Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions requiring the Illinois Power Agency to solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of renewable energy credits from new utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar projects, and brownfield site photovoltaic projects to begin delivery on June 1, 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021, specifies that, if the project has delays in the establishment of an operating interconnection with the applicable transmission or distribution system as a result of the actions or inactions of the transmission or distribution provider, or other causes for force majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, delivery shall begin not later than June 1, 2022.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that neither the Department of Corrections nor the Department of Juvenile Justice may require a committed person or person committed to any facility operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice to pay any co-payment for receiving medical or dental services.

Creates the Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall establish a Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Program. Provides that the purpose of the Program shall be to promote public awareness of Parkinson's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. Provides that the Department of Public Health may accept for that purpose any special grant of moneys, services, or property from the federal government or any of its agencies, or from any foundation, organization, or medical school. Provides that the Program shall focus on the development of specified programs and services. Provides that the Department shall prepare an information booklet in English, Spanish, and Mandarin which provides information about the symptoms and treatment of Parkinson's disease. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that establishment of the Program is subject to appropriation.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that until the consent of the adult's guardian has been obtained, counseling or psychotherapy provided to an adult under guardianship shall be limited to not more than 12 (rather than 5) sessions, a session lasting not more than 60 (rather than 45) minutes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption in the amount of a reduction of $5,000 from the equalized assessed value of property of police officers and firefighters with duty-related disabilities. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 35 ILCS 200/15-169.1 new Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.891 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-107 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund. Provides that moneys in the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund shall be used to pay rebates to residential property taxpayers in the State. Provides that the Fund may accept moneys from any lawful source. Provides that the State Comptroller shall calculate a property tax rebate amount for the applicable property tax year by dividing the total amount appropriated from the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund by the total number of homestead exemptions granted for homestead property in the State. Provides that the property tax bills of non-delinquent taxpayers who received a general homestead exemption under the Property Tax Code shall be reduced by the property tax rebate amount. Effective immediately.

Creates the Expressway Safety Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall work together to conduct a program to increase the amount of cameras along expressways in Cook County. Provides that images from the cameras may be used to investigate offenses and detect roadway hazards, but not to enforce petty offenses. Provides that the program shall be funded by the Road Fund. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2023. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that funds from the Road Fund shall be for use on highways under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill and House Amendment No. 1, and makes the following changes. Renames the Act the Expressway Camera Act and provides that the Act may be referred to as the Tamara Clayton Expressway Camera Act. Provides that images from expressway cameras may be used by any municipal police department, county sheriff's office, State Police officer, or other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the expressway (instead of "roadway") in Cook County in the investigation of any offense involving the use of a firearm (instead of by law enforcement agencies in the investigation of offenses). Provides that funds needed to conduct the program for use on expressways (instead of "highways") under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation shall be taken from the Road Fund.

Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish family centers throughout the State to provide counseling and mental health services to families who are indigent based on any behavior or mental health condition as determined by Department rule. Provides that the Department shall employ or contract with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists to provide those services. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health shall make available funding for the development and implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated continuum of community-based pilot programs for persons with or at risk for a mental health diagnosis that is sensitive to the needs of local communities. Provides that the funding shall allow for the development of one or more pilot programs that will support the development of local social media campaigns that focus on the prevention or promotion of mental wellness and provide linkages to mental health services, especially for those individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. Sets forth certain criteria a provider must meet to be considered for the pilot program, including the ability to: (i) implement the pilot program in an area that shows a high need or underutilization of mental health services; (ii) collaborate with other systems and government entities that exist in a community; and (iii) provide a presence staffed by mental health professionals in natural community settings, which includes any setting where an individual who has not been diagnosed with a mental illness typically spends time. Authorizes the Department to adopt and implement administrative rules necessary to carry out the pilot program.

Creates the Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans Act. Creates the Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans. Provides for the membership of the Task Force. Provides for the election of a chairperson of the Task Force. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide technical support and assistance to the Task Force and to be responsible for administering its operations and ensuring that the requirements of the Act are met. Provides that members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their services as members of the Task Force. Provides for the meetings and duties of the Task Force. Provides that beginning December 1, 2020, and for each year thereafter, the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly. Provides findings. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds: (1) one physician representing the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians; and (2) one physician representing the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics as members of the Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Directs the Department to create and maintain an online database and resource page on its website. Provides that the page shall contain mental health resources specifically geared towards school counselors, parents, and teachers with the goal of connecting those people with mental health resources related to bullying and school shootings and encouraging information sharing among educational administrators, school security personnel, and school resource officers. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-229 new Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 1705/76 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to create and maintain an online database and resource page on its website. Provides that the database and resource page shall contain mental health resources specifically geared toward school counselors, parents, and teachers with the goal of connecting those people with mental health resources related to bullying and school shootings and encouraging information sharing among educational administrators, school security personnel, and school resource officers. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that the online database and resource page shall also be geared toward school social workers and school support personnel.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that beginning April 1, 2020, and on a bi-annual basis thereafter, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall issue a report to the General Assembly concerning the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in this State. Provides for the contents of the report. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Illinois Commerce Commission) Although the bill requirements will require staff time, it will be minimal and will not require additional headcount. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that beginning on or before May 1, 2020, and every 2 years thereafter, the owner or operator of each nuclear power plant in this State shall provide the Illinois Commerce Commission with a copy of the nuclear decommissioning funding assurance status report submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and, as applicable, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Provides that beginning June 1, 2020, and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall provide the General Assembly with a copy of the nuclear decommissioning funding assurance status report for shutdown units as submitted by the owner or operator of a nuclear power plant in this State to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and, as applicable, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate.