Sen. Mike Simmons-Gessesse

Amends the School Code. Provides that every school district shall include safe gun storage information in schools' student handbooks. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.83 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.78 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/27-17 from Ch. 122, par. 27-17 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the safety education that school boards and other boards may provide instruction in includes safe gun storage.

Creates the Equity and Representation in Health Care Act. Contains the findings of the General Assembly. Creates the Equity and Representation in Health Care Workforce Repayment Program and the Equity and Representation in Health Care Workforce Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Public Health. Provides that a health care professional, medical facility, or behavioral health provider may apply to the Department for loan repayment assistance under the Program. Provides that, in order to be eligible for loan repayment under the Act, the health care professional or behavioral health provider shall comply with specified requirements. Requires the Department to submit an annual report with specified requirements to the General Assembly and the Governor. Contains provisions regarding the adoption of rules by the Department. Contains other provisions. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that loan repayment and scholarship program funds are subject to appropriation. Provides that an individual who is awarded a loan repayment authorized under the Act shall not receive concurrent loan repayments through any other Illinois or federal loan repayment program. Requires the Department of Public Health to share information about the application process for a scholarship or loan repayment under the Act prominently on the Department's website, as well as with specified Illinois-based health care training programs and institutions of higher education. Requires recipients who fail to meet their obligations to pay to the Department a sum of at least 1.5 times plus 7% interest annually (rather than a sum equal to) the amount of the received moneys. Contains provisions for waiver or deferment of a recipient's obligation under the Act. Provides that the Act is effective January 1, 2023. Makes other changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that a nurse is a "health care professional". Removes language providing that a certified nurse midwife is a "health care professional". Defines "nurse" as a person who is licensed as a licensed practical nurse or as a registered nurse under the Nurse Practice Act.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person may drive a motor vehicle if in possession of a digitized driver's license. Defines "digitized driver's license". Provides that a person shall not be issued a citation for driving a motor vehicle without a physical driver's license in his or her possession if the person presents a digitized driver's license to a law enforcement officer in connection with a traffic stop or checkpoint. Provides that the display of a digitized driver's license shall not serve as consent or authorization for a law enforcement officer, or any other person, to search, view, or access any other data or application on the mobile device, and that the fee to install the application to display a digitized driver's license shall not exceed $6. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 625 ILCS 5/6-101 Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/6-101.5 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall continue to monitor developments pertaining to digital driver's licenses and shall deliver a report to the General Assembly concerning these developments on or before December 31, 2022. Provides that the report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) advancements in technology standards necessary for the implementation of a digital driver's license; (2) production information on other states offering a digital driver's license to qualified drivers in their jurisdictions; and (3) advancements in the interoperability of digital driver's licenses. Effective immediately.

Creates the Real Estate Valuation Task Force Act. Establishes the Real Estate Valuation Task Force. Provides for membership of the Task Force. Provides for Task Force meetings and the selection of a Task Force chair and other officers. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. Provides for administrative and other support of the Task Force. Provides for duties of the Task Force. Provides Task Force reporting requirements. Provides for termination of the Task Force. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2029. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Modifies the membership of and provides for additional members to be appointed to the Real Estate Valuation Task Force. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds an additional member to be appointed to the Real Estate Valuation Tax Force.

