Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Illinois State Police Act and the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that an applicant's credit history may not be used to prevent the appointment or employment of a law enforcement officer, including an Illinois State Police officer. Provides that the limitation does not apply to employment actions performed under a collective bargaining agreement in effect on the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a collective bargaining agreement that conflicts with the limitation may not be entered into, modified, or extended on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Coroner Division of the Counties Code. Provides that a county in which the body of a deceased person is found shall indemnify and hold harmless a pathologist who renders services under the provisions for all of the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding based on the service provided under the provisions, except actions involving willful and wanton misconduct of the pathologist. Conditions the duty of the county to indemnify a pathologist who rendered services under the provisions for a judgment recovered against the pathologist upon receiving notice of the filing of the action. Provides that, if a pathologist is made a party defendant to an action and the action against the pathologist is based upon the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding, then, within 10 days of service of process, the pathologist shall notify the county in which the body of a deceased person was found of the fact that the pathologist has been made a party defendant to the action. Includes requirements for the notice. Provides that the State's Attorney of the county in which the body of the deceased person is found may appear and defend on behalf of the pathologist.

Appropriates $5,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for a grant to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, USA for program and operating expenses for youth-development based sports initiatives. Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates $50,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for grants to community learning centers under the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Agency for grants to Community Resource Healing Centers (CHRC)for their operational expenses. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Conservation Foundation Act. Defines terms. Provides that the Foundation's Board of Directors shall be 9 members appointed by the Governor. Provides that one appointed member shall serve a 2-year term and one appointed member shall serve a 3-year term. Provides that the remaining 7 members shall have 4-year terms. Eliminates the requirement that vacancies be filled by the official who made the recommendation for the vacated appointment. Provides that the Governor may immediately remove members for neglect of duty, incompetence, or malfeasance. Requires the Director of Natural Resources, or the Director's designee, to serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of the Board. Requires the Director to select an Executive Director of the Foundation, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Director and shall be employed by the Foundation. Requires that an annual budget be prepared by the Executive Director and the Board and that the budget be presented to and approved by the Director within 30 days before the expiration of the previously approved budget. Specifies that the budget may be adopted only upon the approval of the Director. Provides that before commencing projects, the Foundation shall coordinate with the Department to assess and prioritize the Department's needs with respect to the acquisition, construction, improvement, and development of potential projects. Requires the Department to provide reasonable assistance to the Foundation to achieve the purposes of the Foundation, provided there are no conflicts of interest between the interests of the Department and the Foundation. Requires the Foundation to cooperate fully with the boards, commissions, agencies, departments, and institutions of the State, including the Office of the Executive Inspector General (for the Agencies of the Governor). Requires the Foundation to comply with the Open Meetings Act, when carrying out its duties and engaging in its statutory activities under the Act.

Appropriates $2,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code. Provides that no license is required for an organ procurement organization or its authorized representative to transport a deceased human body from its place of death, institution, or other location if the organ procurement organization satisfies specified requirements.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. In provisions requiring State agencies and public institutions of higher education to encourage prime vendors to amend a contract with no contract goal, provides that, if a prime vendor is not willing to amend a contract to include the recommended goal of the State agency or public institution of higher education, the contract shall be rebid immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $8 million from the state's general revenue fund to the State Board of Education to support YouthBuild Illinois. The funding is intended to provide grants for programs that help young people gain education and job training skills. The financial transfer becomes effective on July 1, 2024.