Sen. Ram Villivalam

Creates the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act. Provides that all records and documents are presumed to be accessible by the court and the clerk of the court. Requires a clerk of the court to limit access to case information and documents that are not identified as public to the clerk of the court or limited supervisory staff through the use of access codes restricting access. Provides that access to court records and documents remotely over the Internet shall be as authorized by the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy. Provides definitions for case information and documents that are identified as public, impounded, confidential, sealed, and expunged. Requires the Supreme Court to establish a process for access to court files that are limited by statute or court rule, and to create a statewide standardized form to request access to documents in a court file that is restricted in any manner. Provides that the Act applies to all court records and documents related to any civil or criminal proceeding brought before any court in the State that are created and maintained by a State court. Makes conforming changes in the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Privacy of Child Victims of Criminal Sexual Offenses Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, the Communicable Disease Report Act, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, and the Probate Act of 1975.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "drug and alcohol clearinghouse" as a database system established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that permits the access and retrieval of a drug and alcohol testing violation or violations precluding an applicant or employee from occupying safety-sensitive positions involving the operation of a commercial motor vehicle. Provides that, no later than November 18, 2024, the Secretary shall request information from the drug and alcohol clearinghouse for all applicants applying for an initial, renewal, transfer, or upgraded commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit, and enforce federal regulations pertaining to the clearinghouse. Provides that a commercial learner's permit is valid for 12 months (instead of 6 months with a 6-month renewal). Provides that certificates of insurance and notices of cancellation or termination of insurance shall be submitted to the Secretary of State electronically (instead of in written or electronic form). Sets forth additional requirements for certain vehicles when approaching or stopping at railroad grade crossings, railroad tracks or tracks at grades, or highway rail grade crossings. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township's board may either expend funds directly or may enter into any cooperative agreement or contract with specified entities to provide its residents with health services, including mental, behavioral, eye, dental, or other healthcare. Provides that the township board may approve the application of a different, publicly available, professional or academically recognized standard of need in determining eligibility for subsidized day care. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that persons shall not be determined ineligible for case assistance under the General Assistance Article of the Code based upon a conviction for any drug-related felony under State or federal law. In provisions concerning the General Assistance program, permits a local government unit to provide assistance to households under its General Assistance program following a disaster proclamation issued by the Governor if the local governmental unit is within the area designated under the proclamation. Provides that a local governmental unit may provide assistance under its General Assistance program under a service that complies with specified provisions of the Township Code. Provides that before a local government provides assistance, the board of the local government shall approve the expenditures of such assistance.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall publish all consumer complaints filed against any towing company on its website. Requires the Commission to update its website periodically to include information pertaining to the disposition of the complaint.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation, because of immigration status, to: refuse to engage in a real estate transaction or otherwise make unavailable or deny real property; alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of a real estate transaction; refuse to receive or fail to transmit a bona fide offer in a real estate transaction from a person; refuse to negotiate a real estate transaction with a person; represent to a person that real property is not available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease, fail to bring a property listing to a person's attention, or refuse to permit a person to inspect real property; make, print, circulate, post, mail, publish, or cause such actions, any notice, statement, advertisement, or sign, use a form of application for a real estate transaction, or make a record or inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate transaction that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on immigration status, or an intention to make such preference, limitation, or discrimination; offer, solicit, accept, use, or retain a listing of real property with knowledge that discrimination based on immigration status in a real estate transaction is intended; refuse to engage in loan modification services; alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of loan modification services; discriminate in making loan modification services available; solicit for sale, lease, listing, or purchase any residential real estate on the grounds of loss of value due to the present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person of any particular immigration status; distribute or cause to be distributed, written material or statements designed to induce any owner of residential real estate to sell or lease property because of any present or prospective changes in the immigration status of residents in the vicinity of the property involved; or intentionally create alarm by transmitting communications to induce any owner of residential real estate to sell or lease property because of any present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person of any particular immigration status. Provides that nothing prohibits inquiry into or the use of immigration status if the inquiry or use is otherwise required by federal law. