Illinois

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that each board of trustees of a community college district shall require the faculty member who teaches a course to be an individual who meets the qualifications in the Illinois Administrative Code and any other applicable rules adopted by the Illinois Community College Board. Provides that a course may not, in lieu of a faculty member, use artificial intelligence as the sole source of instruction for students. Provides that nothing shall be construed to prohibit a faculty member from using artificial intelligence to augment course instruction.

Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Defines "institution of higher education". In provisions concerning the public list of qualified courses, provides that, to help the Department of Early Childhood determine whether an institution of higher education's early childhood college courses meet the requirements under the Illinois Administrative Code, each institution of higher education shall submit, in a format and on a time line prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood, information about such courses. Removes advocacy organizations from organizations that the Department of Early Childhood is required to seek input and feedback from regarding the development of a process to verify early childhood courses. Removes provisions permitting the Department of Early Childhood to contract with a third party organization to perform the duties required under the amendatory provisions. Provides that any applicable State staff (rather than relevant licensing representatives) must be trained on the use of the course list, the prohibitions for the course list, and the impartial oversight review process. Makes other changes.

Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, organization, joint venture, importer, or domestic distributor of firefighting agents or firefighting equipment that sells firefighting personal protective equipment containing PFAS chemicals to any person, local government, or State agency shall provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale which shall state: (i) that the firefighting personal protective equipment contains PFAS chemicals; and (ii) the reason PFAS chemicals are added to the equipment. Requires the seller and the purchaser of the equipment to retain a copy of the required notice on file for at least 3 years from the date of the purchase. Provides that, upon the request of the Agency, the seller shall furnish the notice, or written copies, and associated sales documentation to the Agency within 60 days of such request. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, a person that sells firefighting personal protective equipment to any person, local government, or State agency shall not manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in the State any firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that employers shall provide the State labor organization with a copy of the information provided to the exclusive representative. Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change. Adds a provision which specifies that the provisions of the Act that are being amended by the introduced bill shall not be construed to affect the protection of or access to records under the Illinois School Students Records Act or the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall provide the following information for physicians to distribute to women over the age of 25 years, or women interested about fertility options on blood tests to predict their ovarian reserve: (1) an overview on what is ovarian reserve; (2) an overview on different types of ovarian reserve testing; (3) a list of healthcare centers or hospitals that are available to women for testing; and (4) information on potential results and what resources are available post-testing.

Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code, the Public Water District Act, the Water Service District Act, the Water Authorities Act, and the Water Commission Act of 1985 to repeal provisions added by Public Act 100-178.

Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that a sublease or license under the provisions shall expire after 15 years (rather than 40 years in the engrossed bill) or upon the expiration of the contract between the forest preserve district and the zoological society, including renewal terms, whichever occurs first. Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning local partnerships, provides that each public college or university shall provide at least 3 licensed mental health professionals (instead of 3 on-site licensed clinical professional counselors or licensed clinical social workers) or less than 3 if the benchmark ratio falls under 3. Provides that the mental health professionals must be employed by the public college or university. Provides that service hours for the mental health professionals should be informed by campus utilization data and may include in-person and telehealth modalities to ensure access to the mental health professionals. Removes language requiring the professionals to be available on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. excluding holidays.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In provisions requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to conduct a criminal records background check prior to placement of a child with a relative or a prospective foster or adoptive parent, provides that final approval for placement shall not be granted if the background check reveals that the relative, prospective foster or adoptive parent, or any other adult living in the home has a felony conviction for human trafficking or sex trafficking. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that the Department shall not approve a relative caregiver home for certification if a criminal background screening reveals that any adult living in the home has a felony conviction for human trafficking or sex trafficking. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any additional fee collected for the issuance and renewal of the military series registration plate shall not be included in the authorized fee waiver.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes language increasing the maximum civil penalty for offering fire sprinkler contractor services without being licensed or exempt from licensure or for practicing as a fire sprinkler inspector without being licensed or exempt from licensure.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Makes changes to provisions regarding the costs of product registration fees, business registration fees, multi-year commercial applicator license fees, private pesticide applicator license fees, multi-year commercial not-for-hire pesticide applicator license fees, multi-year commercial operator license fees, multi-year commercial not-for-hire-pesticide operator license fees, pesticide dealer registration fees for multi-year registration periods, and certain duplicate license fees. Makes changes to provisions regarding the length of validity of certification as a private pesticide applicator. Provides that, subject to appropriation, sufficient available education courses, and successful procurement and implementation of any requisite tracking software, certified applicators, licensed operators, or registered pesticide dealers may elect to take education courses or an examination to meet the requirements for the renewal of certifications, licenses, permits, or registrations under the Act. Allows the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Defines "child" for purposes of child support to include any child under age 18 and any child over the age of 18 who has not attained age 19 and is still attending high school (instead of any child under age 18 and any child age 19 or younger who is still attending high school.) Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following change. In provisions concerning the powers, duties, and functions of the Department of Natural Resources, adds the ability to authorize any officer or Department employee to enter upon, inspect, and examine, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, the records and properties of persons licensed or certified under the Act to the extent such records and properties relate to the safe and proper storage, handling, and use of explosive materials. Makes grammatical changes.

