SB 2123

Abstract

Creates the Counseling Compact Act. Provides that the State of Illinois enters into the Counseling Compact. Specifies that the Compact's purpose is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services. Sets out provisions concerning the privilege to practice, obtaining a new home state license, active duty military personnel, telehealth, adverse actions, Counseling Compact Commission, data systems, rulemaking, oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement. Contains other provisions concerning the Commission, the Compact, and the procedures governing participating in and construction of the Compact. Amends the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. Requires the Professional Counselor Licensing and Disciplinary Board to submit a report to the General Assembly with recommendations of any statutory changes and budgetary changes needed to comply with the requirements of the Counseling Compact. Requires the Board and Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to modify, if needed, Board and Department rules to comply with the requirements of the Counseling Compact. Provides that the changes to the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act are effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Modifies the definition of "Continuing Competence/Education" to mean a requirement, as a condition of license renewal, to provide evidence of completion of (rather than participation in or completion of) educational and professional activities relevant to practice or area of work. Provides that a Licensing Board may conduct national background checks by submitting fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation through the Member State's statewide policing authority. Provides that the reports from the background checks may not be shared with entities outside of the Member State. Provides that applicants shall be responsible for all fees associated with the performance of the background checks. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: New Act 225 ILCS 107/12 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 312/1-101 from Ch. 102, par. 201-101 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Notary Public Act. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 312/1-101 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 20/2 from Ch. 1, par. 103 5 ILCS 20/4 from Ch. 1, par. 106 10 ILCS 5/1-21 10 ILCS 5/1-23 new 10 ILCS 5/1A-16.11 new 10 ILCS 5/1A-25 10 ILCS 5/3-6 10 ILCS 5/4-6.2 from Ch. 46, par. 4-6.2 10 ILCS 5/5-16.2 from Ch. 46, par. 5-16.2 10 ILCS 5/6-50.2 from Ch. 46, par. 6-50.2 10 ILCS 5/7-8 from Ch. 46, par. 7-8 10 ILCS 5/7-9 from Ch. 46, par. 7-9 10 ILCS 5/9-3 from Ch. 46, par. 9-3 10 ILCS 5/10-9 from Ch. 46, par. 10-9 10 ILCS 5/10-10 from Ch. 46, par. 10-10 10 ILCS 5/11-4 from Ch. 46, par. 11-4 10 ILCS 5/11-8 10 ILCS 5/12-4 from Ch. 46, par. 12-4 10 ILCS 5/12A-10 10 ILCS 5/16-3 from Ch. 46, par. 16-3 10 ILCS 5/16-6 from Ch. 46, par. 16-6 10 ILCS 5/19-2.5 10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3 10 ILCS 5/19-5 from Ch. 46, par. 19-5 10 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-8 10 ILCS 5/22-9.1 from Ch. 46, par. 22-9.1 10 ILCS 5/23-23 from Ch. 46, par. 23-23 70 ILCS 210/14 from Ch. 85, par. 1234 70 ILCS 1205/2-10a from Ch. 105, par. 2-10a 70 ILCS 1205/2-12a from Ch. 105, par. 2-12a 105 ILCS 5/24-2 from Ch. 122, par. 24-2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act. Provides that at least 2 months before the next election of members of the General Assembly, following the passage of a proposed amendment, the Secretary of State shall publish the amendment in a specified number of newspapers of general circulation in every county in the State in which a newspaper is published and its digital equivalent (instead of only newspapers of general circulation in every county in the State in which a newspaper is published). Provides that at the election, a proposed amendment and explanation shall be printed on the top of the ballot preceding all nominations of any political party (instead of upon a separate ballot). Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning the Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force, provides that the Task Force shall complete its study no later than June 30, 2024 (rather than 2023), and the provisions are repealed July 1, 2025 (rather than 2024). Creates the Ranked-Choice and Voting Systems Task Force to review voting systems and the methods of voting, including ranked-choice voting, that could be authorized by law. Provides that on or before March 1, 2024, the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings and recommendations. Sets forth provisions concerning the Task Force duties, membership, and report of findings and recommendations. Sets forth provisions concerning representatives of the Secretary of State attending citizen naturalization ceremonies at the District Courts to provide registration information and to register any person at the ceremony who wishes to register to vote, as allowed by the District Courts. Provides that a person who is otherwise qualified to vote may preregister to vote on or after that person's 16th birthday, with the registration held in abeyance by the appropriate election authority until that individual attains the required age to vote. Makes changes concerning when a county convention shall occur and when certain appointments to fill a vacancy in the office of precinct committeeperson shall be made. In provisions relating to the receipt of the certificate of nomination, nomination papers, or proposed question of public policy and an objector's petition by the electoral board, provides that the chair of the electoral board shall also send a call (as well as a certified copy of its ruling with other specified documents) by registered or certified mail to the election authority to whom the ballot is certified and to the appropriate county clerk. Provides that if, within the 10 days before any election, an election authority changes a polling location, the election authority shall send notice by electronic mail or phone call to the township committeeperson, ward