Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall collect and annually publish data on the racial and ethnic makeup of applicants who were denied licensure by the Department.
Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows licensed health care professionals (rather than just physicians) to make certain disability determinations. Defines "licensed health care professional". Makes conforming changes. Makes changes concerning the Board of the Fund's powers to waive the requirement of legal guardianship of certain persons.
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Teacher Article: provides that through June 30, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2023), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year; deletes language concerning an additional 20 days or 100 paid hours that an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status for the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022; and provides that a person may receive optional credit for certain periods of service as a student teacher. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20) of the Code. In the definition of "pension credit", provides that the one-year limitation does not apply to persons who acquire credit as a substitute teacher covered under the Downstate Teacher Article and reach retirement eligibility under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Board of Nursing shall review and make a recommendation for the approval or disapproval of a program by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation based on, among other criteria, a measurement of program effectiveness based on a passage rate of all graduates over the 3 most recent calendar years without reference to first-time test takers. Provides that a graduate who does not take an examination for licensure within the first 90 days after graduation and a graduate who has failed the exam will be required to return to the institution of higher education for remediation prior to repeating or taking the exam. Provides that a graduate may retake the exam only after the institution of higher education provides approval once remediation has been successfully completed. Provides that institutional approval to retake expires 6 months after issuance of the approval to retake. Provides that a graduate with an expired approval is required to repeat the remediation and reapproval process.
Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall not require criminal background information in instances where the Department has already stated that the criminal background information cannot be used against an applicant for licensure under the relevant licensing Act.
Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Mental Health Equity Access and Prevention Act. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Public Health shall undertake a public educational campaign to bring broad public awareness to communities across the State on the importance of mental health and wellness. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall cover all medically necessary out-of-network mental health visits, treatment, and services provided by a mental health provider or facility. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for 2 annual mental health prevention and wellness visits for children and for adults. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall not require the diagnosis of a mental, emotional, or nervous disorder or condition to establish medical necessity for mental health care, services, or treatment. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall contract with an independent third party with expertise in analyzing commercial insurance premiums and costs to perform an independent analysis of the impact of the coverage of services pursuant to the provisions has had on insurance premiums. Provides that the Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions by no later than October 31, 2024. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Office of the Ombudsman for International Applicants within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to assist international applicants in meeting the foreign education requirements for those licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the duties of the Office of the Ombudsman for International Applicants would include: (i) answering questions about meeting foreign education requirements; (ii) assisting international applicants in successful completion of the application forms; (iii) coordinating with personnel of the Department in processing the applications; and (iv) providing direction to community organizations that assist international applicants.
Amends the Business Assistance and Regulatory Reform Act. Modifies requirements concerning the Office of Business Permits and Regulatory Assistance. Provides that the Office shall implement reforms to improve interagency coordination and encourage expeditious permit issuance. Provides that the Office shall use information technology tools to track project schedules and metrics in order to improve transparency and accountability of the permitting process, reduce uncertainty and delays, and reduce costs and risks to taxpayers. Defines terms. Makes other changes.
Creates the Higher Education in Prison Act. Provides that on or before September 1 of the year following the effective date of the Act and each subsequent September 1, the Department of Corrections shall release a report, to be published on the Department of Corrections's Internet website, detailing certain information pertaining to higher education within Department institutions and facilities. Requires the report to be filed with the Governor and General Assembly. Provides that the data provided in the report shall include an aggregate chart at the Department level and individual reports by each correctional institution or facility of the Department of Corrections. Provides that on or before September 1 of the year following the effective date of the Act and each subsequent September 1, each college and university that provides academic programs for committed persons shall report to the Board of Higher Education on enrollment, retention, completion, and student demographics, including race, ethnicity, age, and gender of committed students. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall compile the information and, within 60 days after receipt of such information, issue a report reflecting the information for each institution required to report. Provides that the report must be filed with the Governor and General Assembly and made publicly available on the Board of Higher Education's Internet website.
Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning in-service training, provides that the training program shall cover professional educator licensees, educational support personnel, and non-licensed school personnel (instead of teachers) Provides that professional educator licensees, educational support personnel, and non-licensed school personnel who work with pupils must be trained in the following topics at least once every 5 years: prevalent health conditions of students, social-emotional learning practices and standards, developing cultural competency, identifying warning signs of mental illness, trauma, and suicidal behavior in youth, domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth, working with exceptional students, educator ethics, and child sexual abuse and grooming behavior. Sets forth requirements regarding the contents of the training, and resources available. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2024, all educators shall be required to complete the previously specified training at least once each 5-year renewal cycle. Amends various other Articles of the School Code, the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act, the Care of Students with Diabetes Act, and the Seizure Smart School Act to make conforming changes. Makes other changes.
Creates the Protein Innovation Commission Act. Creates the Protein Innovation Commission for the purposes of making an investigation and study relative to alternative proteins and to develop a master plan of recommendations for fostering the appropriate expansion of protein innovation and the alternative protein industry in the State. Provides specifications on what the Commission should examine. Provides for membership, appointment, and meetings of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall study and analyze the potential benefits of alternative proteins and shall address specified items in its report. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out those recommendations, not later than December 31, 2023. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
