Sen. Ram Villivalam

Amends the Chicago Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, instead of specified dollar amounts, the city's required annual contribution to the Fund shall be for year 2021, 80% of the following calculation; and for year 2022, 90% of the following calculation: the sum of (i) the city's portion of the projected normal cost for that fiscal year, plus (ii) an amount determined on a level percentage of applicable employee payroll basis (reflecting any limits on individual participants' pay that apply for benefit and contribution purposes under the plan) that is sufficient to bring the total actuarial assets of the Fund up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the Fund by the end of 2058. Makes conforming changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that persons shall not be determined ineligible for cash assistance provided under the General Assistance Article of the Code based upon a conviction for any drug-related felony under State or federal law. Provides that a local governmental unit may 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.

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

Amends the Nurse Agency Licensing Act. Defines "covenant not to compete". Changes the definition of "Department" to the Department of Public Health (rather than the Department or Labor). Changes the definitions of "health care facility" and "nurse". Provides that in an application for licensure under the Act, a limited liability company can apply, evidence of general professional liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,000,000 (instead of $500,000) is required per incident and $3,000,000 (instead of $1,000,000) in the aggregate is required for workers' compensation coverage, and there is an application fee of $2,000. Provides that collected fees shall be deposited in the State treasury and credited to the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund. Provides that for renewal of licensure, the licensee shall submit an attestation detailing the number of contracted shifts, number of shifts missed, and number of shifts fulfilled for the 3 quarters preceding the application. Provides that an application for a license may be denied for failure to develop and implement contingency staffing plans to minimize missed shifts. Provides that nurse agencies who knowingly employ, assign, or refer to a health care facility a nurse or certified nurse aid with an illegally or fraudulently obtained or issued diploma, registration, license, certificate, or background study constitutes negligent hiring and are grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue or renew a license. Provides that the Department shall establish updated minimum standards. Provides that nurse agencies are prohibited from entering into covenants not to compete with nurses and certified nurse aides. Provides that a nurse agency's maximum rate for services provided to a health care facility by a nurse or certified nurse aide may not exceed 130% of the regional average hourly wage for each staffing position. Provides that the Department shall establish a system of reporting complaints against a health care staffing agency or its employees. Increases the civil penalty for violation of the Act to $10,000 per occurrence (currently $1,000 per day for each violation). Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 510/4 from Ch. 111, par. 954 225 ILCS 510/8 from Ch. 111, par. 958 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Defines "add-on charges" and "administrative fee". Provides that references to the Department means the Department of Labor (instead of the Department of Public Health). Provides that collected fees shall be used by the Department for the enforcement of the Act (rather than deposited in the State treasury and credited to the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund). Provides that prior to employing, assigning, or referring a certified nurse aide to a position at a health care employer or long-term facility, the nurse agency shall review the information provided on the Health Care Worker Registry to verify that the certified nurse aide is not ineligible for the position. Includes additional minimal standards for the operation of nurse agencies. Provides that in the development of rules to monitor usage of nurse agency services, the Department may consult with the Department of Public Health to ensure the rules will determine the quality of care and public health impacts of the usage of nurse agency services. Provides that the nurse agency's administrative fee shall not exceed 50% (instead of 130%) of the hourly wage and any add-ons paid to the employee. Removes provisions that provide that the Department shall use and publish the most current median hourly wage data reported by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Provides that complaints against a nurse agency shall be investigated by the Department (instead of the Department of Public Health). Makes other changes.

Amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Provides that the term of any member of a selection committee created by the Department of Transportation to select firms to provide architectural, engineering, and land surveying services prior to January 1, 2022 shall be terminated on December 31, 2021. Provides that beginning on or after January 1, 2022, the Department of Transportation shall appoint selection committees consisting of 9 members who shall be appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate. Effective immediately.

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

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Code.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for an employer who hires a qualified employee to work at a location in the State. Sets forth the amount of the credit. Provides that the credit shall be increased if (i) the qualified employee is hired to work at a location in a disproportionately impacted area or (ii) on the date the qualified employee is hired, the qualified employee resides in a disproportionately impacted area. Limits the total amount of income tax credits that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may issue over the duration of the program. Provides that the term "qualified employee" means a resident of the State who is hired by the taxpayer to fill a full-time net new job and was unemployed as a result of COVID-19 prior to the date he or she was hired by the taxpayer. Provides that the term "qualified employee" does not include an individual who was furloughed by the taxpayer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the earned income tax credit shall be: (i) 20% of the federal tax credit for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2023 and prior to January 1, 2024; (ii) 22% of the federal tax credit for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2024 and prior to January 1, 2025; and (iii) 25% of the federal tax credit for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1 2025. Provides that the earned income tax credit is available to persons who have attained the age of 18 but have not yet attained the age of 25 and to persons who are 65 years of age or older, without regard to any age requirements that would otherwise apply to individuals without a qualifying child under federal Internal Revenue Code. Extends the earned income tax credit to individuals filing a return using an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Creates a credit for child dependent tax credit that shall be not less than $600 when combined with the taxpayer's earned income tax credit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that unless the performance of an act or acts of duty results solely in the death of the employee, a compensation annuity or supplemental annuity shall not be paid. Provides that the death of any employee as a result of the exposure to and contraction of COVID-19, as evidenced by either (i) a confirmed positive laboratory test for COVID-19 or COVID-19 antibodies or (ii) a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed medical professional, shall be rebuttably presumed to have been contracted while in the performance of an act or acts of duty and the employee shall be rebuttably presumed to have been fatally injured while in active service. Provides that the presumption shall apply to any employee who was exposed to and contracted COVID-19 on or after March 9, 2020 and on or before June 30, 2021. Provides that the presumption shall not apply if the employee was on a leave of absence from his or her employment or otherwise not required to report for duty at the physical work space generally assigned to the employee, including, but not limited to, working remotely, for a period of 14 or more consecutive days immediately prior to the date of contraction of COVID-19. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.