Sen. Mike Simmons-Gessesse

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2024 calendar year, the Regional Transportation Authority shall issue an annual report on or before December 31 of each year containing all rail safety recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board during the previous 12 months and the status of the Authority's implementation of those recommendations. The Authority shall make the report publicly available on the Authority's website. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2024, and continuing as long as funds are available, a person may apply for a rebate in specified amounts following the purchase of an electric bicycle in Illinois. Prohibits the rebate amount from exceeding the purchase price of the electric bicycle. Contains eligibility requirements. Requires a person who is awarded a rebate to retain ownership of the electric bicycle for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. Provides that a person may apply for and receive a rebate only once in a 10-year period and that only one rebate may be awarded per person per electric bicycle. Contains other provisions.

Amends the Credit Services Organizations Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Credit Repair Organizations Act. Provides that the Director of Financial and Professional Regulation shall oversee the activities of credit repair organizations and compliance with the Act. Provides that a credit repair organization shall submit a report every 6 months to the Director containing specified information. Provides that the Director may adopt rules necessary to administer the Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning contracts between a buyer and a credit repair organization; registration of credit repair organizations; violations of the Act; and remedies. Repeals provisions concerning surety bonds. Defines terms. Repeals provisions concerning surety bonds. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2024.

Creates the Access to Affordable Insulin Act. Sets forth provisions concerning an insulin urgent-need program. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish procedures and applications for the insulin urgent-need program. Sets forth provisions concerning insulin urgent-need program exceptions, eligibility, forms, applications, claims and reimbursement, copayments, information sheets, and navigators. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs, provides that an insurer that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs under the terms of a health coverage plan the insurer offers shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a 30-day supply of covered prescription insulin drugs at an amount not to exceed $35 (rather than $100). Effective immediately.

Creates the Government Zero Emission Vehicle Act. Defines terms. Provides that all vehicles owned by a governmental unit must either be a manufactured zero-emission vehicle or converted into a zero-emission vehicle no later than January 1, 2045. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules to implement the Act. Provides that the rules may include requirements for all governmental units to gradually reduce the percentage of vehicles that are not zero-emission vehicles up through January 1, 2045. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act. Provides that unless otherwise required by State or federal law, an employer shall not voluntarily enroll in the E-Verify program or a similar Electronic Employment Verification System. Provides that if an employer is required to participate in the E-Verify program or a similar Electronic Employment Verification System and receives notification from the Social Security Administration of a discrepancy between an employee's name or social security number and the Social Security Administration's records, an employer must provide the employee with specified information or grant the employee no less than 30 days of unpaid leave to correct any verification discrepancy. Provides for additional rights and protections granted to an employee following the notification from the Social Security Administration of a discrepancy. Makes corresponding changes.

Urges the United States Congress to take immediate action to clarify and amend the U.S. tax code to prevent the misuse of Puerto Rican tax incentives. Urges any amendments to the tax code to preserve the original intent of promoting economic growth in Puerto Rico while preventing potential misuse and addressing the negative economic impacts on the local population. Encourages collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, as well as with Puerto Rican authorities, to ensure that tax policies are fair, transparent, and effective. Recommends the implementation of educational campaigns to inform the public about the proper use of tax incentives and the potential consequences of misuse in Puerto Rico.

Creates the Office of Language Equity and Access Act. Provides that the Office of Language Equity and Access is created in the Governor's Office of New Americans to ensure equitable and meaningful access to State information, services, programs, and activities for persons who have limited English proficiency. Provides that the Director of the Office shall work with State agencies and use available resources within the Office of New Americans and Office of Equity to ensure that, among other things, each State agency takes reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services, programs, and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. Provides that the Office shall have a full-time Director who is bilingual and has experience in serving immigrant populations. Describes the duties and responsibilities of the Director. Provides that there shall be a bilingual employment plan, which would require designations of positions as bilingual and result in the hiring of qualified personnel who are bilingual. Provides that the Director shall comply with specified requirements concerning the need for interpreters and translators. Provides that the Director shall develop a template and mechanism for collecting, storing, and analyzing language access plans.

Creates the Second Chance Public Health and Safety Act and amends the Freedom of Information Act, the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Contains declarations and findings. Creates the Department of Returning Resident Affairs and sets forth its powers in relation to returning residents (residents who have been detained, are defendants in criminal prosecutions, are incarcerated, or have been incarcerated) and other matters. Provides that the Department shall develop and administer the Second Chance State Program for returning residents and provides for the establishment of hub sites to provide specified services to eligible individuals and other elements of the Program. Provides for the appointment of a Director of Returning Resident Affairs who has experience working with or for a community-based organization and was incarcerated in an Illinois Department of Corrections facility for not less than one year, as well as an Assistant Director and a General Counsel. Contains provisions regarding other matters. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides for the election (rather than appointment) of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago beginning with the 2025 consolidated election. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.