* Rep. Bob Rita’s HB4222…

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that each licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed large truck stop establishment shall notify the Illinois Gaming Board in writing prior to a proposed sale or transfer of the licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed large truck stop establishment. Sets forth provisions concerning the change of ownership of a licensed establishment. Provides for conditional licenses for licensed establishments. Provides that a licensed terminal operator shall be excused from any surveillance obligation imposed upon a licensed terminal operator if the failure of the terminal operator to comply with the surveillance obligation is caused by specified circumstances. Effective immediately.

* SB2638 from Sen. Julie Morrison…

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that moneys collected by a municipality from hotel use taxes may be expended to contribute to fund actuarial liabilities of the municipality’s pension fund established under Article 3, 4, 5, or 6 of the Illinois Pension Code or Article 7 of the Illinois Pension Code with regard to sheriff’s law enforcement employees if the municipality has not established a pension fund under Article 3, 4, 5, or 6 of the Illinois Pension Code.

* Press release…

Continuing his advocacy for immigrant employees following the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1515 earlier this summer, State Senator Javier Cervantes brought forth a new plan that would protect marginalized workers and give employees time to correct employment verification document discrepancies before an enforcement action is taken against them.

“Throughout my years working alongside labor and health care organizations, I have seen employees hurt by this process,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “In working with the governor’s office and advocacy groups, we are confident we have come up with a plan that will protect employees and work for everyone involved in the verification process.”

Currently, federal immigration law requires employers to verify the legal work status of their employees through the E-Verify system. E-Verify compares information from an employee’s I-9 Form to records available to the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm eligibility. If discrepancies are found, immigrant workers have the possibility of receiving a “no match” letter for a variety of reasons, including instances where the individual changed their name due to marriage. Many employers terminate employees who receive this notice, even though they could be legally working in the United States.

Senate Bill 508 would prevent employers from imposing work authorization verification requirements that are greater than those required by federal law and give employees time to correct documentation discrepancies. The new legislation would require employers, upon finding a discrepancy in verification information, to notify the employee that the federal or State agency has notified the employer and the time period the employee has to contest the information. The employee would be given an explanation of the discrepancy and retain the right to have a representative present for meetings related to employment verification. Employers would be barred from taking any adverse action against the employee based on the notification. […]

Senate Bill 508 passed the Senate Floor on Tuesday and heads to the House for further consideration.

* HB4223 from Rep. Michael Marron…

Creates the 5-day Budget Review Act. Prohibits a hearing or vote on any appropriation bill or revenue bill for at least 5 days after the bill is made publicly available. Provides that a vote on an amendment to an appropriation bill or a revenue bill is not in order unless that amendment is made publicly available at least 48 hours prior to the vote. Provides that these temporal limitations may be waived by an affirmative two-thirds vote of the full committee or house considering the legislation. Effective immediately.

* Effingham Radio…

The Illinois Legislative Prayer Caucus (ILPC) is spearheading a drive to reestablish a prayer room in the Illinois State Capitol. The ILPC is for legislators only and operates under the umbrella of the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation (CPCF). The CPCF connects legislators within states and across the nation in prayer and action. Members of the ILPC believe that through trust in God, humble prayer and strategic action, the religious liberties of all Americans will be protected.

When a prayer room was established in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, it took one year from start to finish beginning in 1954 then opening in 1955. However, in Illinois, it took a 15-year effort to have a nondenominational chapel, or prayer room as it is known, established in the Illinois Capitol. The process in Illinois began in 1982 and in November 1997, the prayer room was opened and dedicated.

During a 2009-2013 renovation of the West Wing, the prayer room in the Capitol was remodeled and converted into a House committee room.

In this final week of the Fall Veto Session, Rep. Brad Halbrook, Chairman of the ILPC, has filed a Resolution (HR 495) to reestablish the prayer room during the current, ongoing renovations of the North Wing of the Capitol building.

As Rep. Halbrook has stated, “Prayer was a vital part of the founding fathers’ lives as they sought the direction, protection & wisdom of God. Our great need of God’s help today is no different than our forefathers’ need when they created this nation. This is why it only makes sense to have a prayer chapel designated for our Illinois State Capitol.”

* WCMY…

Illinois Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin provided a status update on her efforts to end the state’s moratorium on building new nuclear reactors:

“As a result of ongoing negotiations with the support of the Senate President, his team, and other stakeholders, we are in the process of finalizing the language for legislation that I believe will be voted on in the Senate this week.

“The new legislation will have similar language to Senate Bill 2591, which I filed last month. It is my hope that this new bill will address the concerns of the Governor by including a very specific and intentional definition of what constitutes new nuclear within our state. Furthermore, it will include state-level oversight in addition to the already stringent oversight laid out by the federal government.

