Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that upon the filing of a petition by a reputable person or by the alleged person with a disability himself or on its own motion, the court may adjudge a person to be a person with a disability, but only if it has been demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the person is a person with a disability and the person cannot be supported through a supported decision-making agreement. Provides that at the time of the appointment of a guardian the court shall inform the ward of his right to petition for termination of an adjudication of disability using a supported decision-making agreement. Makes other changes. Amends the Supported Decision-Making Agreement Act. Changes the definition of "principal" to mean an adult (rather than an adult with intellectual or developmental disabilities) who seeks to enter, or has entered, into a supported decision-making agreement with a supporter. Allows a principal to elect to nominate the supporter as the principal's health care surrogate and may act as the principal's health care surrogate when the standards set forth in the Health Care Surrogate Act have been met. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Health Care Surrogate Act. Provides that a supporter designated under a supported decision-making agreement has second priority to make decisions on behalf of a patient.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of the Lottery for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, as follows: Other State Funds $3,289,738,800.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that a person is eligible for a diaper allowance in the amount of $70 per month per eligible child if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the person's household income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and (2) the person is responsible for the welfare of an eligible child. Defines "eligible child" to mean any child who is 3 years of age or younger and whose primary residence is the State of Illinois. Provides that the diaper allowance may be used only to purchase diapers. Provides that the diaper allowance shall be distributed in a form and manner prescribed by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the diaper allowance shall not be considered income for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of assistance for any public aid benefit provided under State law. Requires applicants for the diaper allowance to apply to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Modifies factors used by a municipality to determine if an area is a blighted area or a conservation area to be included in the area of a redevelopment project area when establishing the area. Provides that a new redevelopment project area shall have a completion date no later than December 31st of the 20th year after the ordinance was adopted (rather than the 23rd year), and provides that the redevelopment project area may be extended, with the approval of each member of the joint review board, only 2 additional years (rather than extended to the 35th year and extended again to the 47th year). Provides that a municipality may not approve redevelopment project areas or expansions of redevelopment project areas that overlap with an existing redevelopment project area. Provides that 10% of moneys deposited into the special tax allocation fund shall be transferred to the local chamber of commerce or chambers of commerce representing the redevelopment project area for the chamber or chambers of commerce to use for grants to businesses that employee fewer than 50 full-time employees if the business moves within the redevelopment project area. Provides that moneys transferred to a chamber of commerce not used or pledged within one year of transfer of the moneys shall be returned to the municipality and are designated surplus funds of the redevelopment project area. Adds nonvoting members to joint review boards. Provides that, if a school district or community college district does not approve of the creation of a redevelopment project area, then the portion of the taxes attributable to the increase in the current equalized assessed valuation which would be payable to the nonconsenting district shall be paid to that district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a child tax credit in an amount equal to the product of a specified credit amount multiplied by the number of qualifying children of the taxpayer. Effective immediately.

Declares March of 2024 as Kidney Month.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for dependents of the taxpayer. Provides that the maximum amount of the credit is $700 per qualified dependent of the taxpayer. Provides that the maximum amount shall be reduced by $24 for each $1,000 by which the taxpayer's net income exceeds $75,000 in the case of a joint return or $50,000 in the case of any other form of return. Defines "qualified dependent". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes changes to "brownfield site photovoltaic project" definition. Deletes provision that requires the Agency to develop a method to optimize procurement of the renewable energy credits from proposed utility-scale projects that are located in communities eligible to receive grants pursuant to the Energy Community Reinvestment Act. Provides criteria for the Agency to use to rank the bids for evaluation and selection for the project. Provides that if a project meets one or more of the criteria the Agency shall apply the bid price adjustment two times in ranking and evaluating the bid submitted for the project. Outlines the intent of the General Assembly in enacting the provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that "hospital worker" means any person who receives an hourly wage directly or indirectly via a subcontractor by a hospital licensed under the Act. Replaces references to "nurse" with "hospital worker". Provides for additional staffing transparency and reporting requirements. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act must employ and schedule enough hospital workers to provide quality patient care and ensure patient safety. Provides that hospitals must make available, at the beginning of each calendar year and upon request, all staffing matrices and other staffing metrics, if any, used to assess and maintain safe staffing levels for hospital workers in each unit. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall produce an annual report based on staffing disclosures. Provides that the Department shall make recommendations for minimum staffing standards for hospital workers in each hospital unit. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act shall conduct, within the first month of employment and at no cost, a competency validation for each hospital worker hired. Provides that a hospital must submit documentation of each hospital worker's competency validation to the Department within 4 weeks after the worker's start date. Provides that hospitals shall conduct ongoing verification for each hospital worker employed during a given calendar year to determine each worker's continued competency to perform the worker's job and shall submit documentation of each worker's ongoing verification to the Department within 2 weeks of completion. Provides that hospitals shall submit a list of all competent employees currently employed at the end of each calendar year. Provides for a public registry of all competent employees to be maintained by the Department. Provides for the imposition of civil penalties for specified violations of the Act. Describes an assignment despite objection resolution process to be implemented by each hospital that is licensed under the Act. Provides for a Hospital Safety Advocate role to be created within the Department.

Mourns the death of Billie Jean Miller.