Amends the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Act. Provides that the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Act, to the extent that there is a conflict between the provisions of Executive Order 2017-1 and the Act, supersedes the Executive Order, and shall be controlling. Provides that the position of State Historian is now an honorary position, and specifies new duties of the honorary State Historian. Transfers previously held duties and requirements of the State Historian under the Act to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and its Executive Director. Removes provision requiring the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation to mutually cooperate to establish a working group for specified purposes. Removes provision allowing the Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to have hiring and appointing power over specified personnel. Repeals the State Historical Library Act. Repeals the Illinois Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission Act. Makes conforming changes concerning the State Historian. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 3475/20 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Act. Provides that the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Act, to the extent that there is a conflict between the provisions of Executive Order 2017-1 and the Act, supersedes the Executive Order, and shall be controlling. Provides that the Governor in consultation with the Board of Trustees of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois Historical Society shall appoint the Illinois State Historian (currently, appointed by the Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum). Provides for qualifications and term requirements of the Illinois State Historian. Transfers previously held duties and requirements of the State Historian under the Act to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and its Executive Director. Removes provision requiring the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation to mutually cooperate to establish a working group for specified purposes. Removes provision allowing the Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to have hiring and appointing power over specified personnel. Repeals the State Historical Library Act. Repeals the Illinois Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission Act. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Creates the ICJIA Violence Reduction Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used for grants by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to community-based organizations whose primary purpose is violence reduction in disproportionately impacted areas. Provides that the moneys in the Fund shall also be used by the Authority for operational and grant program purposes. Provides eligibility requirements for receiving grant funds. Provides that grants shall be subject to the requirements of the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Requires the Authority to adopt rules to implement the grant program. Amends the State Finance Act to provide for the ICJIA Violence Reduction Fund. Defines terms. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 3930/10.3 new 30 ILCS 105/5.935 new Adds reference to: 10 ILCS 5/1-21 new 10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Election Code. Creates the Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force. Sets forth the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study the feasibility of implementing a system of campaign finance that would allow public funds to be used to subsidize campaigns for candidates for judicial office in exchange for voluntary adherence by those campaigns to specified expenditure limitations. Provides that a political committee that is self-funding and is established to support or oppose a candidate for the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or the Circuit Court may not accept contributions from any single person, other than the judicial candidate or the candidate's immediate family, in a cumulative amount that exceeds $500,000 in any election cycle. Provides that an independent expenditure committee established to support or oppose a candidate for the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or the Circuit Court may not accept contributions from any single source that exceed $500,000 in any election cycle. Provides that certain contributions to political committees from committees, associations, or other entities that are not required to disclose their contributors are considered anonymous donations, unless the political committee reports to the State Board of Elections all persons who have contributed in excess of $500 during the same election cycle to the committee, association, or other organization or group making the contribution. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces a reference to the term "source" with the term "person".

Amends the School Code. Provides that alternative learning opportunities programs may include high school completion programs that allow certain students eligible for remote learning to complete their education while incarcerated in a Department of Corrections facility. Provides that the Chicago Board of Education may offer a remote learning option to a student who is in the custody of the Department of Corrections if the student (i) is enrolled at Consuella B. York Alternative High School at the time the student is transferred to a Department of Corrections facility or had been enrolled in the school within the 6 months prior to being transferred to a Department of Corrections facility and (ii) is within 2 school years of completing all of the course requirements necessary for high school graduation. Allows the school district to continue to offer the option of remote learning to the student to complete any remaining course requirements necessary for high school graduation for up to one school year following the student's release from the custody of the Department of Corrections. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Chicago Board of Education's offer of the option of remote learning is subject to appropriation. Provides that the Department of Corrections educators and security staff shall be involved in assisting and supervising students participating in the pilot program. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall negotiate with all bargaining units involved to ensure that the implementation of the pilot program is consistent with collective bargaining agreements.

