Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Expands the Community Care Program to provide services to all persons, regardless of age, who have Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder as defined under the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 105/4.02 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 105/4.03a new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Department on Aging, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health, to develop educational materials to inform the public about the available services for individuals, regardless of age, with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders. Provides that the educational materials shall include, but not be limited to: (1) a standalone website that includes, among other things, information on how and where to access appropriate services for individuals, regardless of age, with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders; and (2) written materials that shall be shared with relevant health care providers and service agencies, including, but not limited to, hospitals, doctors, federally qualified health centers, area agencies on aging, case coordination units, and offices of the Department on Aging. Requires all relevant State agency websites to provide a link to the standalone website. Provides that the Department on Aging shall develop specific training for its offices, area agencies on aging, and case coordination units that includes, among other things, specific information on how to identify Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders and how to communicate with individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders.

Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Provides that the Act applies for a second set of incentive periods beginning on July 1, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2026. Provides that certain provisions concerning employees who had participated as worker-trainees in the Put Illinois to Work Program during 2010 do not apply to the second set of incentive periods. Provides that the term "basic wage" means not less than $15 per hour (currently, $10). Effective immediately.

Creates the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act. Provides for legislative findings and a definition. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a student attending an institution of higher learning in this State who is deemed an Illinois resident for tuition purposes and is not otherwise eligible to receive federal financial aid shall be eligible to apply or receive consideration for State financial aid, including any student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State, a State agency, or any public institution of higher learning, including, but not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, free room and board, tuition waivers, or other financial or in-kind assistance. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Makes changes to the legislative findings. Provides that a student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for State financial aid and benefits. Provides that, to ensure equity, success, and the retention of Illinois residents, a student who is an Illinois resident may not be subject to any caps on grant assistance available under the Monetary Award Program other than those required by State law. Provides that the eligibility requirements for any student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State shall be interpreted to promote the broadest eligibility for students who are Illinois residents in accordance with State law or policy. Makes other changes. Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (IL Student Assistance Commission) The scholarship and grant programs that ISAC administers are subject to appropriation. Thus, making more students eligible to apply for these programs (which HB 2691 does) will not automatically add to their cost. However, funding additional recipients would either require additional appropriations or shifting dollars from other low-income students who are currently eligible. Based on limited available data, including estimates provided by advocates for the bill of the number of undocumented Illinois students, approximately 3,500 students may become newly eligible for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) under HB 2691, as amended, adding about $9.0 million in annual demand for the program. Without additional funding, adding new recipients would require shifting dollars from other recipients. This projection incorporates estimates of the number of undocumented Illinois students, transgender students who may be required to register for Selective Service, and students who are currently ineligible for MAP because they have used the program to help pay for at least 75 credit hours but have not yet attained junior status. This estimate could be low for several reasons. Overall demand for funding could increase in future years as additional students apply. Also, ISAC does not have adequate information to estimate the potential increase in demand for smaller grant programs (which are also subject to appropriation) or any increases in demand for ISAC-administered programs attributable to students who receive in-state tuition rates because of their military or veteran status. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate.

Declares May 6-10, 2019 as "Teacher Appreciation Week" in the State of Illinois.

Urges the United States House of Representatives to support a resolution authorizing and directing the House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States.

Urges the creation of the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Cultural National Historical Park.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Cigarette Tax Act, the Cigarette Use Tax Act, the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act, the Motor Fuel Tax Law, the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act, and the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that the vendor discount amount under those Acts shall be 1.75%. Provides that the vendor discount may not exceed $1,000 per vendor in any calendar year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides for a water's edge apportionment election for certain members of a unitary business group. Provides that, with respect to foreign corporations that make a water's edge election, the deduction for dividends is limited to 75%.

Mourns the death of Jaylon McKenzie of Belleville.

Creates the Access to Justice Grant Program Act. Establishes a Program and a Panel to issue and award grants to 2 community-based organizations to increase outreach, education on legal matters, and access to legal services to low-income communities of color. Requires the organizations to act as fiscal agents. Provides for the recruitment and training of community navigators to conduct legal screenings. Requires the Governor to include a $10,000,000 appropriation for the Program in the annual State budget. Contains provisions concerning: grant application requirements; a grant review committee; financial audits; and other matters. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, if a child is placed in the custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services or a child is returned to the custody of a parent or guardian and the court retains jurisdiction of the case, the Department must ensure that the child is up to date on well-child visits, including immunizations, or there is a documented religious or medical reason the child is not immunized. Requires the Department to complete, before a child's discharge from foster or substitute care, a home safety checklist regarding the child's home. Requires any aftercare services to a child and his or her family to start on the date the child is returned to the custody or guardianship of the parent or guardian. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that when a report is made by a mandated reporter and there is a prior indicated report of abuse or neglect and a prior open service case involving a member of the household, the Department must accept the report as a child welfare services referral. Requires the Auditor General to conduct performance audits on the Department. Effective immediately.