Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In a provision concerning expedited licensure for service members and spouses, provides that a department shall waive any application, examination, or licensure fee for a service member or the service member's spouse. Removes references to fees.
Amends the Local Volunteer Board Member Removal Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that the position of secretary of a board of trustees of a community college district may be held by a member of the board. Provides that if the secretary is not a member of the board, the secretary may receive compensation as fixed by the board prior to the election of the secretary. Provides that if a district abolishes its working cash fund, the transfer of any balance must take place at the close of the then current fiscal year. Allows a community college district to abate its working cash fund upon the adoption of a resolution and transfer part of the balance at any time. Provides that if a community college district elects to abolish or abate its working cash fund, it shall have the authority to again create a working cash fund at any time (rather than if a district elects to abolish its working cash fund, it shall not establish another working cash fund unless approved by the voters). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Works Job Program Act. Provides that contractors or subcontractors may be eligible to earn bid credits for employing apprentices who have completed the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program (previously bid credits were available for public works contracted by the State). Provides that contractors and subcontractors can use bid credits toward future bids for public works projects contracted or funded by the State or an agency of the State in order to increase the likelihood that the contractor and the subcontractors are selected as the contractor for the public works project. Provides that, for contracts and grant agreements executed after the effective date of the amendatory Act, of a specified goal at least half of the labor hours of each prevailing wage classification performed by apprentices shall be performed by graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may grant a reduction or waiver upon a determination that the contractor or subcontractor has demonstrated that insufficient graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program are available to meet the requirements. Provides that contractors and subcontractors must submit a certification to the Department and the agency that is administering the contract, or the grant agreement funding the contract, demonstrating that the contractor or subcontractor has not complied with the labor hour goals and did not receive a reduction or waiver. Provides the penalties for failing to comply with the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall deliver a report to the General Assembly on how to incentivize dual language instruction in schools. Provides that the report shall also include: (i) expanding dual language programs and instruction, (ii) developing a strategic plan for scaling dual language programs, (iii) possible public-private partnerships to expand dual language programs, (iv) potential funding mechanisms and models, including how to leverage the use of existing State and federal resources and how to sustain funding for dual language programs, (v) how to build the supply of qualified teachers for dual language programs, including potential partnerships with private or nonprofit teacher preparation or development programs and college teacher preparation programs, potential alternative certification routes, exchange programs with other countries, and financial incentives, and (vi) standards for measuring student progress in dual language programs.
Amends the Salaries Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Creates the Illinois Dig Once Act. Provides that the Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall jointly develop a policy to reduce the scale and number of repeated excavations related to roads, highways, tollways, and expressways for the installation and maintenance of broadband infrastructure and public utilities in rights of way. Provides that the Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall jointly develop rules to implement the Act.
Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that there shall be created a low-income community hydropower pilot project program. Provides that under this program, persons shall propose pilot community hydropower projects. Provides that community hydropower projects proposed may exceed 2,000 kilowatts in nameplate capacity, and the amount paid per project under this program may not exceed $20,000,000. Provides that pilot projects must result in economic benefits for the members of the community in which the project will be located. Provides that the proposed pilot project must include a partnership with at least one community-based organization. Provides that approved pilot projects shall be competitively bid by the Illinois Power Agency, subject to fair and equitable guidelines developed by the Agency. Provides that contracts entered into under this program may be entered into with an entity that will develop and administer the program or with developers and shall also include contracts for renewable energy credits related to the program. Provides that a project proposed by a utility shall not be included in the utility's rate base. Makes corresponding changes to the Act and the Public Utilities Act.
Amends the Fire Department Promotion Act. Modifies the definition of "affected department" for purposes of the Act to include a fire department operated by a municipality with a population over 1,000,000.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a plaintiff has the right to designate an additional person to be present and video record an examination conducted as part of discovery. Provides that, in the case of a wrongful death action, a surviving spouse or next of kin who has reached the age of 67 years (rather than 70 years) shall, upon motion by the administrator of the estate of the deceased person or special administrator, be entitled to preference in setting for trial. Provides that the trial shall occur within one year of the hearing on the motion. Provides that the changes apply to actions commenced or pending on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
