Rep. Dave Severin

Urges the creation via legislation of the Illinois Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, whose purpose shall be to examine the extent to which current practices of the executive agencies either conform to or fall short of established laws, regulations and best practices, and to determine the fiscal impact which the State realizes as a result of falling short of compliance with such practices.

Creates the Illinois Coal Ash Task Force to bring legislators, coal company representatives, environmental experts, and the public to together to study the effects of coal ash on the Vermilion River and the rest of the State.

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a firefighter who previously participated in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) for service as a member of the fire department of a municipality and was transferred to that municipality's firefighters' pension fund upon its creation, as required under the Downstate Firefighter Article as a result of the federal decennial census of 2010, shall, for the purposes of determining the applicable tier of benefits, be deemed to have become a firefighter and member of that municipality's firefighters' pension fund on the date that he or she first participated in IMRF as a member of the fire department of that municipality, notwithstanding whether that start date was before January 1, 2011. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 194 presumably deals with a situation where a Downstate Fire pension fund was created in the wake of the 2010 federal census and a firefighter who had theretofore been a Tier 1 participant in IMRF began service in the newly created Downstate Fire pension fund as a Tier 2 employee. It is unknown how many firefighters were impacted in this way.

Directs the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to jointly identify any shortcomings in attaining the goals of Public Act 99-636 that the General Education Core Curriculum courses transfer between institutions with full credit towards a baccalaureate degree.

Urges all four caucuses and the Governor to consider the Kaskaskia Watershed Comprehensive Plan when creating the upcoming fiscal year budget.

Encourages the Illinois State Board of Education, special education cooperatives, and each school district in this State to consider the potential benefits of inclusive education for children with and without disabilities in Illinois.

Urges the General Assembly to take action to modernize its early childhood education funding and teacher qualification standards to address the early childhood workforce crisis. Urges the Governor of Illinois to increase early childhood education provider representation on the Illinois Learning Council, the DCFS Daycare Advisory Council, the DHS Childcare Advisory Council, and the Professional Development Advisory Council to assure provider voices are heard as early childhood education policy is developed and implemented.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Establishes the fiscal year 2020 mileage reimbursement rate and allowance for lodging and meals. Amends the Compensation Review Act. Prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 for State government legislative and executive elected officers and appointees in positions for which the Compensation Review Board previously recommended or determined compensation. Effective immediately.

Declares November 15, 2019 as "Go Green Day" in the State of Illinois to raise awareness for recycling in the State of Illinois and encourage residents to learn about the importance of recycling and other green initiatives.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a person working under the Adult Protective Services Program or an Ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, Department of Children and Family Services employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 1 felony. Provides that a person also commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by discharge of a firearm, he or she knows the individual battered to be a person working under the Adult Protective Services Program or an Ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, Department of Children and Family Services employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Defines "Department of Children and Family Services employee".