* Sun-Times…

Under current law, survivors seeking an order of protection can request the removal of firearms, but enforcement is often inconsistent, advocates say.

Karina’s Bill would require judges to serve a search warrant along with orders of protection to ensure law enforcement has the clear guidance and authority to enter a home and remove firearms. Law enforcement would have 48 hours to serve the warrant and seize the weapon.

Ongoing negotiations between bill sponsors and law enforcement agencies have stalled the bill’s progress.

The Illinois State Police has the primary responsibility, under state law, but it relies heavily on local police and sheriff’s departments to go to a home and remove a gun.

* Rep. Joyce Mason filed HB4577…

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that no public high school of a school district may punish or penalize a student because of an unpaid balance on the student’s school account. Removes a provision making the prohibition on withholding a student’s grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance inoperative beginning 3 years from May 5, 2022. Effective immediately.

* Tribune…

State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, and community leaders called on state legislators to pass his bill that addresses repeat gun offenders, during a meeting Wednesday with police chiefs and command staff at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.

House Bill 4453 states if a juvenile has previously been placed on probation for or convicted of a gun offense that did not result in injury, then judges should require the juvenile to participate in social service programs for three months.

If the juvenile commits another gun offense, then the juvenile should be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and receive services such as education, mental health services, drug treatment and mentoring, according to the bill.

“If a juvenile is repeatedly using or possessing a firearm, we must act,” DeLuca said. “Where do you think a juvenile’s life is headed when they are repeatedly involved in gun crime? Which road is their life headed down? How will they behave as an adult without an intervention?”

* HB4571 from Rep. Kimberly du Buclet…

Creates the Small Business Economic Incentive Act. Provides that at least 50% of the dollar value of all economic incentives awarded to businesses by the State or by any State agency on or after January 1, 2025 shall be awarded to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees. Effective January 1, 2025.

* KMOX…

The state of Illinois could soon be the ninth state to be able to conduct their elections by mail. Illinois State Rep. Carol Ammons (D) has introduced legislation in the statehouse in Springfield, Illinois that could make election all mail possible in the future.

Ammons explained to Total Information A.M. Wednesday that her legislation isn’t a full statewide vote by mail, but it would let clerks to be able to send ballots to all registered voters in their jurisdiction automatically.

“This is not the full vote by mail option you see in the state of Utah and Colorado,” said Ammons. “This is the step that both states took before they got statewide vote by mail.” […]

Another benefit from the change would potentially be saving money on renting out space for polling locations, and paying election judges.

“My county( which includes Champagne) literally had 67 polling locations,” said Ammons. “You would not have to fund and get election judges at each of those locations. These would simply go into your home and people can take their time to look at their ballot and research the candidate and simply mail them back from the comfort of their home.”

* Rep. Jaime Andrade filed HB4572 yesterday…

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides for the issuance of a Montessori educator license to qualified individuals to teach using the Montessori method in public school programs that use the Montessori method as the primary method of instruction. Sets forth the requirements that an individual must satisfy to be issued a Montessori educator license, which include requiring the applicant to have (i) graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a bachelor’s degree, (ii) a Montessori certificate or credential issued by an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, by the American Montessori Society, or by the Association Montessori Internationale, and (iii) successfully completed required testing. Makes related changes to provisions concerning educator testing and fees.

* SB2872 from Sen. Rachel Ventura…

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that each school district shall provide to students, in addition to and not substituting recess, at least once a week, relaxation activities to enhance the mental and physical health of students as part of the school day. Specifies which activities may be considered relaxation activities. Provides that a school district may partner with local community-based organizations to provide relaxation activities. Provides that these activities may take place in a physical education class, social-emotional learning class, or student-support or advisory class or as a part of another similar class, including a new class.

* HB4569 from Rep. Jay Hoffman…

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the State shall indemnify and hold harmless a board-certified forensic pathologist who has been appointed or designated by a county or a county coroner’s office to perform autopsies for all of the pathologist’s acts, omissions, decisions, or conduct arising out of the scope of the pathologist’s duties of performing autopsies for the county, except those involving willful or wanton misconduct. Provides that indemnification shall be as provided under the State Employee Indemnification Act. Amends the State Employee Indemnification Act to make conforming changes.

* Rep. Dave Severin filed HB4570…

Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that a licensed cosmetology teacher who submits to the Department an application for licensure as a barber teacher must meet all requirements of this Act for licensure as a barber teacher, except that an applicant who has at least 3 years of experience as a licensed cosmetology teacher shall be given credit for hours of instruction completed for his or her cosmetology teacher license in subjects that are common to both barbering and cosmetology in the supplemental barber course. Provides that a licensed barber teacher who submits to the Department an application for licensure as a cosmetology teacher must meet all requirements of this Act for licensure as a cosmetology teacher, except that an applicant who has at least 3 years of experience as a licensed barber teacher shall be given credit for hours of instruction completed for his or her barber teacher license in subjects that are common to both barbering and cosmetology in the supplemental cosmetology course. Provides that a licensed esthetician teacher or licensed nail technician teacher who submits to the Department an application for licensure as a cosmetology teacher must meet all requirements of this Act for licensure as a cosmetology teacher, except that an applicant who has at least 3 years of experience as a esthetician teacher or licensed nail technician teacher shall be given credit for hours of instruction completed for his or her esthetician teacher or nail technician teacher license in subjects that are common to both esthetics or nail technology and cosmetology. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Responsibilities shall provide for the implementation of these provisions by rule.

* Rep. Bradley Fritts’ HB4574…

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if the defendant committed the offense in or on the grounds of a hospital, ambulatory surgical treatment center, physician’s office, or other medical facility that treats patients and the offense was a crime of violence committed against a licensed health care professional or an employee of a hospital, ambulatory surgical treatment center, physician’s office, or other medical facility that treats patients, this factor shall be accorded weight in favor of imposing a term of imprisonment or may be considered by the court as a reason to impose a more severe sentence.

* HB4576 from Rep. Yolonda Morris…

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall adopt a rule, in consultation with a librarian who has a minimum of a Master’s degree or has a Ph.D. in Library Science or Library and Information Science from an accredited college or university, appointed by the Director of Corrections, prohibiting the chief administrative officer or other correctional officer of a correctional institution or facility of the Department from summarily rejecting for use or receipt by committed persons books, publications, or library materials or from establishing lists of prohibited publications to committed persons unless those books, publications, or library materials: (1) are detrimental to the security of the correctional institution or facility; (2) constitute child pornography as defined in the Criminal Code of 2012; or (3) may be used to facilitate criminal activity. Provides that the rule shall provide that a committed person may appeal to the Director or another person or body that the Director may appoint if the committed person is denied access to the books, publications, or library materials that are requested. Provides that a final decision of the Director or appointed person or body is subject to review under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.