Sen. Laura Fine

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that female and male condoms, incontinence products, diapers, and baby wipes shall be taxed by the State at a rate of 1% (currently, 6.25%). Provides that the net revenue from the 1% tax collected from the sale of those products shall be deposited into the State and Local Sales Tax Reform Fund. Amends the Use Tax, Service Occupation Tax, and Service Occupation Use Tax Acts to make conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that grant amounts under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program may not vary on the basis of a TANF recipient's county of residence. Increases TANF grant amounts to: 30% of federal poverty guidelines beginning October 1, 2018; 40% of federal poverty guidelines beginning October 1, 2019; and 50% of federal poverty guidelines beginning October 1, 2020. Provides that beginning October 1, 2021, and each October 1 thereafter, TANF grant amounts shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to 50% of the most recent federal poverty guidelines for each family size. Provides that TANF grants for child-only assistance units shall be at least 75% of TANF grants for assistance units of the same size that consist of a caretaker relative with children. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, intermediate care for the developmentally disabled facilities, medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities, community-integrated living arrangements, community day services, employment, and other residential and day programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. Provides that the Department shall increase rates and reimbursements so that by July 1, 2018 direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $13.50 per hour and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage, and by July 1, 2020, direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $15 per hour and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage. Defines "front-line personnel". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision concerning the Community Care Program, establishes the following rate increases in the wages paid by vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services: on July 1, 2018, rates shall be increased to $19.89 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; on July 1, 2019, rates shall be increased to $21.49 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; on July 1, 2020, rates shall be increased to $23.09 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; and on July 1, 2021, rates shall be increased to $24.69 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, any paid time off or payments for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases established in this provision. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the textbook block grant program, provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must accurately portray the diversity of our society, including the role and contributions of people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act, and must be non-discriminatory as to certain characteristics under the Act. Provides that the teaching of history of the United States in public schools shall include a study of the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the significant role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in society. Specifies instruction requirements. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to monitor a school district's compliance with the curriculum requirements. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish reimbursement rates which build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities, community integrated living arrangements, developmental training programs, employment, and other residential and day programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. Provides that the Department shall increase rates and reimbursements so that direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $15 per hour and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage. Defines "front-line personnel". Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Workers' Rights and Worker Safety Act. Provides that except as authorized by State law enacted after January 1, 2017, a State agency may not amend or revise its rules relating to protection of workers' rights or worker safety in a manner less stringent than specified federal laws. Provides that a State agency may establish workers' rights and worker safety standards that are more stringent than those provided in federal law in existence as of January 1, 2017. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that in certain circumstances an action may be brought in a circuit court by a person in the public interest to enforce standards or requirements concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species adopted under specified provisions of the Act and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that the provisions concerning public interest enforcement shall only become operative if specified events occur. Provides that the enforcement provisions of the Act are severable. Adds provisions concerning protection of the environment, natural resources, and public health. Requires various State agencies to adopt, maintain, and enforce rules concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species that are at least as stringent as various regulatory baselines under federal law, in addition to State law requirements. Provides that every State agency shall undertake all feasible efforts to implement and enforce these provisions. Contains reporting requirements. Deletes provisions providing that an air pollution construction or operating permit shall not be required due to emissions of greenhouse gases if certain events occur. Deletes certain language concerning exemptions from provisions concerning the Clean Air Act Permit Program.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that licensed medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities (MC/DD) (rather than licensed long-term care facilities for persons under 22 years of age) that serve severely and chronically ill patients (rather than pediatric patients) shall have a specific reimbursement system designed to recognize the characteristics and needs of the patients they serve. Sets forth certain reimbursement rates for MC/DD facilities for date of services starting July 1, 2018. Requires MC/DD facilities to document within each resident's medical record the conditions or services using the minimum data set documentation standards and requirements to qualify for exceptional care reimbursement. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be responsible for reimbursement calculations and direct payment for services. Imposes an assessment and licensing fee on MC/DD facilities. Creates the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Provider Fund for the purpose of receiving and disbursing assessment moneys, including making payments to intermediate care facilities for persons with a developmental disability that are also licensed as MC/DD facilities and making payments of any amounts which are reimbursable to the federal government. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Provider Fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Small Donor Democracy Matching System for Fair Elections Act. Amends the Election Code. Creates a small donor campaign contribution matching system for candidates for the offices of Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, State Senator, and State Representative. Creates the Small Donor Democracy Matching Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Sets forth requirements for accessing the small donor matching system. Sets forth provisions for the funding of the matching contributions. Imposes limits on the access to matching funds. Allows the General Assembly to increase various amounts, subject to public referendum. Provides for penalties for violations of the provisions. Sets forth disclosure requirements. Creates the Campaign Finance Board within the State Board of Elections to implement the campaign contribution matching system. Includes severability provisions. Effective immediately.