Creates the Police Mental Health Leave Act. Provides that a law enforcement officer suffering from a mental illness as a result of a traumatic event shall be entitled to use 5 days of paid mental health leave during any 12-month period. Requires a law enforcement agency to adopt a mental health leave policy that includes specified provisions. Sets forth provisions concerning existing leave policies; employee protections; retaliation; and recordkeeping. Provides for a private right of action.
Amends the Fair Contracting for Health Care Practitioners Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided, a covenant not to compete entered into on or after the effective date of the Act is deemed contrary to the public policy and is void and unenforceable by an employer. Provides that an employer may enforce a covenant not to compete if the length of the covenant not to compete is no more than one year, provided that the health care practitioner was not dismissed by the employer. Sets forth provisions concerning the scope of the Act. Effective January 1, 2027.
Amends the Smart Start Illinois Act. Expands eligibility under the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
HB 5598 amends Illinois' Line of Duty Compensation Act to include animal control officers and animal wardens within the scope of the law. This change directly affects these professionals by allowing them to qualify for line-of-duty compensation if injured or killed while performing their duties, similar to police, firefighters, and other covered personnel. The bill achieves this by adding "animal control officer" and "animal warden" to the definitions in Section 2(e) of the Act, clarifying they are covered under the same terms as law enforcement officers and fire personnel. The legislation does not alter compensation amounts or procedures, only expands eligibility to these specific roles.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the tax credit for employee child care shall be (i) 30% of the start-up costs expended by the corporate taxpayer to provide a child care facility for the children of its employees and (ii) 10% (currently, 5%) of the annual amount paid by the corporate taxpayer in providing the child care facility for the children of its employees. Creates an income tax credit for corporate taxpayers that are qualified small businesses in an amount equal to 10% of the federal tax credit claimed by the taxpayer for the taxable year for qualified child care expenditures. Effective immediately.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person committed to the Department of Corrections who is paid wages performing a work assignment must receive a rate of compensation that is not less than the minimum wage required under the Minimum Wage Law.
Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Requires the Director of Central Management Services to designate one or more individuals who are employees of the Department of Central Management Services to serve as Health Care Ombudspersons. Requires the employees that are designated as Health Care Ombudspersons to monitor and respond to members' email and telephone questions to the Department of Central Management Services regarding the benefits that are available under the Act and the eligibility of members for those benefits. Requires contact information for the Health Care Ombudspersons to be included in any communications sent by the Department of Central Management Services regarding group health insurance benefits and to be readily available on the Department's website. Specifies that the primary goal of the Health Care Ombudspersons shall be to answer questions and generate information useful to participants in the program of group health benefits provided under the Act and, when possible, to resolve any issues between members and third-party providers of services established under this Act.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for a qualified employer who makes a qualified contribution toward a health reimbursement arrangement for the qualified taxpayer's employees. Provides that the amount of the credit is $400 per covered employee in the first taxable year and $200 per covered employee in the second taxable year. Effective immediately.
Creates the Community Mental Health Workforce Paid Internship Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish the Community Mental Health Workforce Paid Internship Program to provide funding to eligible entities to support paid internships for non-clinical staff positions within a community mental health organization. Requires the Department to develop the necessary application procedures and standards for acceptance for eligible entities, including, but not limited to, consideration of (1) workforce shortages; (2) service to underserved or rural communities; (3) commitment to training, supervision, and mentorship of interns; and (4) efforts to promote workforce development. Sets forth internship requirements and the permissible uses for funds awarded under the program. Requires eligible entities to submit yearly reports to the Department outlining (1) number of interns hired; (2) duration of internships; (3) positions of internships; and (4) employment outcomes, such as retention, following internship. Requires the Department to submit a report, every 2 years, to the General Assembly outlining the program's outcomes and impact. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Provides that the General Assembly may appropriate funds for the purposes of the Act. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Creates a deferred retirement option plan (DROP) for certain participating employees who are eligible to retire under the Article, have never received a retirement annuity from the System, and are active participants in the System. Provides that, during the period of the DROP, the System shall credit to a notional account on behalf of the DROP member an amount equal to the monthly amount of retirement annuity the DROP member would otherwise be eligible to receive had the DROP member retired on the date of the election. Provides that an eligible member may elect to participate in the DROP for a period not to exceed 5 years from the date of election. Requires a DROP member to terminate employment with the employer upon expiration of their participation in the DROP. Sets forth other provisions concerning interest on the account; termination of the DROP; contributions; administrative costs; transfer of administrative responsibility to the State Treasurer; and the tax-qualified status of the System.
