Rep. Chris Miller

Amends the evidence-based funding provisions of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, the State Board of Education shall, if a student enrolls in a nonpublic school after being enrolled in a resident school district, distribute to the nonpublic school all funds calculated under the evidence-based funding formula, on a per pupil basis, that otherwise would have been provided to the resident school district if the student were still enrolled in the resident school district; provides for proration if a student enrolls in a nonpublic school during the middle of a school year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Increases the exclusion amount to $8,000,000 for persons dying on or after January 1, 2023 (currently, $4,000,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no provision of the Illinois Insurance Code or any other law prohibits an insured under any policy of life insurance, or any other person who may be the owner of any rights under such policy, from making an irrevocable assignment of all or any part of his or her rights and privileges, not to exceed the purchase price of the prepaid burial contract, under the policy to a funeral home and to have an individual policy issued in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. Provides that nothing shall prohibit the purchaser of a life insurance policy or tax-deferred annuity contract for the purpose of funding a pre-need contract from irrevocably assigning ownership of the policy or annuity to a funeral home (rather than person) or trust for the purpose of obtaining favorable consideration for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or another public assistance program, as permitted under federal law. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to exempt certain prepaid funeral or burial contracts from consideration when making an eligibility determination for medical assistance, provides that at any time after submitting an application for medical assistance and before the Department makes a final determination of eligibility, an applicant may use available resources to purchase one of the exempted prepaid funeral or burial contracts. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/245.3 new 225 ILCS 45/2a Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill but without the amendatory changes made to the Illinois Insurance Code and the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/245.3 new 225 ILCS 45/1a from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 73.101a 225 ILCS 45/2a 225 ILCS 45/2b new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insured or any other person who may be the owner of rights under a policy of life insurance may make an irrevocable assignment of all or a part of his or her rights under the policy to a funeral home in accordance with a specified provision of the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. Provides that a policy owner who executes a designation beneficiary form irrevocably waives and cannot exercise certain rights, including the right to collect from the insurance company the net proceeds of the policy when it becomes a claim by death and the right to collect or receive income, distributions, or shares of surplus, dividend deposits, refunds of premium, or additions to the policy. Amends the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. In a provision concerning pre-need contracts funded through the purchase of a life insurance policy or tax-deferred annuity contract, provides that nothing shall prohibit the purchaser from irrevocably assigning ownership of the policy or annuity to a person or trust or from irrevocably assigning the benefits of the policy or annuity to a funeral home for the purpose of obtaining favorable consideration for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or another public assistance program. Provides that the form prepared by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or by the insurance company shall provide for an irrevocable designation of beneficiary of one or more life insurance policies. Requires the insured or any other person who may be the owner of rights under the policy of whole life insurance to sign a guaranteed pre-need contract with the provider that describes the cost of the funeral goods and services to be provided upon the person's death, up to $6,774, in addition to the purchase of burial spaces as defined under the Act. Requires the licensee to annually report certain information to the Comptroller. Requires the proceeds of the life insurance policy to be paid to the provider and disbursed in a certain order upon the death of the insured. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to exempt certain prepaid funeral or burial contracts from consideration when making an eligibility determination for medical assistance, provides that at any time after submitting an application for medical assistance and before the Department makes a final determination of eligibility, an applicant may use available resources to purchase one of the exempted prepaid funeral or burial contracts. Exempts up to $6,774 (rather than $5,874) in funds under an irrevocable prepaid funeral or burial contract when determining an individual's resources and eligibility for medical assistance. Provides that existing life insurance policies are exempt if there has been an irrevocable declaration of proceeds at the death of the insured. Requires the insured person to sign an irrevocable designation of beneficiary form declaring that any amounts payable from the policies not used for funeral goods and services shall be received by the State up to an amount equal to the total medical assistance paid on behalf of the person with any remaining funds paid to a secondary beneficiary (if any) listed on the policy.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes existing medical fee schedules inoperative after August 31, 2022. Provides that the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission shall establish new medical fee schedules applicable on and after September 1, 2022 in accordance with specified criteria. Provides for 4 non-hospital fee schedules and 14 hospital fee schedules applicable to different geographic areas of the State. Sets forth a procedure for petitioning the Commission if a maximum fee causes a significant limitation on access to quality health care in either a specific field of health care services or a specific geographic limitation on access to health care. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Removes the requirement that educator licensure candidates pass a teacher performance assessment. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2021.

Urges the Illinois General Assembly to value and protect crime victims and law enforcement and to repeal House Bill 3653, the SAFE-T Act, in its entirety.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the health examinations and immunizations that school children are required to receive, provides that a child may not be required to submit proof of having received an immunization against COVID-19 upon enrolling in school nor may a child already enrolled in school be required to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Amends the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. Pursuant to the School Code provisions, prohibits the Department of Public Health from adopting any rules that require children to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Effective immediately.

Amends the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act. Adds a definition for "source of radio frequency emissions". Provides that permit information must be provided to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Provides that an authority may require specified information concerning fiber optic cable. Provides that an authority or the IEPA may deny a permit if a provider has failed to provide sufficient evidence that an increase in emissions is needed. Removes a provision limiting an authority's jurisdiction over facilities located in an interior structure or upon the site of any campus, stadium, or athletic facility not otherwise owned or controlled by the authority. Adds provisions relating to trespass, preservation of private property, and federal defenses; compliance and recordkeeping; setbacks; and notice.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police, by rule, shall provide that if a person has been issued a concealed carry license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card and concealed carry license shall expire at the same time. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall adjust the expiration of each person who has been issued both a Firearm Owner's Identification Card and concealed carry license so each expires on the same date. Provides that a person who has been issued a Firearm Owner's Identification Card and whose concealed carry license has been renewed by the Illinois State Police shall receive an automatic renewal of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that any individual authorized by law to possess a concealed firearm shall be exempt from the provisions of the Code prohibiting possession of those firearms during bow and arrow season.