Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall develop and maintain a program to provide free tuition at one community college in each R3 Area (designated as such under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act) using money appropriated from the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Authorizes the Board to adopt any rules necessary. Amends the State Finance Act to make related changes.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police and all law enforcement agencies within the State shall automatically expunge all criminal history records of an arrest, charge not initiated by arrest, order of supervision, or order of qualified probation for any person who, on or after January 1, 1970, has been convicted of, or is serving an order of supervision for, possession of cannabis whether or not the person has served or is serving his or her sentence for that violation on the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the clerk of the circuit court shall, on the effective date of the amendatory Act, automatically expunge the court records of a person who, on or after January 1, 1970, has been convicted of, or is serving an order of supervision for, possession of cannabis whether or not the person has served or is serving his or her sentence for that violation on the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a person imprisoned solely as a result of one or more convictions for possession of cannabis shall be released from incarceration on the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Cannabis Control Act. Repeals the provision prohibiting the possession of cannabis. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes.

Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that coverage for screening by low-dose mammography for all women 35 years of age or older for the presence of occult breast cancer shall include a screening MRI or ultrasound (rather than a screening MRI when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches).

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. In the definition of "blatant disregard", provides that "blatant disregard" is not present when an incident involving a failure to provide food, shelter, or clothing that otherwise would be characterized as "blatant disregard" is solely attributable to the financial inability of the child's parent or the other person responsible for the child's welfare. In the definition of "neglected child", adds that "neglected child" means any child who is not receiving care necessary for his or her well-being, including adequate food, clothing, and shelter, even when the parent or person responsible for the child is financially able to do so or has been offered financial or other means to do so. Provides that a child shall not be considered neglected for the sole reason that the parent or other person responsible for the child in need of supportive services is unable to provide the care necessary for his or her well-being based exclusively on the parent's, or other responsible person's, financial inability. Defines "child in need of supportive services". Sets forth certain requirements the Department of Children and Family Services must complete before considering a child to be a neglected child, including evaluating the family's financial circumstances and offering appropriate family preservation services or referring the family for a child welfare services referral.

Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall provide educational programs in each of its institutions and facilities for all committed persons. Provides that the Department must allow into each institution and facility of the Department teachers who hold Professional Educator Licenses issued by the State Superintendent of Education under the School Code to teach committed persons. Provides that the Department shall provide vocational training for committed persons in each institution and facility of the Department. Provides that each institution and facility of the Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide educational and vocational training for all persons committed to the Department. Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of pre-Columbian Native American societies. Sets forth additional topics of instruction. Provides that beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the history of Native Americans during and after the American Revolution, as well as the contributions of Native Americans to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of these units of instruction. Provides that a school may meet the curricular requirements through an online program or course. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the School Code. Each school year, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, requires a school board and charter school to collect data on student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students and on the reason for referring students to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students and submit that data annually to the State Board of Education. Requires the State Board to prepare a report (to be posted on the State Board's website) on student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students in all school districts and charter schools in this State for each school year, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. Sets forth what the report must include. Provides that, before July 1 following the posting of a report, the State Board of Education shall identify those public schools and charter schools that are within the top 20% of schools with respect to the number of student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students and require each of the identified schools to submit a referral and arrest improvement plan identifying the strategies the school will implement to reduce the use of student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students. Provides for a progress report to be submitted. Effective immediately.

Creates the Wrongful Prosecution Commission Act. Creates the Wrongful Prosecution Commission as an independent commission under the Illinois Human Rights Commission for administrative purposes. Defines "claim of wrongful prosecution" as a claim by or on behalf of a living person convicted of a crime in a county of more than 3,000,000 inhabitants asserting that the person was falsely incriminated for the crime and there is credible evidence related to allegations of the use of false evidence to obtain the conviction. Defines other terms. Provides that the Commission shall conduct inquiries into claims of wrongful prosecution. Provides that if the Commission concludes there is sufficient evidence of wrongful prosecution to merit judicial review, the Chair of the Commission shall request that the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County assign the case to a trial judge for consideration. Provides that the Act applies to claims of wrongful prosecution filed not later than 5 years after the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Act 10 years after the effective date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after July 1, 2023, medically necessary orthodontic services may be covered under the medical assistance program. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to use certain auto-qualifiers when determining whether an individual, who is otherwise eligible for medical assistance, is also eligible for coverage for a medically necessary orthodontic service. Provides that if the Department denies a claim for a medically necessary orthodontic service, the Department must, at a minimum, provide the following information to the provider of the orthodontic service: (i) the actual score of the orthodontic case; (ii) the name of the dentist or orthodontist who scored the orthodontic case; (iii) a detailed scoring sheet outlining the reasons for the score of the orthodontic case; and (iv) instructions on how to appeal the denied claim.