Technology

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that records containing law enforcement in-car camera and officer-worn body camera video and audio recordings that a public body received from another public body are exempt from inspection or copying under the Act. Provides that records concerning the work of the threat assessment team of a law enforcement agency are exempt from inspection or copying under the Act. Provides that criminal history records are exempt from inspection or copying under the Act. Provides that personal and private information submitted to and maintained by the Illinois State Police under the Criminal Identification Act is exempt from inspection or copying under the Act. Provides that, if a public body received more than 1,000 requests under the Act in the preceding year, then (i) the public body shall either comply with or deny a request for a record that includes video records within 30 business days (rather than 5 business days) after its receipt of the request and (ii) the time for response to any request the public body receives may be extended by not more than 10 business days (rather than 5 business days) from the original due date for specified reasons. Provides that, if a request is made for an audio or video file that is maintained in an electronic format, then the public body may not charge for the first 60 minutes of staff time to prepare the response, including conducting necessary research regarding the request, as well as locating, collecting, reviewing, and redacting any responsive audio or video files. Provides that, after the first 60 minutes of staff time, the public body may charge the preparation costs of the public body's lowest paid staff member employed in a position that performs the work to prepare the response (rather than charging specified dollar amounts for specified megabytes of data). Makes technical and other changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

SB 908 amends the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections to update the powers and duties of the Department of Corrections. The bill adds provisions for using pupillometer technology to screen inmates for drug use, creating a pilot program starting in 2002. It also establishes a program to track inmate gang affiliations, allows for pre-release job preparation, and permits the use of tablets as rewards for inmate compliance. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of Corrections to lease correctional facilities built by local governments using revenue bonds and outlines a highway cleanup program using prisoners for trash removal.

Amends the Electric Supplier Act. In provisions concerning rights granted to electric cooperative broadband grant recipients, provides that, outside of the grant service area, a broadband provider may access and use (i) any existing electric easement held or controlled by the broadband provider or (ii) any other existing electric easement contingent upon an agreement with the easement holder or controller for the delivery of broadband service by the broadband provider. Provides that, if the proper permits are acquired by State and local authorities, no property owner of property located outside the grant service area shall forbid or prevent a proposed broadband provider from entering upon the property for purposes of and in connection with the deployment of broadband infrastructure, nor shall any such property owner forbid or prohibit the broadband provider from deploying upon, beneath, or over that property broadband infrastructure utilized by the broadband provider for such broadband service. Provides that the property owner may be entitled to the payment of just compensation by that broadband provider and the broadband provider shall indemnify the property owner for any physical damage caused by the deployment of the broadband infrastructure and service. Changes references in the Electrical Service Broadband Deployment and Access Law to include broadband providers.

Amends the Grocery Initiative Act. Provides that the Act also includes grants and financial assistance for mobile farmers markets and online farmers markets. Provides that, in addition to other purposes, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may award grants under the Act for technology upgrades, including software and point-of-sale systems.

Amends the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act. Defines "qualified research program". Provides that the prohibitions on unauthorized therapy services under the Act shall not apply to artificial intelligence-assisted therapy or psychotherapy services provided exclusively within a qualified research program. Sets forth requirements for qualified research programs. Requires a licensed professional participating in a qualified research program to perform certain actions. Provides that academic medical centers shall register existing research programs that meet the criteria for qualified research programs within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the exemption shall apply only to services provided within the context of an approved research protocol and shall not extend to certain services. Sets forth requirements for academic medical centers conducting qualified research programs. Provides that research participants shall not be denied access to standard care as a condition of participating in research involving artificial intelligence-assisted therapy. Sets forth requirements for the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides penalties for any academic medical center or licensed professional found to have misrepresented a commercial service as qualifying for the research exemption, or to have otherwise violated the requirements of the amendatory Act. Requires the Department to submit a report to the General Assembly evaluating aspects of the qualified research programs. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2030. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Deletes a provision concerning the express prohibition of a municipality's adoption of any ordinance or resolution or the exercise of any power that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of a solar energy system or low-voltage solar-powered devices. Provides that a municipality may regulate or prohibit the installation of a solar energy system or low-voltage solar-powered devices in a way that is consistent with the municipality's comprehensive plan or zoning authority.

Creates the Meaningful Human Control of Artificial Intelligence Act. Provides that a public employer, including a contractor or subcontractor of the public employer, shall not use or apply, or authorize any procurement, purchase, or acquisition of any service or system using or relying on any automated decision-making system, directly or indirectly, without meaningful and continuing human review when performing specified functions. Provides that an employer seeking to use or apply an automated decision-making system shall conduct an initial impact assessment and an additional impact assessments at least once every 2 years and prior to any material changes to the automated decision-making system. Sets forth provisions concerning anti-retaliation; enforcement by the Department of Labor; and private rights of action.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Establishes the data center self-direct program to allow for customers taking service under the data center tariff to receive a reduction in the charges collected for the procurement of renewable energy resources. Provides that the reduction in charges available to the customer shall increase based on the energy or capacity value of the new additive clean energy generation's contribution pursuant to the specified requirements. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency may require that participating customers provide annual reports related to facility operation and performance, customer electricity consumption and load profiles, and other information as necessary. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, on or after January 1, 2027, at least 180 days prior to commencing any construction activities, the data center operator of a proposed data center shall submit a data center disclosure to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Establishes publication and open meeting requirements concerning the data center disclosures. On and after January 1, 2027, requires all data centers operating within the State to maintain water consumption data to submit annual disclosures of the data center's water usage to the Department of Natural Resources. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to make an aggregated and anonymized form of data disclosed to it available on a publicly accessible website. Provides that data centers that fail to comply with any disclosure requirements under the Act may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Requires the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Commerce Commission to adopt implementing rules. Requires a specified electric utility to, no later than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, make a filing with the Commission that proposes revenue-neutral tariff changes, which shall present the Commission with an opportunity to suspend the tariffs and consider revenue-neutral tariff changes related to rate design. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Online Safety Act. Provides that, no later than January 1, 2027, an owner of a social media platform shall: (1) incorporate an online safety center into the social media platform that provides consumers with specified educational resources; and (2) establish a cyberbullying policy for the social media platform. Provides for restrictions on personal data processors that offers any online service, product, or feature to minors. Provides that a violation of the Act constitutes an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Judicial Privacy Act to expand coverage to federal judicial officials and State judicial officials that includes judges and clerks of the State and federal judicial system. Amends "personal information" that may be protected to include financial, date of birth, race and ethnicity, and biometric information. Provides the method of making a written request to protect personal information by a federal and State judicial official. Creates form for the written request. Allows a court file or document to be sealed. Makes other changes.