Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that each regional office of the Department may hire an individual to serve as Citizen Services Coordinator. Provides that each Citizen Services Coordinator shall assist citizens in the region in seeking out and obtaining State services and shall monitor citizen inquiries to determine which services are most in demand in the region. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 605/605-1055 new Adds reference to: New Act 305 ILCS 5/12-4.11-5 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Murdered Children Funeral and Burial Assistance Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Mychal Moultry, Jr. Funeral and Burial Assistance Act. Provides that, with respect to the provision of burial rights and funeral and burial services and merchandise within the applicable scope of practice, a funeral establishment or cemetery authority is entitled to disbursement under the Act if within one year of the occurrence of the crime upon which a disbursement request is made, the funeral establishment or cemetery authority submits the request to the Department. Provides that the total amount of disbursement for funeral and burial expenses for a child victim shall be no more than $10,000, to be apportioned between the funeral establishment and cemetery authority by those eligible survivors authorized to direct the disposition of remains pursuant to the Disposition of Remains Act. Provides that the Department shall develop a brochure informing the public of the existence of funeral and burial assistance for the families of murdered children under the Act and make the brochure available on its website. Provides that any law enforcement agency that investigates an offense committed in this State shall inform the parent or guardian of the child victim concerning the availability of assistance for funeral and burial expenses under the Act and advise such persons that any information concerning the Act may be obtained from the Department. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall by rule administer the Murdered Children Funeral and Burial Assistance Program. Provides that the Department of Human Services, beginning July 1, 2023 and subject to appropriation, shall make eligibility determinations and make disbursements for eligible cases to a funeral establishment or cemetery authority as provided under the Murdered Children Funeral and Burial Assistance Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that members of the public and an applicant for a permit shall have 5 days from the posting of the State Board Staff Report (currently, 10 days before the meeting of the State Board) to submit any written response specific to the Board staff's written review or findings concerning an application for a permit. Provides that the written response shall not be used to introduce information that was not provided in the original application. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 3960/6 Adds reference to: New Act 20 ILCS 3930/7.10 new 725 ILCS 173/1 725 ILCS 173/5 725 ILCS 173/10 725 ILCS 173/15 725 ILCS 173/20 725 ILCS 173/25 30 ILCS 105/5.833 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Crime Reduction Task Force Act. Creates the Crime Reduction Task Force. Establishes membership. Provides that the Task Force shall develop and propose policies and procedures to reduce crime in the State of Illinois. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least 4 times with the first meeting occurring within 60 days after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the Task Force shall review available research and best practices and take expert and witness testimony. Provides that the Task Force shall produce and submit a report detailing the Task Force's findings, recommendations, and needed resources to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before March 1, 2023. Provides that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall provide administrative and technical support to the Task Force and be responsible for administering its operations and ensuring that the requirements of the Task Force are met. Repeals the Act on March 1, 2024. Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall establish a grant program for organizations and units of local government for the purposes of providing a tip hotline or other system for crime victims and witnesses that: (1) allows the callers or participants to remain anonymous; and (2) provides cash rewards for tips that lead to arrest. Amends the Gang Crime Witness Protection Act of 2013. Changes the name of the Act to the Violent Crime Witness Protection Act. Provides that, no later than January 1, 2023, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall establish a program to assist victims and witnesses who are actively aiding in the prosecution of perpetrators of violent crime (rather than gang crime), and appropriate related persons or victims and witnesses determined by the Authority to be at risk of a discernible threat of violent crime. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 3960/6 Adds reference to: New Act 20 ILCS 2605/2605-51 20 ILCS 3930/7.10 new 65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 1.5 heading new 65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5 new 65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10 new 65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15 new 65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20 new 65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-25 new 65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-30 new 65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-99 new 725 ILCS 173/1 725 ILCS 173/5 725 ILCS 173/10 725 ILCS 173/15 725 ILCS 173/20 725 ILCS 173/25 30 ILCS 105/5.833 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Crime Reduction Task Force. Establishes membership. Provides that the Task Force shall develop and propose policies and procedures to reduce crime in the State of Illinois. