Measures impacting education, driving and public safety retirement now law

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed 35 bills Friday, including measures impacting education, driving and public safety retirement. Beginning Jan. 1, certain members of law enforcement can retire at the age 55 instead of 60. Among the bills Pritzker signed Friday are measures that reduce the number of professional development hours for an educator license and allow a school district to waive the evaluation requirement of certain educators if they were rated “excellent” or “proficient” previously. Another measure pertaining to schools prohibits districts from withholding a student’s grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on school accounts. Starting Jan. 1, a measure requires various state agencies to establish programs to receive reports from the public about possible self-harm, criminal acts or potential harm directed at school students, employees or schools. Effective immediately is a measure that requires grocery stores or supermarkets to display both the regular price and discounted price of an item. Several measures deal with driving. One measure starting Jan. 1, 2023, prohibits “street sideshows on any street or highway of the state.” A separate measure permits people with a suspended driver’s license due to failure to pay child support to obtain a school bus driver permit “under a new set of circumstances.” Also among the bills is a measure that begins Jan. 1, 2024, to mandate state-regulated insurance companies to provide coverage for medically necessary breast reduction surgery. The Illinois General Assembly passed more than 400 bills before they adjourned in the early hours of April 9. Spring session typically runs through May 31. The entire list of bills signed by the governor Friday, as provided by his office: Bill Number: SB0062 Description: Establishes that deposits to payroll cards are to be considered an indication of interest akin to withdrawals from such cards, unless the account holder charges inactivity fees. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB0145 Description: Extends the time allowed to claim the title of Physician Assistant with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to 60 days of becoming employed. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB1016 Description: Amends the Water Commission Act of 1985 to require the chairperson of a water commission be a resident of the home county to be appointed, one commissioner appointed by said chairperson, and one commissioner appointed by a majority vote of the majors of those territorial municipalities. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB1097 Description: Amends the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act by adding disclosure requirements including ownership information, the formula being used for rent increases, and the right to trial by jury. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB1234 Description: Requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to create a plan to replace vehicle inspection stations in the City of Chicago by October 1, 2022. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB1411 Description: Amends the Vital Records Act by making death certificates for active duty or retired service members of the U.S. military free of charge. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB1571 Description: Amends the Illinois Municipal Code to create the Foreign Fire Insurance License Fee Act, which creates a foreign fire insurance board with the sole and exclusive authority to collect all license fees required to be paid by foreign fire insurance companies, corporations, associations and third parties under this Division. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB1711 Description: Aligns the Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program with the requirements of the Federal Historic Tax Credit and the River Edge Historic Tax Credit. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB2958 Description: Amends the Chicago Laborers Article of the Illinois Pension Code to address pension contributions for those that take leaves of absences in labor organizations. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB2963 Description: Amends the Illinois Insurance Code by adding new requirements for Group Life Insurance. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB2974 Description: Amends the Health Care Surrogate Act by reconciling the changes to definitions that were made by Public Acts 102-140 and 102-182. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB2990 Description: Extends the date of completion of a redevelopment project adopted by the Village of Palatine. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB2991 Description: Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code concerning mistakes in benefit calculation. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB2993 Description: Amends the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Services Act by removing the provision that would have repealed the Act. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB3006 Description: Amends the Collateral Recovery Act to modernize the licensing process, make it easier to navigate, and address audit findings. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB3007 Description: Adds violations of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act to the list of reasons for a driver’s license to be revoked. Revokes operation of commercial motor vehicles for life from individuals who use a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of a felony including severe forms of human trafficking. Requires courts to notify the Secretary of State Driver Services Department when a person with a disability is appointed a plenary guardian within 7 days of the order. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB3011 Description: Clarifies sections of PA 102-0533 as they relate to surgical smoke evacuation. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: SB3024 Description: Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act by allowing the Illinois Department of Human Services to enter confidential data sharing agreements with local health officials for substance use disorder patient records. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB3936 Description: Creates the Student Confidential Reporting Act which requires the Illinois State Police, in consultation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, State Board of Education, Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services, to establish a program for receiving reports and other information from the public regarding potential self-harm, potential harm, or criminal acts directed at school students, school employees, or schools in Illinois. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: SB3939 Description: Creates a cybersecurity liaison program in the Department of Innovation and Technology to advise and assist units of local government in identifying cyber threats, performing risk assessments, sharing best practices, and responding to cyber incidents. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: HB1568 Description: Changes the age of retirement from 60 to 55 for specific law enforcement officers and mandates LETSB collaborate with the Illinois College Board and the Board of Higher Education to create a report. Action: Signed Effective: Immediate, except Section 15, which takes effect on January 1, 2023. Bill Number: HB2739 Description: Creates the Private Primary Residential Flood Insurance Act by requiring authorized insurers to notify the Department of plans to sell primary residential flood insurance products at least 30 days before selling flood insurance in the State and file a plan of operation and financial projections. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: HB2770 Description: Amends the Illinois Procurement Code by increasing the small purchase threshold and reducing the timeframe for the Procurement Policy Board to review lease extensions and renewals. Action: Signed Effective: Effective January 1, 2023, except certain provisions that take effect immediately. Bill Number: HB2910 Description: Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practice Act by requiring grocery stores or supermarkets display both the regular price and discounted price of an item. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: HB3637 Description: Amends the School Construction Law pertaining to school construction grants. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: HB3717 Description: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code to allow commercial fishermen to obstruct more than one-half the width of any stream or watercourse under specified circumstances. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: HB4114 Description: Allows the Kaskaskia Port District to own or lease buildings. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: HB4230 Description: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow individuals with a suspended license in the last three years due to failure to pay child support to obtain a school bus driver permit under a new set of circumstances. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: HB4243 Description: Prohibits a school district from withholding a student’s grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the student’s school account Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: HB4251 Description: Amends the Township Code by providing that purchase by a township for construction work exceeding 30,000 dollars shall be let to the lowest possible bidder. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: HB4256 Description: Allows a school district to waive the evaluation requirement for a teacher or principal if their evaluation from the previous school year was rated “excellent” or “proficient.” Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: HB4257 Description: Reduces the number of professional development hours a professional educator licensee must complete for the 2021-2022 school year. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: HB4271 Description: Mandates insurance coverage for medically necessary breast reduction surgery. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2024 Bill Number: HB5184 Description: Amends the Counties Code and Militaries Assistance Act by making oversight changes of Veterans Assistance Commissions. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: HB5439 Description: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that no person shall engage in street sideshows on any street or highway of the state. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023