Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning Substitute Teaching Licenses, requires an applicant who is enrolled in an approved educator preparation program to have either earned at least 75 credit hours or completed 3 semesters in an educator preparation program (rather than requiring the applicant to have earned at least 90 credit hours). Provides that a school district may not require an individual who retired within the last 5 years while holding a valid Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher if substitute teaching for no more than one year. Provides that a retired educator may not be charged an application fee for a Substitute Teaching License if certain conditions are met.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2024, certain food, drugs, and medical appliances that were taxed at the rate of 1% shall be exempt from the taxes under those Acts. Provides that certain amounts shall be transferred from the General Revenue Fund to certain local tax funds. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor or trafficking in persons if the victim is under 18 years of age shall not be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that no person charged with grooming shall be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that prosecutors are prohibited from offering plea bargains to lesser offenses to those individuals charged with grooming. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly operate, manage, be employed by, volunteer at, be associated with, or knowingly be present at any facility providing entertainment exclusively directed toward persons under the age of 18.
Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, requires school boards to report, on their school district's website, a list of the learning materials and activities to be used for student instruction during the school year. Requires that the report also include any procedures that are in effect at each school for the documentation, review, or approval of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction. Specifies the minimum information that must be included in the report. Allows a school district to update the report on an ongoing basis, but requires the report to be updated by January 1 and August 1 of each year. Allows a school district to utilize collaborative online document or spreadsheet software to update or make additions to the report. Sets forth other requirements. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act. Establishes the procedures required before conducting a prescribed burning. Provides that no landowner, agent of the landowner, or certified prescribed burn manager shall be liable for damage, injury, or loss caused by a prescribed burning or smoke resulting from a prescribed burning unless the landowner, agent of the landowner, or certified prescribed burn manager is proven to be grossly negligent. Effective immediately.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish and administer a workforce industry needs scholarship program to provide scholarships to qualified students who, in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs, are pursuing a professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning. Sets forth the qualifications that a student must meet to receive a scholarship. Provides that each scholarship awarded shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and board costs of the public institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000, except that in the case of a recipient who does not reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules to define what constitutes a postsecondary course of study or other program in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs. Provides that priority for receiving a scholarship may be given to students seeking a professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning in an industry sector identified annually by the Commission as having significant regional or statewide workforce needs. Provides for the approval and suspension of approval of a postsecondary course of study or other program of a public institution of higher learning. Provides for rulemaking. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that upon commencement of services, or as soon thereafter as the condition of the recipient permits, every adult recipient, as well as the recipient's guardian or substitute decision maker, and every recipient who is 12 years of age or older and the parent or guardian of a minor or person under guardianship shall be informed orally and in writing that physical assault by a recipient may be reported to law enforcement pursuant to the Health Care Violence Prevention Act.
Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that upon payment of an annual administrative fee not exceeding $100, during the first 3 calendar quarters an employer may pay its quarterly contributions due for wages in equal installments. Establishes a schedule for payment of the contributions. Provides for the accrual of interest. Authorizes the adoption of necessary rules. Provides that payment on a quarterly basis is not available for calendar years when there are outstanding bonds under the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Financing Act.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for Illinois licensed wine manufacturers and craft brewers in an amount equal to 50% of the qualified costs incurred by a qualified taxpayer during the taxable year. Prohibits a taxpayer from receiving a credit of more than $1,500. Provides that the tax credit shall be awarded on the basis of costs related to the purchase of crops used in the manufacture of beer or wine that are grown and harvested in Illinois. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit in an amount equal to 10% of the stipend or salary paid by the taxpayer to up to (i) 5 qualified college interns or (ii) 5 qualified high school interns during the taxable year. Provides that no taxpayer may claim more than $5,000 in total credits under the provision for all taxable years combined. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.