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least 4 times with the first meeting occurring within 60 days after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the Task Force shall review available research and best practices and take expert and witness testimony. Provides that the Task Force shall produce and submit a report detailing the Task Force's findings, recommendations, and needed resources to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before March 1, 2023. Provides that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall provide administrative and technical support to the Task Force and be responsible for administering its operations and ensuring that the requirements of the Task Force are met. Repeals the Act on March 1, 2024. Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Division of the Academy and Training of the Illinois State Police shall require all homicide investigator training to include instruction on victim-centered, trauma-informed investigation. Provides that the Division shall cooperate with the Division of Criminal Investigation to develop a model curriculum on victim-centered, trauma-informed investigation. Provides that the training and curriculum must be implemented by July 1, 2023. Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall establish a grant program for organizations and units of local government for the purposes of providing a tip hotline or other system for crime victims and witnesses that: (1) allows the callers or participants to remain anonymous; and (2) provides cash rewards for tips that lead to arrest. Creates the Co-Responder Pilot Program Division in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the East St. Louis Police Department, Peoria Police Department, Springfield Police Department, and Waukegan Police Department shall establish, subject to appropriation, a co-responder unit no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, including the hiring of personnel as provided in the Division. Provides that, in addition to other responsibilities, the unit's social workers are responsible for conducting follow-up visits for victims who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services. Provides that the unit's primary area of focus shall be victim assistance. Includes other provisions. Repeals the Division on January 1, 2029. Amends the Gang Crime Witness Protection Act of 2013. Changes the name of the Act to the Violent Crime Witness Protection Act. Provides that, no later than January 1, 2023, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall establish a program to assist victims and witnesses who are actively aiding in the prosecution of perpetrators of violent crime (rather than gang crime), and appropriate related persons or victims and witnesses determined by the Authority to be at risk of a discernible threat of violent crime. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Provides that Violent Crime Witness Protection Program Fund moneys may also be requested by local law enforcement agencies and used to establish local violent crime witness protection programs.

Amends the Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 60/1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new 20 ILCS 2505/2505-306 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-130 new 40 ILCS 5/1-160 40 ILCS 5/7-142.2 new 40 ILCS 5/14-147.7 new 40 ILCS 5/14-152.1 40 ILCS 5/24-105.3 new 50 ILCS 705/3.2 new 50 ILCS 708/24 new 55 ILCS 5/3-6042 new 230 ILCS 10/5.4 new 730 ILCS 5/3-2-10.5 new 730 ILCS 110/15.2 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Employee, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), and Deferred Compensation Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Creates a deferred retirement option plan (DROP) for certain sheriff's law enforcement employees and State policemen who are eligible to retire and meet other criteria. Provides that a participant in the DROP may elect to participate for up to 5 years. Provides that on the effective date of the member's election, the System or Fund shall credit the member's account on a monthly basis, for as long as the member participates in the DROP, an amount equal to the monthly amount of retirement annuity the member would otherwise be eligible to receive had the member retired on the date of the election. Sets forth other provisions concerning interest on the account; termination of the DROP; and contributions. Provides that a State policeman, investigator for the Secretary of State, conservation police officer, investigator for the Department of Revenue or the Illinois Gaming Board, investigator for the Office of the Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission police officer, or arson investigator under the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement formula, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55 (instead of age 60), regardless of whether the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) occurs while the person is still in service. In the Deferred Compensation Article, provides that an employee under the State Employee Article who participates in the deferred retirement option plan shall have at least 7.6% of his or her pretax gross compensation for each compensation period deferred into his or her deferred compensation account. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize the Board of Trustees of the State Employees' Retirement System to adopt emergency rules. Amends the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and the Illinois Community College Board shall create a report with recommendations to the General Assembly for establishing minimum requirements for credits that may transfer from community colleges to satisfy the requirements of law enforcement and correctional intern courses under the Act. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Counties Code, the Illinois Gambling Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that programs shall be established for specified officers, investigators, agents, and employees who are retiring in good standing to purchase either one or both of the following: (1) any badge previously issued to the individual; or (2) if the individual has a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the service firearm issued or previously issued to the individual. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates the Illinois Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Board to review proposals and award grants for recruitment and retention efforts proposed by employers of law enforcement personnel in Illinois or nonprofit entities that have established experience in recruitment and retention efforts in Illinois. Effective immediately, except that the provisions amending the Illinois Police Training Act are effective July 1, 2023, and provisions amending the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act are effective January 1, 2023. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 60/1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new 20 ILCS 2505/2505-306 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-130 new 40 ILCS 5/1-160 40 ILCS 5/7-142.2 new 40 ILCS 5/14-147.7 new 40 ILCS 5/14-152.1 40 ILCS 5/24-105.3 new 50 ILCS 705/3.2 new 50 ILCS 708/24 new 55 ILCS 5/3-6042 new 230 ILCS 10/5.4 new 730 ILCS 5/3-2-10.5 new 730 ILCS 110/15.2 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Employee, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), and Deferred Compensation Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Creates a deferred retirement option plan (DROP) for certain sheriff's law enforcement employees and State policemen who are eligible to retire and meet other criteria. Provides that a participant in the DROP may elect to participate for up to 5 years. Provides that on the effective date of the member's election, the System or Fund shall credit the member's account on a monthly basis, for as long as the member participates in the DROP, an amount equal to the monthly amount of retirement annuity the member would otherwise be eligible to receive had the member retired on the date of the election. Sets forth other provisions concerning interest on the account; termination of the DROP; and contributions. Provides that a State policeman, investigator for the Secretary of State, conservation police officer, investigator for the Department of Revenue or the Illinois Gaming Board, investigator for the Office of the Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission police officer, or arson investigator under the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement formula, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55 (instead of age 60), regardless of whether the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) occurs while the person is still in service. In the Deferred Compensation Article, provides that an employee under the State Employee Article who participates in the deferred retirement option plan shall have at least 7.6% of his or her pretax gross compensation for each compensation period deferred into his or her deferred compensation account. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize the Board of Trustees of the State Employees' Retirement System to adopt emergency rules. Amends the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall collaborate with the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to create a report with recommendations to the General Assembly for establishing minimum requirements for credits that may transfer from public institutions of higher education to satisfy the requirements of law enforcement and correctional intern courses under the Act. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Counties Code, the Illinois Gambling Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that programs shall be established for specified officers, investigators, agents, and employees who are retiring in good standing to purchase either one or both of the following: (1) any badge previously issued to the individual; or (2) if the individual has a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the service firearm issued or previously issued to the individual. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates the Illinois Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Board to review proposals and award grants for recruitment and retention efforts proposed by employers of law enforcement personnel in Illinois or nonprofit entities that have established experience in recruitment and retention efforts in Illinois. Effective immediately, except that the provisions amending the Illinois Police Training Act are effective July 1, 2023, and provisions amending the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act are effective January 1, 2023. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-130 new 40 ILCS 5/7-142.2 new 40 ILCS 5/14-147.7 new 40 ILCS 5/14-152.1 40 ILCS 5/24-105.3 new 50 ILCS 705/3.2 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause with only the following portions of the engrossed bill: (i) provisions amending the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act requiring the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to collaborate with the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to create a report with recommendations to the General Assembly for establishing minimum requirements for credits that may transfer from public institutions of higher education to satisfy the requirements of law enforcement and correctional intern courses; (ii) provisions amending the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code providing that a State policeman, investigator for the Secretary of State, conservation police officer, investigator for the Department of Revenue or the Illinois Gaming Board, investigator for the Office of the Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission police officer, or arson investigator under the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement formula, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55 (instead of age 60), regardless of whether the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) occurs while the person is still in service; and (iii) provisions amending the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Counties Code, the Illinois Gambling Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act requiring programs to be established for specified officers, investigators, agents, and employees who are retiring in good standing to purchase specified badges or service firearms. Effective immediately, except that Section 15 takes effect January 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person may not knowingly operate a vehicle in a manner that impedes, blocks, obstructs, or otherwise interferes with the movement of another driver or operator upon an expressway or controlled access highway. Provides that a person who violates the new provisions commits a Class A misdemeanor. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds a provision that knowingly operating a vehicle in a manner that impedes, blocks, obstructs, or otherwise interferes with the movement of another driver or operator upon an expressway or controlled access highway is an offense against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles. Adds an effective date of July 1, 2023. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 625 ILCS 5/11-711 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-711 Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/11-506 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no person shall engage in street sideshows on any street or highway of the State. Provides that a person may not knowingly cause the movement of traffic to slow or stop for the purpose of facilitating street racing or a street sideshow. Provides that any person convicted of a violation of the new provisions is guilty of: a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and is subject to a minimum fine of $250; and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense and is subject to a minimum fine of $500. Makes conforming changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following changes: Relocates language providing that no person shall engage in a street sideshow on any street or highway of the State. Provides that a person may not knowingly interfere with or cause the movement of traffic to slow or stop for the purpose of facilitating street racing or a street sideshow (rather than a person may not knowingly cause the movement of traffic to slow or stop for the purpose of facilitating street racing or a street sideshow). Defines "motor vehicle stunt". Makes conforming changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/3-117.5 new Provides that if a salvage dealer posts annually a bond in the amount of $100,000, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $100,000, with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State shall automatically process any properly submitted application by the salvage dealer for a salvage certificate or junking certificate and issue the appropriate salvage certificate or junking certificate. Authorizes the Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department to conduct random samplings of automatically processed applications to ensure that the salvage dealer's applications for salvage certificates or junking certificates are accurate. Specifies that applications for salvage or junking certificates submitted by a salvage dealer that are not accompanied by the most current certificate of title are not eligible for automatic processing. Establishes procedures for the suspension of a salvage dealer's right to automatic processing of applications for salvage or junking certificates. Provides that the bond shall be held by the Secretary of State to secure compensation for any owner of a vehicle when it has been determined that the salvage dealer caused the improper transfer of ownership without performing the required procedures. Establishes procedures for the determination of whether a certificate of title of a vehicle was improperly transferred out of an owner's name by a salvage dealer. Provides that if the salvage dealer does not agree to compensate the vehicle owner for the value of an improperly transferred certificate of title, the owner of the vehicle shall be able to seek reimbursement from the posted bond for the loss of the vehicle under a Court of Claims proceeding.

Amends the School Construction Law. Makes changes concerning application for a grant, a conditional grant award, the required local match and grant award amount, eligibility, the priority of school construction projects, and referendum requirements. Repeals provisions concerning carry over projects, Fiscal Year 2002 escalation, debt service grants, and a school capital needs assessment. Amends the State Finance Act and the Local Government Debt Reform Act to make related changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes: Makes changes to the definition of "grant index". Provides that during the first application cycle after June 30, 2022 (instead of June 30, 2021), the required local match and grant award amount may be adjusted if the applicant had previously expended funds on a school construction project on the 2004, 2005, or 2006 School Construction Grant List (instead of the 2004 School Construction Grant List). Provides that in that case, the grant award amount shall be increased by an amount equal to the amount of the grant the applicant would have received had it been awarded a grant in 2004, 2005, or 2006 based on the 2004, 2005, or 2006 School Construction Grant List and the year in which the school district applied for the grant (instead of increasing the grant award amount by an amount equal to the amount of the grant the applicant would have received had it been awarded a grant in 2004 based on the 2004 School Grant Construction List). Changes other dates. Provides that a school district shall have 2 years from the date the school district was issued a conditional grant award from the Capital Development Board to obtain the school district's required local match and receive a final grant award from the Capital Development Board. If the required local match is not obtained within the 2-year time frame, provides that the school district shall be required to reapply in another application cycle, after the 2-year time frame, to be considered for a grant award. Requires the State share of the grant amount in a conditional grant award that is not claimed by a school district within the 2-year time frame to be reallocated to future application cycles after the 2-year time frame expires. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 4 In provisions concerning the School Construction Law, provides that the definition of grant index applies only to completed or partially completed, as determined by the Capital Development Board, school construction projects (rather than only to completed school construction projects) as specified.

