Rep. Omar Williams

Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, requires a school district to include in its curriculum an annual unit of instruction on the Spanish language. Provides that the State Board of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards resource materials that may be used as guidelines for the development of the unit of instruction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Police and Chicago Police Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for a person who first becomes a police officer on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, none of the benefits provided in those Articles shall be paid to any person who is convicted of any felony (instead of any felony relating to or arising out of or in connection with his or her service as a police officer). Provides that none of the benefits provided for in those Articles shall be paid to any person who otherwise would receive a survivor benefit who is convicted of any felony (instead of any felony relating to or arising out of or in connection with his or her service as a police officer) if the benefit results from the service of a police officer who first becomes a police officer on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides requirements concerning disclosure and review of prior authorization requirements, denial of claims or coverage by a utilization review program, and the implementation of prior authorization requirements or restrictions. Provides requirements concerning a utilization review program's obligations with respect to prior authorizations in nonurgent circumstances, urgent health care services, and emergency health care services. Provides that a utilization review program shall not require prior authorization under specified circumstances. Provides requirements concerning the length of prior authorizations. Provides that health care services are automatically deemed authorized if a utilization review program fails to comply with the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Director of Insurance may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $250,000 for violations of the Act. Defines terms. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act to provide that an insurer that provides prescription drug benefits must comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that if prior authorization for covered post-stabilization services is required by a health care plan, the plan shall comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide that all managed care organizations shall comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2021.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who (i) has an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, (ii) has annual student loan repayment expenses, and (iii) is employed full-time in the State, or has an offer of full-time employment in the State, in one or more of the specified science and technology fields is eligible for an income tax credit equal to the taxpayer's student loan repayment expenses for the taxable year, but not to exceed a maximum credit limit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals that receive a property tax exemption under a provision of the Property Tax Code concerning exemptions related to access to hospital and health care services by low-income and underserved individuals to refer patients who receive treatment at the hospital's emergency room to a financial counselor before the patient is discharged.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall provide for alerts by email to be provided to the public upon the posting of new funding opportunities on the Catalog of State Financial Assistance as maintained on the website of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Provides that persons seeking to be alerted to the posting of new funding opportunities may do so by providing an email address to which such information may be sent. Provides that the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall also make available electronically a monthly digest of funding opportunities utilizing the information required to be made available in the Catalog of State Financial Assistance for funding opportunities. Effective immediately.

Creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education may not require applicants to submit standardized college admissions test scores to the institution as a part of the admissions process. Provides that the submission of standardized test scores to the institution shall be at the option of the applicant. Requires the adoption of a policy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Changes definitions of "population" to be the total number of inhabitants according to the last preceding federal decennial census (rather than number of inhabitants or number of persons). Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds a definition of "population" in the general definition Section.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit in an amount equal to 10% of the stipend or salary paid by the taxpayer to up to (i) 5 qualified college interns or (ii) 5 qualified high school interns during the taxable year. Provides that no taxpayer may claim more than $5,000 in total credits under that Section for all taxable years combined. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Fire Marshal Act. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall adopt new rules for the storage, handling, and use of ethylene oxide for sterilization and fumigation in accordance with Section 55 of the National Fire Protection Association Code.