Amends the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 320 ILCS 30/1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 105/4.04b new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the purpose of the Senior Housing Residents' Advisory Council established under the amendatory Act is to create a space and opportunity for senior Illinoisans to connect with each other and meet with representatives from the Department on Aging and the Department of Public Health in order to share their ideas on how the State can improve the quality of life for its senior residents. Provides that the Council will also give senior Illinoisans the opportunity to share their findings and recommendations on targeted services and supports for seniors with the Governor and the General Assembly. Provides that the Council is created in the Department on Aging and shall consist of 20 members, including seniors who reside in affordable housing developments and assisted living facilities and seniors who come from each region of the State. Provides that the Council shall meet quarterly beginning no later than January 1, 2023 and shall thereafter meet on the date of each quarterly meeting with personnel from the Department of Public Health and the Department on Aging. Requires all meetings to be open to the public in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Permits the Council to form subcommittees that can meet more frequently than once per quarter. Provides that members of the Council shall receive no compensation for their service but shall be reimbursed for any necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from appropriations made by the General Assembly for that purpose. Provides that the Council has the following duties: (i) identify barriers to seniors feeling supported by and connected to their communities; (ii) evaluate available resources and services for seniors; (iii) evaluate State outreach to seniors; and (iv) evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on congregate living arrangements for seniors. Requires the Council to submit its first written report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than December 31 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Provides that the reports shall contain the results of the Council's findings and evaluations and shall include advice and recommendations on (1) how best to disseminate information to seniors on available supports and services through the use of State agency websites, informational materials, and outreach; (2) how to ensure of the availability of targeted services for seniors and to eliminate any gaps in services for seniors; and (3) how to improve State policy concerning seniors and congregate living arrangements for seniors in response to COVID-19. Provides that the Council shall terminate and dissolve after it submits its third report on December 31, 2025. Repeals the new provisions on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Expands membership on the Senior Housing Residents' Advisory Council to include one senior, appointed by the Department on Aging, who lives in one of the following counties: DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will.

Amends the School Code. Provides that any child from a public school, subject to guidelines established by the State Board of Education, shall be permitted by a school board at least one school day-long excused absence per school year for any middle school or high school student for a child that is absent from school to engage in a civic event. A school board may require that the student provide advance notice of the intended absence and require that the student provide documentation of participation in a civic event. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/26-2 from Ch. 122, par. 26-2 105 ILCS 5/26-2a from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Provides that school boards may require reasonable advance notice (instead of requiring advance notice) of the intended absence. Provides that the reasonable advance notification and documentation shall be provided to the appropriate school administrator. Further amends the Compulsory Attendance for Pupils Article of the School Code. Defines "civic event", and provides that the State Board of Education may adopt rules to further define "civic event". Adds attending a civic event as part of the definition of "valid cause". Makes corresponding, grammatical, and stylistic changes.

Creates the Student Debt Assistance Act. Prohibits an institution of higher learning or a public or private entity that provides academic transcripts from (i) withholding academic transcripts from a current or former student because the student owes a debt to the institution, (ii) conditioning the provision of an academic transcript on the payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the transcript, (iii) charging a higher fee to obtain an academic transcript or providing less favorable treatment of a request for an academic transcript because a current or former student owes a debt, or (iv) using academic transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection. Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, requires an institution of higher learning to make a good faith effort to offer a debt repayment plan to any student who owes a debt of $250 or more to the institution. Sets forth provisions concerning the debt repayment plan and enrollment procedures. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Student Debt Assistance Act. Prohibits an institution of higher education from refusing to provide an unofficial transcript to a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt; conditioning the provision of an unofficial transcript on the payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the transcript; or charging a higher fee for obtaining an unofficial transcript or providing less favorable treatment of a request for an unofficial transcript because a current or former student owes a debt. Provides that an institution of higher education (1) must provide an official transcript of a current or former student to a current or potential employer, even if the current or former student owes a debt; (2) may not condition the provision of an official transcript to a current or potential employer on the payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the transcript; and (3) may not charge a higher fee for transferring an official transcript to a current or potential employer or provide less favorable treatment for such a request because a current or former student owes a debt. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, requires every institution of higher education to have a policy instituting a financial or physical hardship withdrawal process; sets forth requirements concerning the process. Provides that if an institution of higher education chooses to send a current or former student's past due debt to a debt collection agency, the past due debt may not be reported to any credit reporting agencies or used against that student in a credit report or credit score. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that if an institution of higher education chooses to send a current or former student's past due debt to a debt collection agency, the past due debt may not be reported to any credit reporting agencies, except as provided by federal law (instead of may not be reported to any credit reporting agencies or used against that student in a credit report or credit score).