Creates the Student Confidential Reporting Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Illinois State Police, in consultation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, State Board of Education, Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services, to establish a program for receiving reports and other information from the public regarding potential self-harm or potential harm or criminal acts directed at school students, school employees, or schools in this State. Requires the program to include a Safe2Help Illinois helpline (defined as a school helpline involving a statewide toll-free telephone number, social media, a website, or other means of communication, or a combination of a toll-free telephone number and another means of communication, that transmits voice, text, photographic, or other messages and information to the Safe2Help Illinois operators). Provides for referrals from and the discontinuance of other State-operated school violence help lines (excluding the CPS Violence Prevention Hotline). Sets forth other program and Illinois State Police requirements. Contains provisions concerning the confidentiality of reported information, funding, and annual reporting. Provides that a Safe2Help Illinois employee, law enforcement agency, or law enforcement official acting in good faith in compliance with the Act shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise occur as a result of handling tips, with the exception of willful or wanton misconduct. Provides that the Illinois State Police may adopt emergency rules to implement the Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new Defines "Safe2Help Illinois Manager". Provides that beginning on the date that Safe2Help Illinois is operational, any State or locally operated school violence help line currently in operation shall work in conjunction with Safe2Help Illinois as needed. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall ensure that program personnel or call center staff, or both, are appropriately trained in the following areas: (1) crisis management, including recognizing mental illness and emotional disturbance; (2) the resources that are available for providing mental health and other human services; (3) matters determined by the Illinois State Police to be relevant to the operation of the program; and (4) handling of criminal intelligence information regarding primary and data collection, storage, and dissemination. Provides that the Safe2Help Illinois program manager, in consultation with the Illinois State Police and the State Board of Education, shall prepare an annual report. Deletes provisions requiring the Department of Innovation and Technology's dedicated website to provide risk assessment information for students. Deletes provisions requiring the Illinois State Police to be responsible for the administrative oversight of the Safe2Help Illinois program. Deletes the amendatory changes to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 705 ILCS 405/1-7 Further amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Permits the disclosure of juvenile law enforcement records to the appropriate school official only if the agency or officer believes that there is an imminent threat of physical harm to students, school personnel, or others (removing "who are present in the school or on school grounds").

Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Provides that caseworkers employed by the Department of Children and Family Services are covered by the provisions of the Act. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall apply retroactively to one year before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 820 ILCS 320/3 820 ILCS 320/10 820 ILCS 320/15 820 ILCS 320/17 820 ILCS 320/20 820 ILCS 320/25 new Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 375/3 from Ch. 127, par. 523 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that in the case of a survivor who is entitled to occupational death benefits pursuant to the deceased employee's applicable retirement system, and first becomes a survivor on or after January 1, 2022, the survivor is eligible for group health insurance benefits regardless of the deceased employee's minimum vesting requirements under the applicable retirement system, with a State contribution rate of 100%, until an unmarried child dependent reaches the age of 18, or age 22 if the dependent child is a full-time student, or the adult survivor becomes eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare health insurance program. Provides that in the case of a survivor currently receiving occupational death benefits pursuant to the deceased employee's applicable retirement system, and who first became a survivor prior to January 1, 2022, the survivor is eligible for group health insurance benefits regardless of the deceased employee's minimum vesting requirements under the applicable retirement system, with a State contribution rate of 100%, until an unmarried child dependent reaches the age of 18, or age 22 if the dependent child is a full-time student, or the adult survivor becomes eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare health insurance program. Provides that the changes for survivors who first became survivors prior to January 1, 2022 shall be applicable upon request of the survivor following the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Further amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that in the case of a survivor who is entitled to occupational death benefits pursuant to the deceased employee's applicable retirement system or death benefits pursuant to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, and first becomes a survivor on or after January 1, 2022, the survivor is eligible for group health insurance benefits regardless of the deceased employee's minimum vesting requirements under the applicable retirement system, with a State contribution rate of 100%, until an unmarried child dependent reaches the age of 18, or age 22 if the dependent child is a full-time student, or the adult survivor becomes eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare health insurance program. Provides that in the case of a survivor currently receiving occupational death benefits pursuant to the deceased employee's applicable retirement system or death benefits pursuant to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, and who first became a survivor prior to January 1, 2022, the survivor is eligible for group health insurance benefits regardless of the deceased employee's minimum vesting requirements under the applicable retirement system or death benefits pursuant to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, with a State contribution rate of 100%, until an unmarried child dependent reaches the age of 18, or age 22 if the dependent child is a full-time student, or the adult survivor becomes eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare health insurance program. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a substitute teacher may teach up to 120 (instead of 90) school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that substitute teachers may teach up to 120 school days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year through the 2022-2023 school year.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to issue a substitute teaching license to those individuals enrolled in a regionally accredited institution of higher education who have earned at least 60 credits and are enrolled in an Illinois-approved educator preparation program. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Instead of requiring an applicant for a Substitute Teaching License to hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, allows an applicant to be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program in this State and have earned at least 90 credit hours.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age and will be using the Educator License with Stipulations exclusively for elementary education. Makes a corresponding change. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill, but allows a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations to be issued to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age only until the individual reaches the age of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a paraprofessional educator endorsement.