppliers and alternative gas suppliers. Provides requirements concerning alternative retail electric and gas supplier utility assistance recipients. Provides additional requirements concerning alternative retail electric and gas supplier utility single billing. Authorizes electric utilities to disclose and furnish specified information to customers concerning supply price and electric power and energy supply rate offers. Provides for additional information concerning electric and gas utilities to be submitted to the Illinois Commerce Commission in specified reports. Provides that the utility electric supply price to compare shall be the sum of the electric supply charge and the transmission services charge and shall not include the purchased electricity adjustment. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides additional requirements concerning alternative retail electric supplier and alternative gas supplier selection and solicitation of services. Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 In marketing materials, requires the price to compare or utility gas supply cost rate beginning on (rather than on) the effective date of the price to compare. Makes grammatical changes in references to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Percentage of Income Payment Plan. Provides that an agreement between an alternative retail electric supplier and a consumer who either received financial assistance in the last 12 months from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or, at the time of enrollment, is participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan is void and unenforceable. Requires that alternative gas suppliers submit to the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Office of the Attorney General the rates the retail gas supplier charged to residential customers in the prior year (rather than prior quarter). In provisions requiring alternative gas suppliers to disclose the utility gas supply cost rates per therm price to compare, requires the alternative gas supplier to disclose the date on which the utility gas supply cost rates per therm became effective and the date on which they will expire. Requires that certain written information provided by an alternative retail gas supplier to a customer switching from another supplier shall be provided in a language in which the customer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able to understand and communicate, and the alternative retail gas supplier shall comply with specified provisions of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning alternative retail gas supplier and utility assistance recipients. Makes other changes. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 220 ILCS 5/16-115 220 ILCS 5/16-115A 220 ILCS 5/16-115B 220 ILCS 5/16-115E new 220 ILCS 5/16-118 220 ILCS 5/16-119 220 ILCS 5/16-123 220 ILCS 5/19-110 220 ILCS 5/19-115 220 ILCS 5/19-116 new 220 ILCS 5/19-120 220 ILCS 5/19-130 220 ILCS 5/19-135 220 ILCS 5/20-110 815 ILCS 505/2EE 815 ILCS 505/2DDD Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with additions and changes. Adds provisions concerning certification of alternative retail electric suppliers and alternative gas suppliers, and provides additional requirements for the granting of a certificate of service authority. Makes changes in provisions concerning the obligations of alternative retail electric suppliers and alternative gas suppliers. Provides additional oversight requirements by the Illinois Commerce Commission of alternative retail electric suppliers and alternative gas suppliers. Makes changes in provisions concerning financial assistance recipients. Provides additional requirements concerning alternative retail electric supplier and alternative gas supplier selection and services. Makes other changes. House Floor Amendment No. 3 In a Section of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act relating to alternative retail electric suppliers, limits the disclosure of comparison prices and a related explanatory statement to consumers who are either small commercial retail customers or residential consumer (currently, these disclosures are made to all consumers).

Amends the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning coverage for mammograms, provides that coverage shall also include a diagnostic mammogram when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant. Makes changes to coverage for a comprehensive ultrasound screening and MRI. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that if an insurance policy or medical assistance coverage includes mammogram coverage, the coverage shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided. Exempts coverage of diagnostic mammograms to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account. Defines "diagnostic mammogram" and "diagnostic mammography". Corrects a typographical error. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Changes the immediate effective date to January 1, 2020.

