Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for an amount equal to the amount included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income that is attributable to student loan repayment assistance received by the taxpayer during the taxable year from a qualified community foundation if the taxpayer is a qualified worker. Effective immediately.
Creates the Wetlands and Small Streams Protection Act to restore protections for wetlands and small streams that were formerly protected from pollution and destruction by the Clean Water Act. Includes provisions concerning: exemptions; wetlands delineation, classification, notification, permits and veto; general permits; appeal of final decisions made by the Department of Natural Resources and judicial review; investigation and enforcement; and county authority. Creates the Wetlands and Small Streams Advisory Committee and establishes duties and rules for the Committee. Creates the Wetlands and Small Streams Protection Fund. Provides for permit review fees. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning the child care assistance program, provides that beginning in State Fiscal Year 2024, the specified income threshold shall be no less than 250% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Provides that beginning in State Fiscal Year 2025, the income threshold shall annually increase by 25% if the percentage of enrolled families with income at the then-current income threshold, for the applicable family size, reaches 45% of all families eligible for child care assistance. Provides that the annual 25% increase in income eligibility shall continue each State fiscal year until the income threshold reaches 400% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Effective July 1, 2023.
Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, all internships for school social workers must be paid internships. Provides that subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts to assist in the funding of these paid internships. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program. Provides that higher priority shall be given to schools that demonstrate a shortage of school social workers, which is determined by the average ratio of school social workers to students in the target school district over the preceding 3 school years. Provides that the State Board of Education shall produce an annual report on the program. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to colleges or universities in the State to fund field placements for social workers. Provides that subject to appropriation, colleges and universities shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program. Provides that colleges and universities, upon receiving funding, shall provide applications to students eligible for this funding. Provides that the college or university shall give priority to applicants who are a member of a racial minority. Provides that each college or university that receives funds shall provide an annual report to the Board of Higher Education and the Board of Higher Education shall publish those reports on the Board's website. Effective immediately.
Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that, in determining whether an individual is an Illinois resident, if the individual enrolls or attains credits at a public or private elementary school in this State, a public or private high school in this State, an adult school organized under the Public Community College Act, or a community college campus organized under the Public Community College Act, or either graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State, attained an associate degree from a community college campus organized under the Public Community College Act, or fulfills of the minimum transfer requirements established by the college for students transferring from a campus of a community college campus organized under the Public Community College Act, then the individual can qualify as a resident (instead of resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State or individual graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State). Removes the requirement that the individual must attend school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date the individual graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma to qualify as an Illinois resident.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides for the issuance of a Montessori educator license to qualified individuals to teach using the Montessori method in public school programs that use the Montessori method as the primary method of instruction. Sets forth the requirements that an individual must satisfy to be issued a Montessori educator license, which include requiring the applicant to have (i) graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a bachelor's degree, (ii) a Montessori certificate or credential issued by an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, by the American Montessori Society, or by the Association Montessori Internationale, and (iii) successfully completed required testing. Makes related changes to provisions concerning educator testing and fees.
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2025, renal dialysis services provided within a skilled nursing facility by a certified home dialysis provider shall receive a per-claim add-on payment of $95 per treatment. Defines "certified home dialysis provider" to mean an end stage renal disease facility that (i) provides dialysis treatment or dialysis training to caregivers or individuals with end stage renal disease and (ii) has been approved to provide dialysis home training support services by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Effective January 1, 2025.
Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to fulfill its obligations under the Regional Planning Act, to enhance capacity to support additional comprehensive local and regional planning, and to facilitate access to federal funding. Effective July 1, 2024.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Expands the categories of families and individuals eligible for child care assistance to include: early childhood assistants or aides, qualified assistants, early childhood teachers, and school-age workers who work at least 20 hours per week and meet income eligibility and other requirements. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule to the contrary, beginning in State fiscal year 2025, the specified income threshold for families with a household member who is an early childhood assistant or aide, qualified assistant, early childhood teacher, or school-age worker shall be no less than 300% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Effective July 1, 2024.
Creates the Safety Moratorium on Carbon Dioxide Pipelines Act. Establishes a temporary statewide moratorium on construction of carbon dioxide pipelines until certain studies at the federal and State levels are conducted. Details requirements for the State study regarding the safety of carbon dioxide pipelines, which include receiving input from first responders, analyzing pipeline ruptures or leaks in a variety of settings, and recommending setbacks and funding based on that analysis. Provides that pending applications for carbon dioxide pipelines shall be held in abeyance. Provides for expiration of the temporary moratorium after any of the following: 4 years; when new safety standards pursuant to required studies are established; or upon adoption of certain Illinois legislation, including setbacks for safe evacuation, specifications limiting eminent domain, funding for first responders, funding for required actions at carbon sequestration sites, expanded monitoring at carbon sequestration sites, specification for long-term liability in the event of a disaster, a ban on the use of captured carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery, emissions limits for air pollutants, requirements regarding greenhouse gas lifecycle analysis with prohibitions on carbon capture unless certain showings are made, a mandate that alternatives to capture be evaluated, public participation opportunities, and additional protections, including a prohibition related to protecting "sole source" aquifers designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Defines terms. Makes findings. Effective immediately.
