Sen. Ram Villivalam

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Illinois Guaranteed Income Law. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Establishes the Guaranteed Income Implementation Board within the Department of Human Services to: (i) evaluate the efficacy of guaranteed income in improving outcomes for Illinois residents; (ii) propose statewide policies to create and implement one or more permanent guaranteed income programs; and (iii) provide oversight related to the implementation of any guaranteed income program enacted by the General Assembly. Sets forth the composition of the Board and provides that all appointments to the Board must be completed by August 31, 2024. Requires the Board to meet at the call of the co-chairs no less than 6 times a year with the first meeting to be held no later than 30 days after all Board members have been appointed. Provides that the Board must perform certain tasks including reviewing the landscape of cash supports available to low-income residents of Illinois and identifying populations without significant access to cash supports. Contains provisions concerning Board reporting requirements, Board recommendations and subcommittees, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall dissolve on December 31, 2027. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer, subject to appropriation, a Guaranteed Income for Illinois Program that provides a monthly cash benefit of $1,000 to Illinois residents, regardless of immigration status, who: (1) provides care for a child or other specified dependent; (2) recently gave birth or adopted a child; or (3) is enrolled in an educational or vocational program. Contains provisions on qualifying life events that effect eligibility determinations, renewal applications for benefits, and Department rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning payments to nursing facilities to increase compensation for certified nursing assistants (CNA), removes language requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish, by rule, payments to nursing facilities equal to Medicaid's share of the tenure wage increments for all reported CNA employee hours compensated. Instead provides that, based on the schedule set forth in the amendatory Act, the Department shall pay to each facility Medicaid's share of the facility's estimated CNA hours performed by employees and agency workers, estimated overtime hours, and benefits and taxes paid to and on behalf of CNA workers at the beginning of each quarter. Provides that moneys paid by the Department to each facility and moneys paid by each facility to workers and agencies or on behalf of workers and agencies shall be reconciled at the end of each quarter. Sets for a schedule concerning the calculation of tenure compensation which shall include: (i) compensation for regular CNA hours; (ii) overtime calculated at time and a half; and (iii) benefits and taxes at 25%. Provides that estimates of overtime shall be calculated at time and a half and benefits and taxes at 25%. Requires the Department to pay the facility for qualifying promotions estimated at the beginning of each quarter and reconciled at the end of the quarter.

Appropriates $1,500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Additional Operating Funding Fund. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall allow commercial relocators to recover, as part of their lawful fees and charges, towing permit fees or vehicle release fees that are lawfully adopted by a unit of local government and imposed by a law enforcement agency as a necessary administrative fee in order to effectuate an existing relocator program in the unit of local government where the law enforcement agency and relocator operates.

Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2026 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an individual from performing surgical technology services if the individual is acting within the scope of the individual's license or registration or is a student or intern under the direct supervision of a licensed health care provider. Provides that a health care facility may employ or otherwise contract with an individual to perform surgical technology services and functions who does not meet those requirements if the health care facility makes a diligent and thorough effort and, after such an effort is completed, the facility is unable to employ or contract with a sufficient number of qualified surgical technologists who satisfy the requirements of the Act. Provides that the health care facility shall maintain documentation of its efforts.

Appropriates $52,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for financial assistance and administrative costs associated with the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. Appropriates $4,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for financial assistance and for administrative costs associated with implementation of the Act. Appropriates $4,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for financial assistance and for administrative costs associated with implementation of the Act. Effective July 1, 2024.

Creates the Local School District Mandate Note Act. Provides that, every bill that imposes or could impose a mandate on local school districts, upon the request of any member, shall have prepared for it, before second reading in the house of introduction, a brief explanatory statement or note that shall include a reliable estimate of the anticipated fiscal and operational impact of those mandates on local school districts. Provides that the sponsor of each bill for which a request has been made shall present a copy of the bill with the request for a local school district mandate note to the State Board of Education. Provides that the State Board of Education shall prepare and submit the note to the sponsor of the bill within 5 calendar days, except as specified. Sets forth provisions concerning the requisites and contents of the note; comments or opinions included in the note; and the appearance of State officials and employees in support or opposition of measure.

Amends the State Comptroller Act. Provides an exception for vendors to receive payment by non-electronic means. Provides that outstanding liabilities as of June 30, payable from appropriations which have otherwise expired and interest penalties payable on those liabilities under the State Prompt Payment Act, may be paid out of the expiring appropriations during the 4-month period ending at the close of business on October 31 of each year, without regard to the fiscal year in which the payment is made. Amends the Prompt Payment Act. Removes provisions concerning payments made under the Public Aid Code. Provides that when a State official or agency responsible for administering a contract receives a bill or invoice from a contractor, that State official or agency shall electronically confirm the date on which the bill or invoice was received within 5 business days of receipt and shall transmit any approved amount to the Comptroller within 30 days of receipt. Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that a pre-qualification requirement may include consideration of past performance in administering grants if past performance failed to meet performance goals, indicators, and milestones. Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that all claims against the State founded upon any contract entered into with the State of Illinois, except that undisputed individual claims below $2,500 resulting from lapsed appropriations do not fall under the jurisdiction of Court of Claims. Provides that state agencies may pay undisputed individual claims below $2,500 resulting from lapsed appropriations from current fiscal year appropriations. Sets forth that the provisions are not intended to prohibit more frequent reporting to assess items such as service needs, gaps, or capacity. Sets forth other provisions concerning grant agreement specifications, separate accounts for State grant funds, expenditures prior to grant execution and reporting requirements.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a forest preserve district from prohibiting persons from carrying a firearm into any botanic garden, campground, aquatic center, grounds of an aquatic center, boat launch, boating center, athletic venue, picnic grove, nature center, grounds of a nature center, pavilion, grounds of a pavilion, golf course, parking lot, driving range, adventure course, grounds of an adventure course, zipline building, grounds of a zipline, equestrian center, grounds of an equestrian center, exercise venue, grounds of an exercise venue, any Illinois nature preserve, land and water reserve, or any public or private gathering or special event conducted on property that requires the issuance of a permit. Defines "grounds".

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning buildings for school purposes, provides that, for Bloomington School District 87, no referendum shall be required for the purchase, construction, or building of any building for school or education purposes if such cost is paid or will be paid with funds available at the time of contract, purchase, construction, or building in Bloomington School District 87's existing fund balances to fund the procurement or requisition of a building or site during the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, or 2024-2025 school year. Provides that the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from the community. Provides that the notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering constructing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school board's website. Effective immediately.