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction may also, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles, or may impose limitations as the weight, height, or length (rather than only weight) thereof, which prohibitions and limitations shall be marked by appropriate signs placed on such highways. Establishes that an agency or instrumentality of the State of Illinois or any unit of local government shall not be required to widen or otherwise alter a non-designated highway (regardless of its date of construction) to accommodate truck-tractor-semitrailer combinations. Provides that each unit of local government shall (rather than may) report to the Department of Transportation any limitations prohibiting the operation of vehicles imposed by ordinance or resolution in the unit of local government's non-designated highway system. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the State Finance Act. Changes the name of the Equal Pay Registration Fund to the Equal Pay Fund. Amends the Personnel Record Review Act. Provides that an employer shall, upon the employee's written request, email or mail a copy of a requested record to the employee. Repeals provisions concerning copies of personnel records. Amends the Minimum Wage Law, the Equal Pay Act of 2003, the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, and the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Provides that every employer with employees who do not regularly report to a physical workplace, such as employees who work remotely or travel for work, shall provide specified information by email to its employees or conspicuous posting on the employer's website or intranet site, if such site is regularly used by the employer to communicate work-related information to employees and is able to be regularly accessed by all employees, freely and without interference. Repeals the Wages of Women and Minors Act. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the term "non-compliant identification card" to "standard identification card". Changes the definition of "limited term REAL ID compliant identification card" to include cards that have been issued to an individual who has an approved application for asylum in the United States or has entered the United States in refugee status. Allows the Secretary of State to accept, as proof of date of birth and written signature of an applicant for a standard identification card, any passport from the applicant's country of citizenship or a consular identification document validly issued to an applicant. Prohibits the Secretary from releasing highly restricted personal information or personally identifying information or disclosing documents to any immigration agent unless it is necessary to comply with a lawful court order, judicial warrant, or subpoena for individual records that specifically requires production of such information or documents. Prohibits the Secretary from entering into or maintaining any agreement regarding the sharing of such information or documents. Provides that no temporary visitor's driver's licenses shall be issued after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that every driver's license application shall state the social security number of the applicant; except if the applicant is applying for a standard driver's license and is ineligible for a social security number, then if the applicant has documentation authorizing the applicant's presence in the country, the applicant shall provide such documentation instead of a social security number. Provides that if the applicant does not have documentation authorizing the applicant's presence in the country, the applicant must submit documentation establishing that the applicant has resided in the State for a period in excess of one year and a passport validly issued to the applicant from the applicant's country of citizenship. Makes conforming changes in those Acts and the Consular Identification Document Act and the Election Code. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Provides for the repeal of the Illinois Public Accounting Act on January 1, 2029 (rather than January 1, 2024). Amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Provides that all applicants and registrants shall: (1) provide a valid address and email address to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which shall serve as the address of record and email address of record, respectively, at the time of application for registration or renewal of a registration and (2) inform the Department of any change of address of record or email address of record within 14 days after such change either through the Department's website or by contacting the Department's licensure maintenance unit. Provides that a license application shall have an applicant's federal individual taxpayer identification number. Provides that all CPA firms or sole practitioners required to undergo a peer review shall submit to the Department peer review reports; letters of response, if applicable; acceptance letters; letters signed by the reviewed CPA firm accepting the peer review documents with the understanding that the CPA firm agrees to take certain actions, if applicable; and letters notifying the reviewed CPA firm that certain required actions have been completed, if applicable. Provides that the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation shall appoint a full-time CPA Coordinator. Provides that the hearing officer shall report the hearing officer's findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations to the Committee (rather than to the Committee and the Secretary). Removes a provision providing that exhibits shall be certified without cost. Makes corresponding and other changes. Specifies that the changes made to the Regulatory Sunset Act take effect immediately.

Amends the Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.