Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Changes the name of the Medication Aide Pilot Program to the Medication Aide Program. Makes conforming changes. Provides that to be approved as a qualified facility under the program (instead of for the duration of the pilot program), a facility must meet specified requirements. Removes provisions that provide that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall submit a report regarding patient safety, efficiency, and errors, as determined by rule, to the General Assembly no later than 6 months after termination of the pilot program. Removes language providing that licenses under the Medication Aide Program Article may not be renewed or restored. Makes corresponding changes.

Amends the Preventing Youth Vaping Act. Restricts a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer from advertising, marketing, or promoting an electronic cigarette in a manner that is likely to cause a parent, legal guardian, teacher, or other adult to mistake the electronic cigarette for a product that is not a tobacco product.

Amends the Data Governance and Organization to Support Equity and Racial Justice Act. Provides that, when the State Board of Education and specified Departments report demographic data, they shall use the same classifications as the Governor's Office of Equity, or other classifications as designated by the Governor, to develop a common set of racial and ethnic classifications for use by the Board and Department. Provides that the demographic classifications established shall be reviewed and updated as necessary every 5 years. Provides for exemptions from this reporting requirement. Provides that the Governor's Office of Equity shall establish a project implementation team to oversee the implementation of the Act. Provides that the Governor's Office of Equity or other entity as the Governor may designate shall work in conjunction with the Department of Innovation and Technology to identify and provide advice on common technological processes and procedures. Makes other changes.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality or county, including a home rule municipality or county, is a self-insurer for purposes of providing health insurance coverage for its employees, the insurance coverage shall include mental health counseling for any employee who is a first responder, including police and corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel, without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided. Specifies that this requirement does not apply to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. Limits home rule powers by providing that the requirement that mental health counseling be included in health insurance coverage is an exclusive power and function of the State.

Amends the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Provides that, if an applicant seeks a work assignment as a day or temporary laborer with a day and temporary labor service agency, including in-person, online or through an app-based system, and is not placed with a third party client or otherwise contracted to work for that day by the day and temporary labor service agency, the day and temporary labor service agency shall provide the applicant with a confirmation that the applicant sought work that satisfies specified criteria. Sets forth compensation requirements for day or temporary laborers based on directly hired comparative employees of a third party. Provides that it shall be the responsibility and duty of a day and temporary labor service agency to calculate and determine the hourly rate of pay and the benefits it shall offer to a day or temporary laborer, including any cash equivalents. Makes changes in provisions concerning the right to refuse assignments due to a labor dispute and the duties of third party clients. Defines terms.

Maddy summaryHB 581, titled REGULATION-TECH, is a technical amendment to the Community Benefits Act that updates the short title of a specific section within the law. This procedural change does not alter the underlying policies or create new obligations for any individuals or organizations. The bill was passed by both legislative houses and signed into law by the Governor, becoming effective on August 7, 2024. Its primary function is to correct the official name of a section rather than to introduce substantive new regulations.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish a Local Chamber of Commerce Business Program for the purpose of providing grants to certified local chambers of commerce. Provides that grant moneys may be used to market and develop the service area of the chamber of commerce for the purpose of generating local, county, and State business taxes and to provide small businesses with professional development, business guidance, and best practices for sustainability. Effective immediately.

Amends the Information Technology Accessibility Act. Provides that the Department of Innovation and Technology (currently, the Department of Human Services) shall review certain accessibility standards. Removes a specific reference to the Department of Central Management Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy may allow for the waiver of a course or unit of instruction completion requirement if (i) completion of the course or unit of instruction is required by the Code or rules adopted by the State Board of Education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma and (ii) the school district has determined that the student has demonstrated mastery of or competency in the content of the course or unit of instruction. Provides that the school district shall maintain documentation of this determination of mastery or competency for each student, which must include identification of the learning standards or competencies reviewed, the methods of measurement used, student performance, the date of the determination, and identification of the district personnel involved in the determination process. Provides that a school district must provide notification to a student's parent or guardian that the student will receive a waiver. Makes a corresponding change in the Courses of Study Article of the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Requires the governing board of each public university and community college district to pay employees and contractors their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a city, county, or State declaration of a winter weather emergency.