Sen. Terri Bryant

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that a child protective investigator is authorized to carry and use personal protection spray devices, such as mace, pepper mace, or pepper gas, for self-defense purposes while investigating a report of child abuse or neglect if the child protective investigator has been trained on the proper use of such personal protection spray devices by the Illinois State Police. Requires the Illinois State Police to establish a training program for child protective investigators on the proper use of personal protection spray devices for self-defense purposes. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to provide funding for the training program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Changes the definition of "wine" to include mead and alcoholic beverages obtained by the fermentation of the natural contents of honey. Provides that a brewer, class 1 brewer, or class 2 brewer may sell mead for on-premises or off-premises consumption. Authorizes a distributor licensee to sell mead to brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers that sell beer, cider, or mead to non-licensees at their breweries. Provides that a self-distribution exemption for certain wine manufacturers shall allow the sale of cider, mead, or both cider and mead to brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers that sell beer, cider, mead, or any combination thereof to non-licensees at their breweries. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that in addition to any other penalties provided by law, a person knowingly and unlawfully selling or dispensing any scheduled drug containing a detectable amount of fentanyl is guilty of a Class X felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 9 years and not more than 40 years or fined not more than $250,000, or both. Provides that it shall be a Class 1 felony for which a fine not to exceed $100,000 may be imposed for any person to knowingly use an electronic communication device in the furtherance of controlled substance trafficking involving a substance containing any amount of fentanyl. Provides that this penalty shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed by law. Defines "electronic communication device".

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that by June 30, 2022, the Department of Human Services shall reduce the number of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities on the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) database by no fewer than 800 persons. Provides that the number of persons listed shall be reduced each year by the following amounts: no fewer than 1,000 persons between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023; and no fewer than 1,200 persons beginning July 1, 2023, and every July 1 thereafter, until the list of persons on the PUNS database awaiting State services is exhausted. Requires the Department to apply for all available federal funding options to increase services and supports for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Provides that for future applicants, the Department shall provide adequate funding for the required services and supports for each individual listed in the seeking services category on the PUNS database within 90 calendar days after the individual is placed on the PUNS database after completing an enrollment form with a Department pre-admission screener. Provides that for future applicants, the Department shall identify the required services and supports for each individual listed in the planning for services category on the PUNS database within 180 calendar days after that individual is placed on the PUNS database after completing an enrollment form with a Department pre-admission screener. Requires the Department to annually report to the General Assembly, beginning September 30, 2022 and every September 30 thereafter, on the progress made in implementing the provisions of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the credit for for residential real property taxes from 5% to 10% of real property taxes paid by the taxpayer for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2022. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to the leasing of State-owned facilities by a wireless carrier. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates credit for the cost of equipment and materials used in the business of providing broadband services in a county in the State with a population of fewer than 40,000 people or a township in the State with a population density of less than 50 households per square mile in a county with a population of less than 300,000 people. Provides that the credit does not apply to equipment and materials placed in service after December 31, 2026. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to exempt equipment and materials used to provide broadband services in a county in the State with a population of fewer than 40,000 people or a township in the State with a population density of less than 50 households per square mile in a county with a population of less than 300,000 people. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she: (1) knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee; and (2) is, at the time of the commission of the offense, 21 years of age or older and causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee: (i) performing his or her official duties; (ii) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that "Department of Children and Family Services employee" includes any Department employee or a worker, case worker, or investigator employed by an agency or organization providing social work, case work, or investigative services under a contract with or a grant from the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Provides that if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to the employee, the penalty is a Class 1 felony. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes a redundant reference to a Department of Children and Family Services employee in the elements of the offense of aggravated battery. In the definition of "Department of Children and Family Services employee", deletes "employee or a worker". Deletes the effective date Section.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that, in addition to the factors the court shall consider when determining whether to grant visitation to certain non-parents, the court shall also consider whether there exist any other facts that establish that the loss of the relationship between the grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, or step-parent and the child is likely to harm the child.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides for enhanced sentencing for: (1) aggravated vehicular hijacking; (2) unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities; (3) aggravated discharge of a firearm; (4) being an armed habitual criminal; and (5) use of a stolen or illegally acquired firearm in the commission of an offense. Adds additional protected classes of persons for which the offense of aggravated discharge of a firearm applies. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board may offer the school resource officer course developed under this provision to a qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, for the purpose of employment at a school or school district and may issue, for such purpose, a certificate or waiver in the same manner as provided for any other officer. Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2023, a school or school district may employ a qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, who obtains a certificate of completion or approved waiver under the Illinois Police Training Act to carry out the duties of a school resource officer. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, nothing in these provisions prohibit a school resource officer or qualified retired law enforcement officer from carrying a firearm. Effective immediately.