committeeperson, or precinct committeepersons, as applicable, as soon as the location of the polling place is changed. In provisions concerning vote centers, provides that the provisions are repealed on July 1, 2029 (rather than July 1, 2023) and provides that election authorities may establish more than one vote center, but in jurisdictions with a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants, the election authority shall establish at least 2 vote centers, one of which must provide curbside voting. Makes changes concerning notification by an election authority of the option for permanent vote by mail status. Makes changes concerning application for a vote by mail ballot language. Provides that a petition filed for discovery recount shall be accompanied by the payment of a fee of $50 (rather than $10) per precinct specified. Removes provisions concerning sponsoring entities. Makes conforming and other changes. Amends the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act. Provides that a mayor of a municipality with a population of over 500,000 shall not have the authority to make an appointment to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board for the last 45 days of his or her term, retroactive to April 1, 2023, except if that mayor's re-election is certified by the relevant election authority. Amends the Park District Code. Provides that, if a district board's membership has been expanded or reduced by referendum or resolution, the additional members will be elected not earlier than 197 days (rather than 60 days) after the referendum or resolution and a reduction of board members will not affect the terms of any commissioners holding office at the time of the referendum or to be elected within 197 (rather than 60) days after the referendum. Provides that, if the terms of a district's board members have increased or decreased after referendum or resolution, the terms will commence with the first regular park district election at least 197 days (rather than 60 days) after the date on which the terms were increased or reduced by referendum or resolution. Amends the School Code to provide that November 5, 2024 shall be a State holiday known as 2024 General Election Day. Makes other changes. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions are effective January 1, 2024. House Floor Amendment No. 5 Deletes reference to: 10 ILCS 5/12A-10 Adds reference to: 10 ILCS 5/1-19 10 ILCS 5/1-24 new 10 ILCS 5/1-25 new Extends the sunset date for the Access to Voting for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Task Force to July 1, 2025 (rather than January 1, 2024). Creates the 2024 General Election Day State holiday, sets forth provisions concerning 2024 General Election Day, and provides that the provisions are repealed January 1, 2025. Allows the members of the Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force to be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Makes changes to the composition of the Ranked-Choice and Voting Systems Task Force. Creates the Security of Remote Vote by Mail Task Force to study the feasibility of implementing a remote vote by mail system that would allow an election authority to transmit a vote by mail ballot electronically to a voter, and allow the voter to mark, verify, and return the ballot to the election authority electronically. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall coordinate with each United States District Court in Illinois which would allow for a representative or representatives of the Department to offer voter registration information, provide voter registration applications, and collect completed voter registration applications, including electronic voter registration applications, from all eligible citizens after the naturalization ceremony, as allowed by the United States District Court presiding over the naturalization. Provides that certain changes to county conventions apply to a State central committee organized under Alternative B. Provides that a State central committee organized under Alternative B shall include as an honorary member (rather than an ex officio member) any person affiliated with the same political party and serving as the Governor, President of the Senate, or Speaker of the House of Representatives. Removes language concerning characteristics of a paper ballot. Provides that for any member of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board appointed after April 1, 2023 and before May 15, 2023, that Board membership position is terminated 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that, beginning December 15, 2023, a new membership position to the Board is created, which appointment shall be made by the Mayor. Provides that the Mayor and Governor shall not have the authority to make an appointment to the Board within the last 45 days of his or her term, except when the Mayor or Governor is re-elected and that re-election is certified by the relevant election authority. Removes changes to provisions concerning candidate statements and photographs in the Internet Guide. Makes other changes. House Floor Amendment No. 6 Deletes reference to: 10 ILCS 5/1A-16.11 new Removes a provision concerning naturalization ceremony registration. House Floor Amendment No. 7 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-4.1 105 ILCS 5/34-21.10 Further Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the Chicago School Board, provides that all petitions for the nomination of members of a board of education shall be filed with the board of election commissioners of the jurisdiction in which the principal office of the school district is located (instead of further specifying that the petitions be filed within the time provided for by the general election law, except that petitions for the nomination of members of the board of education for the 2024 general primary election shall be prepared and certified on the same schedule as the petition schedule for the candidates for the General Assembly). Provides that the electoral districts for the Chicago Board of Education must be drawn on or before April 1, 2024 (instead of July 1, 2023).