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Requires all school boards of school districts to develop threat assessment protocols and to create threat assessment teams. Provides that the threat assessment team shall include specified personnel and other members. Provides that a threat assessment protocol adopted by the school board shall be a public document and be posted on the school district's website. Provides that a school board shall create the threat assessment team within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act and adopt an initial threat assessment protocol within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a school district may share information concerning a clear and present danger with another school district and creates a conforming exemption in the Illinois School Student Records Act. Creates exemptions for the work of the threat assessment team in the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 120/2 105 ILCS 10/6 Adds reference to: 50 ILCS 470/10 55 ILCS 5/5-1006.7 105 ILCS 5/3-14.31 105 ILCS 5/10-20.43 105 ILCS 5/10-22.36 from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.36 105 ILCS 5/17-2.11 from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.11 105 ILCS 128/25 105 ILCS 230/5-25 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that counties may impose a tax to be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resources officers, or mental health professionals (rather than exclusively for school facility purposes). Adds referendum language to levy, reduce, or discontinue the tax. Amends the Innovation Development and Economy Act and the School Construction Law to make conforming changes. Amends the School Code to make conforming changes and to provide that if a school district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants determines that it is necessary for school security purposes and the related protection and safety of pupils and school staff to hire a school resource officer or that personnel costs for school counselors, mental health experts, or school resource officers are necessary, the district may levy a tax or issue bonds as provided under a provision in the Code authorizing a school board to levy a tax or to borrow money and issue bonds for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, accessibility, school security, and specified repair purposes if funds are not needed for those other purposes. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Requires each school district to implement a threat assessment procedure that may be part of a school board policy on targeted school violence and prevention and that must include the creation of a threat assessment team; provides for the team's membership. Requires each school district, at its annual meeting to review each school building's emergency and crisis response plans, protocols, and procedures, to review the procedures regarding its threat assessment team. Creates an exemption for the work of the threat assessment team in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 With regard to a school district's threat assessment procedure, removes a provision requiring the policy on targeted school violence and prevention that directs the implementation of a threat assessment procedure to be a public document and to be posted on the school district's website with other school district policies. Makes conforming changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that each school district must implement a threat assessment procedure that may be part of a school board policy on targeted school violence prevention (rather than school violence and prevention). Provides that a regional behavioral threat assessment and intervention team utilized by a school district must include mental health professionals and representatives from State, county, and local law enforcement agencies (rather than mental health professionals, a representative from the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, a safety education officer from the Department of State Police, and local law enforcement representatives) and removes a provision requiring the members to complete the training courses offered by Western Illinois University's Office of Public Safety.

Amends the Alzheimer's Disease Research Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Alzheimer's Disease Research, Care, and Support Fund Act. Creates the full-time position of Dementia Coordinator within the Department of Public Health, who is responsible only for activities associated with and relevant to the successful implementation of the State of Illinois Alzheimer's Disease State Plan. Changes the name of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund to the Alzheimer's Disease Research, Care, and Support Fund and makes corresponding changes in the State Finance Act. Provides that moneys from the Fund shall be used to cover costs, including the Dementia Coordinator's salary and expenses. Provides that the Department shall be responsible for providing the Dementia Coordinator with administrative support through its existing resources and not from the Fund. Repeals provisions concerning a grant program administered by the Department. Amends the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act. Makes changes concerning the membership of the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee. Requires the Department of Public Health to make reasonable efforts to promote the Alzheimer's Disease Research, Care, and Support Fund during relevant times, including, but not limited to, periods of time when tax returns are typically received, such as issuing press releases and posting on social media. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: provides that the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee shall consist of 17 (rather than 16) voting members; provides that the additional voting member of the Committee shall be an individual with medical or academic experience with early onset Alzheimer's disease or related disorders; and provides that the Dementia Coordinator shall be funded out of the Alzheimer's Disease Research, Care, and Support Fund.

Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Provides that the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation shall require the display of an MIA flag at any airport in its jurisdiction, either upon the same flag-staff as the United States national flag or otherwise. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Changes the reference to the "MIA flag" to "POW/MIA flag". Provides that, if the POW/MIA flag is displayed on the same flagstaff as the United States flag, the POW/MIA flag shall fly immediately below the United States flag. Provides that, if the United States flag and a State flag or other flag or pennant is flown along with the POW/MIA flag on the same flagstaff, the order from top to bottom shall be: the United States flag, the POW/MIA flag, then the State flag or other flags, unless otherwise stipulated by the Flag Display Act.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Apprentice Hunter License shall be a non-renewable license that shall expire on the March 31 following the date of issuance (rather than a one-time, non-renewable license). Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 520 ILCS 5/2.26 from Ch. 61, par. 2.26 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall create a pilot program during the special 3-day, youth-only deer hunting season to allow for youth deer hunting permits that are valid statewide, excluding those counties or portions of counties closed to firearm deer hunting. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement the pilot program. Provides that nothing shall be construed to prohibit the Department from issuing Special Hunt Area Permits for the youth-only deer hunting season or establishing, through administrative rule, additional requirements pertaining to the youth-only deer hunting season on Department-owned or Department-managed sites, including site-specific quotas or drawings. Provides that the provision become inoperative on January 1, 2023. Provides that no person shall have in his or her (rather than his) possession any firearm not authorized by administrative rule for a specific hunting season when taking deer. Provides that the Apprentice Hunter License shall be a non-renewable license that shall expire on the March 31 following the date of issuance (rather than a one-time, non-renewable license). Provides that the license shall entitle the licensee to hunt on private property while supervised by a validly licensed resident or nonresident hunter who is 21 years of age or older and to hunt on public property while supervised by a validly licensed resident or nonresident who is 21 years of age or older and has a hunter education certificate.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education must develop an Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher Training Program beginning at the secondary level that provides grants to (i) students who qualify as pre-service teaching students and who attend institutions of higher education that offer a State-approved agricultural education teacher preparation program, (ii) students who qualify as pre-service teaching students and who attend public community colleges that provide an articulated agricultural education teacher course of study, and (iii) non-traditional agricultural education teaching students; defines terms and specifies the Training Program's requirements. Provides that the funds provided by the State Board may be used to support (i) a stipend not to exceed $7,500 for a non-traditional agricultural education teaching student or a pre-service teaching student for work completed under the Training Program, distributed in monthly installments, (ii) lodging for a pre-service training student, (iii) reimbursement for meals for the pre-service teaching student, (iv) reasonable costs charged by a participating Illinois agricultural company, or (v) any educational costs related to the Training Program. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education must, in consultation with the Board of Higher Education, develop an Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher Internship Program, beginning at the secondary education level, for pre-service teaching students that consists of (i) at a minimum, an 8-week experience or 300 hours of experience to prepare the pre-service teaching student for in-classroom experiences, including, but not limited to, experiences in the 5 career clusters for Illinois agricultural education through partnerships with Illinois agricultural companies and (ii) both in-classroom lectures and hands-on, applied learning; defines terms. Provides that the State Board must award grants to a pre-service teaching student enrolled in the Internship Program, which may be used by the student to support (i) a stipend not to exceed $7,500 for a pre-service teaching student's completion of the Internship Program, distributed in monthly installments, (ii) lodging for a pre-service teaching student while participating in the Internship Program, (iii) reimbursement for meals, not to exceed the per diem rate established by the Internal Revenue Service, for a pre-service teaching student while participating in the Internship Program, and (iv) any reasonable costs for participation in the Internship Program charged by any participating Illinois agricultural company. Effective immediately.

Creates the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. Defines terms. Provides for: applicability; relation to other law; service; notice by posting; commissioners; determination of value; cotenant buyout; partition alternatives; considerations for partition in kind; open-market sale, sealed bids, or auction; and report of open-market sale. Makes conforming changes in the Code of Civil Procedure. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Changes the definition of "heirs property" and "partition by sale". Defines "fair market value". Provides that if the court determines that the evidentiary value of an appraisal is outweighed by the cost of the appraisal, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice (rather than the court shall send notice) to the parties of the fair market value of the property. Provides that if an appraisal is conducted, not later than 10 days after the appraisal is filed, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice (rather than the court shall send notice) to each party with a known address. Provides that after a hearing to determine the fair market value of the property, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice to all of the parties of the value and a cotenant's buyout rights (rather than the court shall send notice to the parties of the value). Provides that after the determination of the value, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice (rather than the court shall send notice) to the parties that any cotenant may buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale. Provides that after the expiration period, if no cotenant elects to buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice (rather than the court shall send notice) to all the parties of that fact and resolve the partition. Provides that cotenants must pay their apportioned price to the clerk of court or as otherwise ordered by the court (rather than into the court). Provides that if one or more, but not all, of the electing cotenants fail to pay their apportioned price on time, the court shall order the plaintiff to give notice (rather than the court shall give notice) to the electing cotenants that paid their apportioned price of the interest remaining and the price for all that interest. Provides that the court, in determining whether partition in kind would result in manifest prejudice to the cotenants as a group, shall consider the tax consequences. Provides that if the court orders partition in kind, the court shall allocate to the cotenants that are unknown, unlocatable, or the subject of a default judgment, if their interests were not brought, a party of the property representing the combined interests of those cotenants as determined by the court. Provides that the court shall apportion the costs of the proceedings for the partition of heirs property among the parties in interest in the action, as the court deems just and equitable. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that if the court orders partition in kind, the court shall allocate to the cotenants that are unknown, unlocatable, or the subject of a default judgment, if their interests were not bought out (rather than brought) pursuant to a provision regarding cotenant buyout, a party of the property representing the combined interests of those cotenants as determined by the court.