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.
Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has the power to establish a special pay supplement for those positions of employment that require that a person employed in that position speak or write a language other than English. Provides that such paid positions may be eligible for a bilingual pay supplement to attract bilingual individuals, to encourage present employees to become proficient in languages other than English, or to retain qualified bilingual employees. Provides that a bilingual pay supplement shall be processed within 30 calendar days after the employee presents to the Authority a certification from either the designated testing program process selected by the Authority or a State community college confirming that language skill proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking has been satisfied by the employee.
Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2027-2028 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2028-2029 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2029-2030 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to file an amendment to the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities that shall include an increase in the rate methodology sufficient to provide for a wage rate of 150% of the statewide, regional, or local minimum wage for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027, for all direct support personnel and all other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases and who work in residential and community day services settings. Provides that for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027, the rates shall include adjustments to employment-related expenses as defined by rule by the Department. Requires the Department to adopt rules, including emergency rules, to implement the rate increases. Contains provisions on benchmark rates for therapy and counseling for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; tiered rates for community day services; community integration supports for community day services; and benchmark rates for CILA transportation cost and for the supported employment program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to submit a Title XIX State Plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that shall include an increase in the rate methodology sufficient to provide for a wage rate of 150% of the statewide, regional, or local minimum wage for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027, for all direct support personnel and all other frontline personnel at ID/DD and MC/DD facilities. Provides that the State Plan amendment shall provide wage increases for all residential non-executive direct care staff. Effective immediately.
Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Labor for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $14,822,800; Other State Funds $6,250,000; Federal Funds $6,400,000; Total $27,472,800.
Creates the Long-Term Care Trust Act. Establishes the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (Trust Program) within the Department on Aging to provide long-term services and supports funding benefits to eligible employees through payroll deductions to be deposited into the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Fund created under the Act. Requires the Department on Aging, an actuary contracted with the Department on Aging, and the Department of Revenue to have the responsibilities of implementing and administering the Trust Program. Sets forth the Department on Aging's responsibilities, including, but not limited to: (i) making determinations regarding an individual's status as an eligible beneficiary; (ii) approving long-term services and supports eligible for payment; (iii) registering long-term services and supports providers that meet minimum qualifications; and (iv) disbursing payments of benefits to registered long-term services and supports providers. Requires the Department of Revenue to collect and assess employee premiums under the program, make eligibility determinations, and other responsibilities. Contains provisions on the responsibilities of the contracted actuary; the establishment of a Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission and a Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Council; qualifying beneficiary requirements; payroll premiums and the disbursement of benefits; coverage for self-employed individuals; the management of the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Fund; appeals of benefit determinations; federal waiver requirements; reporting requirements; and other matters. Effective immediately.
Amends the Energy Transition Act. Provides that the Clean Jobs Workforce Hubs Network shall incorporate targeted outreach, recruitment, training, and placement services specifically for participants seeking careers within the climate, environmental, and clean energy sector. Defines "climate, environmental, and clean energy sector". Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall collect, track, and report certain information concerning the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program. Provides that the information shall be disaggregated by race, gender, geography, and equity status.