Amends the Department of Innovation and Technology Act. Repeals the definition of "client agency" and makes changes in the definitions of "dedicated unit", "State agency", and "transferring agency". Replaces references to "transferring agency" with references to "transferred agency". Makes changes in provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Department of Innovation and Technology, including changes in the scope of services provided by the Department and in the classes of persons to whom those services are to be provided. Authorizes the Department to charge fees for service to all State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor (rather than only client agencies). Repeals from the Department of Innovation and Technology Act and adds to the Illinois Information Security Improvement Act a provision requiring the principal executive officer of specified units of local government to designate a local official or employee as the primary point of contact for local cybersecurity issues. Requires the name and contact information for the specified individual to be provided to the Statewide Chief Information Security Officer. Further amends the Illinois Information Security Improvement Act. Makes changes concerning the duties of the Office of the Statewide Chief Information Security Officer and the Secretary of Innovation and Technology. Changes the definition of "State agency".

Amends the Emergency Services Districts Act. Provides that, if a fire protection district provides ambulance service, then an emergency services district formed and operated solely to provide ambulance service may be formed in part or in whole within that fire protection district as long as (i) the board of trustees of the fire protection district adopts a resolution to cease its tax levy for emergency ambulance service under specified provisions of the Fire Protection District Act and (ii) the emergency services district is operating an ambulance service that serves the portion of the emergency services district located in the fire protection district. In provisions concerning the notice of a petition to form an emergency services district, provides that the notice shall be published at least once each week for 2 successive weeks (rather than 2 weeks) in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the proposed district. Provides that, if there is no newspaper of general circulation in the proposed district, then a copy of the notice shall be posted in at least 10 of the most public places in the proposed district at least 10 days before the hearing (rather than requiring a copy of the notice to be posted in at least 10 of the most public places in the proposed district at least 10 days before the hearing in all circumstances). Provides that the hearing shall be held at a time that allows a referendum to create the proposed district to appear on the ballot of the next general election. Removes provisions requiring the boundaries of the proposed district to be fixed by the court at the hearing. Removes language requiring the hearing to be held within 20 days after the petition is filed with the circuit clerk. Provides that the board of trustees of an emergency services district may, among other things, provide ambulance services to the emergency services district; borrow money; mortgage, pledge, or grant a security interest in any real or personal property of the district; and buy, sell, and own real estate for the purpose associated with the operation of the emergency services district.

Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that whenever a law enforcement officer has reason to believe that a person has been abused, neglected, or exploited by a family or household member, the officer shall, if appropriate, arrest the abusing, neglecting, and exploiting party except in situations in which the alleged offending party is a juvenile. Provides that if the alleged offender is a juvenile, then the officer, based on the totality of the circumstances, may choose not to arrest the juvenile and instead may divert the juvenile or may assist the juvenile and his family in finding alternative placement.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that the Illinois Gaming Board shall (1) allow sworn law enforcement personnel employed by the Board who retire in good standing to keep their previously issued Board identification cards or (2) issue photographic identification cards to sworn law enforcement personnel employed by the Board who retire in good standing that indicate their separation from service and identify the person as having been employed by the Board as sworn law enforcement personnel. Provides that, if a Board-issued identification card is lost or stolen, the Board shall immediately reissue a replacement identification card upon written request by the retired sworn law enforcement personnel. Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Deletes changes concerning the number of members of the Board of Commissioners of America's Central Port District. Deletes changes concerning the number of members of the Board of Commissioners of America's Central Port District that are needed to transact business.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning identification cards and suicide prevention information, provides that each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to school employees serving any of grades 6 through 12 shall provide on the identification card the same contact information concerning suicide prevention that is required to be provided on a pupil's identification card.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the law concerning limitations on the over-the-counter sale of ephedrine without a prescription does not apply to the sale of any product dispensed or delivered by a practitioner or pharmacy according to a prescription issued by a prescriber authorized by the State or another state for a valid medical purpose and in the course of professional practice.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Makes changes to the membership of the Commission on Youth Sports. Provides that the Department of Human Services may delay the implementation of provisions concerning administrative support if the Department is unable to find a third party to provide administrative support to the Commission. Repeals the Act on December 31, 2028. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following additional changes: Provides that a service member whose employment with an employer is interrupted by a period of active service shall be permitted, upon request of that service member, to use during such period of service any vacation, annual, or similar leave with pay accrued by the service member before the commencement of such period of active service. In a provision concerning concurrent compensation for public employees who are members of a reserve component, provides that such public employees may receive concurrent compensation for both annual training orders and orders in lieu of annual training in the same calendar year; however, the combined total of their concurrent compensation shall not exceed 30 days in a calendar year. In a provision concerning differential compensation, provides that after a public employee is absent from his or her employment for a consecutive period of 365 days while performing voluntary active service, the employee's entitlement to differential compensation shall be terminated. Further provides that the public employee's right to differential pay shall be reinstated upon the employee's return to work with his or her employer for more than 90 calendar days. Provides that public employees are not entitled to differential pay for periods of unpaid active service including, but not limited to: travel to and from military orders, rest periods immediately before or after military orders, and military service in which the public employee does not receive pay from the military. Provides that "work days" are tabulated up to 24 continuous hours in a shift, regardless if the shift extends into the next calendar day; and a shift that extends beyond 24 continuous hours will be calculated as an additional work day. Makes the bill effective immediately.