“Nuclear energy runs 24/7, 365 days a year, rain or shine. Nuclear is the clean and affordable energy that is necessary to help power Illinois and America’s future. The federal regulatory permitting process takes six to eight years, so we must act quickly to ensure that our state has the opportunity to take advantage of the amazing advancements in new nuclear technology that have occurred over the past couple of decades. The longer we wait to end this moratorium, Illinois falls further behind the rest of the nation.”

* Rep. Dan Caulkins introduced HB4220 yesterday…

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to provide certain written summaries and verbal notifications to parents, guardians, or other persons having legal custody of a child who are under investigation for child abuse or neglect. Provides that, after initiating an abuse or neglect investigation, the Department shall provide the investigated person with a written summary of the following information: (1) the known allegations and factual claims the Department is investigating; (2) the Department’s procedures for conducting an investigation of alleged child abuse or neglect; (3) the person’s right to file a complaint with the Department or request a review of the Department’s investigative findings; (4) the person’s right to review all records of the Department’s investigation within 24 hours of making the request unless such review would undermine an ongoing criminal investigation or jeopardize the child’s safety; and other matters. Requires the Department to provide a verbal notification of the person’s right to: (i) not speak with any agent of the Department without an attorney present; (ii) record any interaction or interview the person has with a child protective investigator or any other agent of the Department with the understanding that upon court order the person may be required to disclose the recording to the Department, a law enforcement agency, or another party; (iii) refuse to allow a child protective investigator to enter the home or interview the child without a court order; and other matters. Provides that the Department shall provide a verbal notification to the child of the child’s right to have an adult the child is comfortable with present during any investigatory interview with the Department. Provides that the child protective investigator assigned to investigate the report of abuse or neglect shall document in the case record that the investigator provided the written summaries and verbal notifications. Provides that if a parent, guardian, or legal custodian under investigation for child abuse or neglect does not receive the written summaries and verbal notifications, any information obtained from such person is not admissible as evidence against the person in any civil proceeding.

* SB2637 from Sen. Willie Preston is on First Reading…

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, a person or entity shall not manufacture, sell, deliver, distribute, hold, or offer for sale a food product for human consumption that contains brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, or red dye 3. Provides that a person or entity that violates the prohibition shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $10,000 for each subsequent violation. Makes a conforming change.

* Rep. Ryan Spain’s HB4216 is on First Reading…

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall approve a course for school safety officers (a retired law enforcement officer who has been hired by a school district to perform security services). Sets forth training and certification requirements, including firearm certification. Provides that an applicant for employment as a school safety officer must authorize an investigation to determine if the applicant has been convicted of any criminal offense that disqualifies the person as a school safety officer. Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Exempts school safety officers from the Act if a school board does not require officer-worn body cameras. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a school may employ a school safety officer. Requires a school safety officer applicant to provide the school district a certificate of completion or approved waiver issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Provides that a school safety officer shall wear a uniform that clearly identifies the officer as a school safety officer. Provides that a school safety officer may detain a person when the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that an offense, other than an ordinance violation, is being committed. Provides that a school safety officer may carry a firearm as long as the officer is certified under specified provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act. Adds references to school safety officers throughout the Code. Effective immediately.

* Sen. Celina Villanueva’s SB2633…

Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act to include in the definition of “petitioner” an intimate partner. Amends the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedures of 1963 and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that, if the petitioner seeks a court order prohibiting the respondent from possessing firearms, firearm ammunition, and firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm, the court shall immediately issue a search warrant directing seizure of firearms at the time an ex parte or final order of protection is issued, if the court finds, based on the facts presented that: (1) probable cause exists that the respondent possesses firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm; (2) probable cause exists to believe that the respondent poses a danger of causing personal injury to the petitioner or child by having in the respondent, custody or control, or by purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm and that the danger is imminent and present; and probable cause exists that firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm are located at the residence, vehicle, or other property of the respondent.

* HB4217 from Rep. Joe Sosnowski is in Rules…

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Deletes provisions requiring an applicant or holder of a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card to be a resident of the State of Illinois. Provides that a person who is not a resident of the State may apply for a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card if the applicant complies with the provisions of the Act. Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, by rule, allow for non-resident license applications from any state or territory of the United States if the applicant complies with the provisions of the Act (rather than from any state or territory of the United States with laws related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying, that are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Act).

* HB4219…

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning fentanyl education, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, provides that in at least one unit in the State-required health courses for grades 6 through 8 a school district shall provide instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl.

* SB2635 from Sen. Cristina Castro…

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of “employee” does not include: (1) an employee who is employed by an institution of higher education (i) for less than 2 consecutive calendar quarters during a calendar year and who does not have a reasonable expectation that he or she will be rehired by the same employer of the same service in a subsequent calendar year or (ii) as a temporary appointment as described in the State Universities Civil Service Act; (2) higher education faculty and instructors who have teaching, research, and extension faculty contracts or appointments of less than 12 consecutive months of the year; or (3) an employee employed by a public community college or other public institution of higher education in the State of Illinois whose position is covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement. Provides that the definition of “employer” does not include laboratory schools as defined in the School Code. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2024.