Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Use Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that if a merchant closes a customer's credit account because the merchant's business is closing or being liquidated, or due to inactivity on the credit account by its owner, the merchant shall report to the credit reporting agencies and to the owner of the account information explaining that the account was closed due to issues related to the merchant or inactivity and not the customer's failure to pay the balance of the credit account. Provides that any person who violates the provisions commits an unlawful practice.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that property belonging to a public utility that provides water or sewer service and that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission may not be taken or damaged by eminent domain without prior approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Excludes eminent domain actions commenced prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that Constitution Day (September 17) shall also be a commemorative holiday. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Eurasian Collared Dove and Ringed Turtle-Dove are excluded from the list of wildlife protected by the Act. Provides that the Virginia Rail, Sora Rail, Wilson's Snipe, Woodcock, Mourning Dove, and White-winged Dove are classified as migratory game birds for purposes of the Code.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no motor vehicle, or driver or passenger of a motor vehicle, shall be stopped or searched by any law enforcement officer solely on the basis of a violation or suspected violation of driving a motor vehicle with any objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front windshield, rear windshield, side wings, or side windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver which materially obstructs the driver's view.

Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Adds duties to various Divisions of the Illinois State Police. Amends the State Finance Act. Abolishes the State Police Streetgang-Related Crime Fund. Provides for, on the effective date of the amendatory Act, or as soon thereafter as practical, the transfer of the remaining balance from the State Police Streetgang-Related Crime Fund to the State Police Operations Assistance Fund. Amends the Intergovernmental Missing Child Recovery Act of 1984. Provides that the Illinois State Police's quality control program shall assess (rather than monitor) the timeliness of entries of missing children reports into LEADS and conduct performance audits of all entering agencies. Amends the School Code. Provides that, upon receipt of any written, electronic, or verbal report from any school personnel regarding a verified incident involving a firearm in a school or on school owned or leased property, including any conveyance owned, leased, or used by the school for the transport of students or school personnel, the local law enforcement authorities shall report all such firearm-related incidents occurring in a school or on school property to the Illinois State Police (rather than the superintendent or his or her designee reporting to the Illinois State Police) in a form, manner, and frequency as prescribed by the Illinois State Police. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides for, on the effective date of the amendatory Act, or as soon thereafter as practical, the transfer of the remaining balance from the Sex Offender Investigation Fund to the Offender Registration Fund. Provides that upon completion of the transfers, the Sex Offender Investigation Fund is dissolved, and any future deposits into the Sex Offender Investigation Fund and any outstanding obligations or liabilities of the Sex Offender Investigation Fund pass to the Offender Registration Fund. Effective January 1, 2024, with some provisions concerning funds transfers effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources for a sworn law enforcement position or position that has arrest authority must at the time of hire, be not less than 20 years of age and have successfully completed an associate's degree or 60 credit hours at an accredited college or university. Provides that any person so hired shall not have power of arrest, nor shall he or she be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she reaches 21 years of age (rather than at the time of hire, the person must be not less than 21 years of age, or 20 years of age and have successfully completed an associate's degree or 60 credit hours at an accredited college or university, and any person hired after successful completion of an associate's degree or 60 credit hours at an accredited college or university shall not have power of arrest, nor shall he or she be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she reaches 21 years of age). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning firemen's continuance privilege, changes the definition of "fireman" and "firemen" to include any person who is not eligible to participate in a pension fund established under the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code and is employed on a full-time basis by a participating municipality or fire protection district to perform duties as a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, or advanced emergency medical technician.

Amends the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. Provides that the guardianship training program shall include content regarding Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Requires a public guardian to complete a one-hour course on Alzheimer's disease and dementia within 6 months of appointment and annually thereafter.