Media Literacy Obligation, Animal Products Ban Among Latest 53 Pritzker Bills Signed | Government and politics
Governor JB Pritzker signs HB 376, the Fair Teaching of Asian American History Act.
SPRINGFIELD — Public high schools in Illinois will soon have to teach students how to access and evaluate various types of news and social media they see online and elsewhere as part of their regular curriculum.
It was among 53 bills Governor JB Pritzker signed Friday, bringing the total number of bills signed by the current General Assembly so far this year to 97.
House Bill 234 provides that beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, all public high schools will provide a media literacy teaching unit that will include instructions on how to access the information and to assess the reliability of its source; analyze and evaluate media messages; creating media messages; assess how media messages trigger emotions and behaviors; and social responsibility.
The State Board of Education is responsible for preparing and distributing educational resources and providing professional learning opportunities for educators.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, and Senator Karina Villa, D-West Chicago. He passed both houses largely along party lines: 68-44 in the House and 42-15 in the Senate.
Another new law makes it illegal to import into Illinois, with intent to sell, body parts or products made from a long list of endangered and alien species.
Illinois, like many states, has long banned the import of ivory and rhino horn. Under House Bill 395, the list of animals whose parts or derivatives are prohibited from importation is expanded to include cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, great apes, hippos, jaguars, leopards, lions , monk seals, narwhals, pangolins, rays or sharks, rhinos, sea turtles, tigers, walruses, whales or any other species listed in the Convention on International Trade or listed as threatened or endangered in under the US Endangered Species Act.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Martin Moylan, D-Des Plaines, and Senator Linda Holmes, D-Aurora. He passed the House, 113-1, and the Senate, 57-0.
Illinois residents seeking admission to public colleges and universities in the state will no longer be required to submit their SAT or ACT scores as part of their application starting in January 2022.
House Bill 226, known as the Fair Admissions to Higher Education Act, requires all public institutions of higher learning to adopt an “optional testing” policy for admissions, which means that they cannot require students to submit standardized test scores, but can allow students to do so if they choose.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, and Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Cahokia Heights. He passed the House, 109-8, and the Senate, 45-9.
Public and non-public school student-athletes are now permitted to alter their athletic or team uniforms for modesty purposes, consistent with their religion, cultural values, or modesty preferences.
House Bill 120, which was sponsored by Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, and Senator Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, provides that alterations can include items such as hijabs, undershirts or leggings. Any modifications, however, must not interfere with the movement of the student or pose a danger to the safety of the student or other athletes or players. There are also limits on how the helmet can be modified.
Students who choose to modify their uniforms are responsible for all additional costs, unless the school chooses to cover the costs.
Drivers crossing school zones will have to slow down a bit earlier on school days under another bill signed by Pritzker.
House Bill 343, by Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, and Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, calls for special speed limits around schools to begin at 6:30 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. The new law takes effect immediately.
The bill was passed by both houses unanimously.
High school students who are in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services can rest assured that they will have completed student financial aid applications by the time they are ready to apply to college.
Senate Bill 63, by Sen. Robert Peters and Rep. Curtis Tarver, both Chicago Democrats, requires that beginning in 2022, DCFS ensure that every young person in care in Illinois who enters in his senior year of high school, takes a free course. Apply for federal student financial aid or apply for state financial aid by November 1 of their senior year.
The bill was passed by both houses unanimously.
And kids who run lemonade stands won’t have to worry about getting a permit first.
Senate Bill 119, by Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, and Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, provides that neither the Department of Public Health nor any local health department or public health district shall may regulate the sale of lemonade, non-alcoholic beverages or mixed drinks by a person under 16 years of age.
The new law has been dubbed ‘Hayli’s Law’, after a 12-year-old girl whose lemonade stand in Kankakee was shut down by local officials, according to an article on the Illinois Senate Democrats website. .
The bill was passed by both houses unanimously.
See New Illinois Laws Going into Effect July 1
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The Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly approved 665 bills this legislative session, with the vast majority awaiting Governor JB Pritzker’s signature.
But Pritzker signed 42 bills. A handful of them will come into force on January 1, 2022, but most came into effect immediately after signing or will come into force this Thursday.
Here are some notable new laws in effect now or Thursday that Illinois should be aware of.
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
Electoral reform
With pandemic-related delays in the U.S. Census redistricting numbers, lawmakers postponed the 2022 state primary election from March 15 to June 28. The legislation also makes Election Day a holiday, requires each county to have at least one universal voting center and allows people to be added to a permanent mail-in ballot. (SB825)
Photo by Jose M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune
Vote by mail
Some pandemic-induced changes to voting for the 2020 general election, such as mail-in voting and curbside filing, will now be permanent features of future elections. (internal bill of 1871)
Legislative redistricting of the State
As they are tasked with doing every 10 years, lawmakers approved new district boundaries for the Illinois House and Senate. Maps drawn by Democrats, which used the US Census’ American Community Survey instead of waiting for the decennial census numbers to arrive later this year, have been challenged in court by Republicans and some other groups. (HB2777)
Photo by Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune
Redistricting of the Supreme Court of Illinois
The boundaries of the seven-person Supreme Court of Illinois district have been successfully redrawn for the first time since the 1960s. (SB642)
Photo by Capitol News Illinois
Police reform
There hasn’t been a more controversial bill passed this year than House Bill 3653, also known as the SAFE-T Act, which passed in January’s lame duck session. . Provisions ending cash bail and requiring all police officers to wear body cameras will not come into force until 2023 and 2025, respectively. But from Thursday, police will be required to rescue the injured, intervene when a colleague uses excessive force and limit their use of force. It also offers stricter guidelines for decertifying officers and would allow people to file anonymous complaints of police misconduct. (HB3653)
Payday loans
Lenders are now prohibited from charging more than 36% annual percentage rate on consumer loans. The average rate in Illinois was nearly 300% before the law was signed. (SB1792)
Vaccine Lottery
The state’s fiscal year 2022 budget includes $10 million for a “vaccine lottery.” All Illinois residents vaccinated before July 1 will be automatically entered into the contest. It includes $7 million in cash prizes for vaccinated adults, ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, and $3 million in scholarships for young vaccinated people. (SB2800)
Photo by Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune
COVID-19 emergency accommodation
Created guidelines for distributing over $1 billion in federal stimulus funds for COVID-related housing assistance. Also creates the automatic closure of evictions during the pandemic. (SB2877)
Interest before trial
Victims of bodily injury and wrongful death will be entitled to collect interest from defendants from the time a lawsuit is filed. It is intended to encourage the settlement of such cases. It was supported by trial attorneys and opposed by business groups. (SB72)
casino work
All Illinois casino applicants are now required to enter into a project-work agreement when seeking a new or renewed license. (SB1360)
Compensation for victims of crime
Provides that a victim’s criminal history or criminal status will not automatically preclude compensation for that victim or their family. Extends the plaintiff’s period to submit requested information from 30 days to 45 days and provides that a final award should not exceed $45,000, up from $27,000, for a crime committed on or after August 7, 2022. (HB3295)
Electronic signature
Provides that a contract, record or signature cannot be denied legal effect or enforceability simply because it is in electronic form or an electronic record was used in its formation. Provides that if a law requires a record to be in writing, an electronic record satisfies the law. (SB2176)