Declares May 6 through May 12, 2025 as Nurses Week and June 12 through June 18, 2025 as CNA Week in the State of Illinois in recognition of the contributions of nurses and Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) throughout the State. Recognizes the need to invest in the nursing and CNA workforce through policies that address staffing shortages, provide mental health support, and improve working conditions for healthcare workers. Encourages all residents, businesses, and healthcare organizations to show appreciation for nurses and CNAs and support efforts to enhance the nursing profession and CNA workforce, including workforce development, education, and workplace well-being. Encourages the residents of Illinois to celebrate the accomplishments and efforts of registered nurses and CNAs to improve the healthcare system.
Amends the Employee Blood and Organ Donation Leave Act. Provides that a participating employee or part-time employee (rather than an employee) may use up to 10 days of leave in any 12-month period to serve as an organ donor. Provides that, for a part-time employee using leave to serve as an organ donor, the employer shall calculate the daily average pay the part-time employee received during his or her previous 2 months of employment and compensate the part-time employee in the amount of the daily average pay for the leave days used.
Amends the Employee Credit Privacy Act. Provides that an employer shall not order or obtain an applicant's social security number, except for the purpose of conducting a background check of the applicant at the time the background check is completed. Provides that the provision does not prohibit an employer from obtaining an employee's social security number after the employee has been hired.
Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Provides that the definition of "wages" includes any severance, back pay, front pay, or any concomitant relief owed to an employee pursuant to a separation or severance agreement between the 2 parties, policy of the employer, judicial ruling, or administrative ruling. Provides that the definition applies to former, current, or future employees. Makes a conforming change to the definition of "employee".
Amends the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article of the School Code. Provides that a teacher evaluation plan shall prohibit an evaluator from using artificial intelligence tools to perform teacher evaluation tasks.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026, rates for in-home services shall be increased to $32.75 to sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service workers. As a condition of their eligibility for the $32.75 in-home services rate, requires in-home services providers to (i) certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers and (ii) submit cost reports. Provides that fringe benefits shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases. Provides that beginning January 1, 2028, the Department shall ensure that each in-home service provider spends a minimum of 80% of total payments the provider receives for homecare aide services it furnishes under the Community Care Program on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. Requires the Department to adopt rules on financial reporting and minimum direct service worker costs. Authorizes the Department to sanction a provider that fails to meet the requirements of the amendatory Act. Defines terms.
Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for grants to specified organizations as deemed appropriate by the Department for purposes of administering preapprenticeship workforce development programs that support education and training programming targeted to individuals under the age of 18 who reside in underserved areas in specified fields. Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for grants to community college districts and public high schools for the purposes of administering the 21st Century Employment grant program. Effective July 1, 2025.
Declares March 25, 2025 as Equal Pay Day in the State of Illinois. Encourages the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.
Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Creates a second set of incentive periods beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending on June 30, 2031. Provides that the basic wage for the second set of incentive periods is $20 per hour. Provides that the credit may not exceed $2,500 per new employee hired, except that, if the new employee is a returning citizen, then the credit for that employee may not exceed $3,500. Provides that the term "returning citizen" means an individual who (i) is a resident of Illinois, (ii) was formerly incarcerated in a federal, State, or local correctional institution, and (iii) is a new employee. Provides that the aggregate amount of credits that may be awarded under the Act is (i) $20,000,000 for new employees other than returning citizens and (ii) $5,000,000 for returning citizens. Adds provisions concerning recapture of the credit if the employee is terminated by the taxpayer within one year after the credit is awarded. Effective immediately.
Creates the Educator Health Insurance Task Force to study the feasibility of creating regional health insurance purchasing pools of school districts accessible to all public educators in school districts that have a population of less than 500,000.
