Sen. Heather A. Steans

Urges those in state government to commit to working to change the culture of racism within state government.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to identify and flag all college students who are potentially eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Provides that the factors to be used to determine potential SNAP eligibility shall be prescribed by the Department of Human Services by rule, but at a minimum the Department shall consider income information reported on a college student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Requires ISAC to develop a notice available electronically to institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum, college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline. Requires Illinois institutions of higher education that participate in the Monetary Award Program to provide the notice in writing to all students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and are identified by ISAC as potentially SNAP eligible and, if possible, to designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Contains provisions concerning: SNAP Employment and Training program requirements; protocols to identify and verify all potential exemptions to an eligibility rule described in a specified federal regulation and to identify and verify a student's participation in educational programs; and other matters. Requires the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement specified provisions on or before October 1, 2017. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Adds families that are not recipients of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and that need child care assistance to participate in education and training activities to the list of family categories that are covered under the child care assistance program. Deletes a provision: requiring the Department of Human Services to allocate $7,500,000 annually for a test program for families that are income-eligible for child care assistance, are not recipients of TANF, and need child care assistance to participate in education and training activities; and requiring the Department to specify the conditions of eligibility for the test program. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision relating to employer contributions from special trust and federal funds, provides that, beginning July 1, 2017, the rate, expressed as a percentage of salary, shall be equal to the total employer's normal cost, expressed as a percentage of payroll. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax checkoff for the Thriving Youth Income Tax Checkoff Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of making grants to providers delivering non-Medicaid services for community-based youth programs in the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the offense of unlawful contact with streetgang members to unlawful participation in streetgang related activity. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she knowingly commits any act in furtherance of streetgang related activity (rather than has direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member). Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor.

Creates the Economic Development Act of 2017. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to make feminine hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in the bathrooms of school buildings. Provides that this requirement also applies to charter schools.

Amends the School Code. Provides that there shall be no place of detention or criminal processing established or maintained on the grounds of any school. Effective immediately.

Amends the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Persons Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's purpose.