Sen. Ram Villivalam

Amends the Election Code. Requires a permanent polling place for early voting to remain open beginning the 22nd day (rather than the 15th day) before an election. Makes changes to the hours a permanent polling place for early voting must remain open. Requires certain permanent polling places to be open a total of at least 16 hours (rather than 14 hours) on the final weekend during the early voting period. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that from funds appropriated, directly or indirectly, from moneys received by the State from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall continue to expend such funds only for purposes permitted by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and related federal guidance. Provides that such expenditures may include, but are not limited to: payments to providers for costs incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency; unreimbursed costs for testing and treatment of uninsured Illinois residents; and expenditures permitted in order to address (i) disparities in public health outcomes, (ii) nursing and other essential health care workforce investments, (iii) the exacerbation of pre-existing disparities, and (iv) the promotion of healthy childhood environments. Requires the Department to continue to make payments to long-term care service providers and facilities, for purposes related to financial support for the long-term care industry and front line workers, but only as permitted by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Requires nursing facilities to spend 60% of funds received as a direct pass-through to front line workers on pandemic bonus pay to employees and on temporary benefits, such as day care or other related benefits. Permits nursing facilities to spend the remaining 40% of the distributions on other financial support for their workers provided on or after December 1, 2021, or on other ARPA permitted purposes including, but not limited to: (i) the payment of education expenses to enhance direct care staff recruitment; (ii) enhanced and expanded training for nursing facility staff; and on other specified purposes. Requires providers to sign award agreements and to submit proposed monthly budgets for the use of funds prior to the release of funds. Provides that the Department shall have the authority to audit and potentially recoup funds not utilized as outlined and attested. Requires the Department to redistribute to providers any remaining, returned, or recouped funds by June 30, 2022. Effective immediately.

Amends the University of Illinois Act, the Southern Illinois University Management Act, the Chicago State University Law, the Eastern Illinois University Law, the Governors State University Law, the Illinois State University Law, the Northeastern Illinois University Law, the Northern Illinois University Law, the Western Illinois University Law, and the Public Community College Act. Requires a university or community college to provide all necessary coursework materials for rental, free of charge to any student under this Section who meets all of the following qualifications: (a) the student is a resident of the State; (b) the student graduated from an approved high school in the State; (c) the student is enrolled for the upcoming semester or term at the university or community college; and (d) as applicable to a university, the student has not previously earned or received a bachelor's degree or attended 135 credit hours or equivalent of coursework or as applicable to a community college, the student has not previously earned or received an associate's degree or attended 60 credit hours or equivalent of coursework. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the election authority for Lake County shall cause to be submitted to the voters of Lake County at the first general election held after the effective date of the amendatory Act a referendum to convert the Office of the Chief Assessment Officer of Lake County to an elected office rather than an appointed office. Provides for the form of the referendum to be submitted. Provides that, if a majority of the electors voting on the referendum are in favor thereof, then the Office of the Chief Assessment Officer of Lake County shall become an elected office. Provides requirements for the candidacy, election, and assumption of office of a Chief Assessment Officer of Lake County. Amends the Election Code to allow for the submission of a referendum regarding the Office of the Chief Assessment Officer of Lake County. Effective immediately.

Amends the Technology Development Act. Provides for additional specified information to be reported by a TDA II-Recipient Fund to the State Treasurer on a quarterly or annual basis for all investments. Provides for the allocation of the aggregate dollar amount available for new investments. Requires the State Treasurer to disclose on the website of the State Treasurer specified aggregate financial performance information for TDA II-Recipient Funds. Provides that the Technology Development Fund is a nonappropriated trust fund within the State treasury (rather than a special fund outside of the State treasury with the State Treasurer as custodian). Requires the State Treasurer to publish on his or her official website specified information regarding the Technology Development Fund for the previous fiscal year. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 30 ILCS 265/11 30 ILCS 265/20 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-130 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Fund Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that the Department of Human Services must make grants, from appropriations made from the Fund, to units of local government and Illinois public universities for the purposes of providing mental health and substance abuse prevention to people who are incarcerated and providing mental health and substance abuse prevention for those encountering the criminal justice system with a primary focus to people who are incarcerated in the county jail or recently discharged. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys in the Fund Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Specifies that it is the Department of Human Services that must make grants to units of local government and Illinois public universities.

Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Declares April 1, 2022 as Assyrian New Year Day. Expresses support for the Assyrian community and the preservation of a vibrant history and heritage rooted in ancient traditions.

Creates the Firearm Violence Prevention and Reduction Study Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to conduct a study on methods to prevent and reduce firearm violence in Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health must file a yearly report of the study's findings with the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2022 and on or before December 31 of each year thereafter through December 31, 2031. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the study is to be provided sufficient funding in the amount of $150,000 per year. Allows the Department to adopt rules necessary for the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2032. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that rates and minimum mandated wage increases for homemaker services shall be, at minimum, a rate of $24.96 as of July 1, 2021 to sustain a minimum wage of $15 per hour. Requires rates in subsequent State fiscal years to be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2021. Provides that providers of in-home services shall be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2021.