Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the School Code. Provides that any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child under the age of 18 at the time of adoption, minor child younger than 18 who is under a court-ordered guardianship for at least 2 continuous years prior to application, or step-child under the age of 18 at the time of marriage of an eligible veteran or serviceperson shall, upon application and proper proof, be awarded a MIA/POW Scholarship. Provides that the holder of a MIA/POW Scholarship shall not be required to pay any tuition or mandatory fees while attending a State-controlled university or public community college in this State for a period equivalent to 4 years of enrollment, including summer terms. Amends the Children of Deceased Veterans Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant Act. Requires the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide, subject to appropriation, for matriculation and tuition fees, board, room rent, books and supplies for the use and benefit of any natural child, adopted child, minor child who is under a court-ordered guardianship for at least 2 continuous years prior to application, or step-child of an eligible veteran or serviceperson, if the child is not under 10 and not over 18 years of age. Requires the child to provide proof of compliance with Illinois compulsory attendance requirements as provided under the School Code. Defines "eligible veteran or service person". Requires the Department to adopt rules on how to render payments to eligible minor children of deceased veterans or servicepersons. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Creates the Foster Care Investigative Reports Commission as an executive agency of State government to investigate all adverse reports submitted by foster parents to the Department of Children and Family Services (Department) concerning the children placed in their care. Provides that the Commission shall consist of 9 members appointed by the Governor. Contains provisions concerning the term limits of Commission members, compensation, Commission meetings, and other matters. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Commission shall hire a Director and staff to process and investigate all adverse reports referred by the Department to the Commission in order to determine whether the information and allegations set forth in each report are true or false. Requires the Commission to review the findings and recommendations of the Director for each investigated adverse report. Provides that if, after its review, the Commission determines that an adverse report is false or inaccurate, the Commission shall issue a final written report of its determination to be filed with the foster child's official records. Permits the Director, the Director's staff, and the Commission to inspect and copy any materials held by the Department that are relevant to the investigation of an adverse report. Contains provisions concerning the confidentiality of Department records, Commission reporting requirements, and Commission rules. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/5.26 new 225 ILCS 10/2.22a 225 ILCS 10/4 from Ch. 23, par. 2214 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following additions: Further amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to ensure that an exit interview is conducted with every child age 5 and over who leaves a foster home, unless clinically contraindicated. Provides that the interview shall be conducted by a caseworker, mental health provider, or clinician from the Department's Division of Clinical Practice. Requires the interview to be conducted within 5 days of the child's removal from the home. Requires the interviewer to comply with the provisions of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act if the child discloses abuse or neglect. Requires the interviewer to immediately inform the licensing agency if the child discloses any information that would constitute a potential licensing violation. Contains provisions on (i) documentation of the interview; (ii) determinations on whether the interview is clinically contraindicated; (iii) information and subject areas that are required to be addressed during the interview; (iv) the development of interview procedures and an interview form by the Department no later than January 1, 2023; and (v) quarterly postings on the Department's website that summarize the exit interviews. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Expands the definition of "quality of care concerns applicant" to include a foster care license applicant or any person living in the applicant's household who has requested a youth in care's removal from the home on 5 or more occasions. In provisions concerning applications for a foster family home license, requires the Department to review information regarding all child exit interviews regarding the home. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 505/17a-16 new Removes provisions creating the Foster Care Investigative Reports Commission.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 shall provide coverage for access to home health services for the duration of medically necessary care. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

Amends the School Code. In regard to the Whole Child Task Force, requires that the goals of the Task Force must also include (i) ensuring that historically disadvantaged males, including African American students and other students of color, receive academic equity and achieve academic excellence by considering whether to require that every school district's strategic plan focus on historically disadvantaged male students, including African American students and other students of color, as a specific student group to ensure educational equity and (ii) considering whether to establish a dedicated office within the State Board of Education to focus on the achievement of academic excellence and equity for historically disadvantaged males, including African American students and other students of color. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/22-90 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 435/2.1 from Ch. 122, par. 697.1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Vocational Education Act. Requires the Gender Equity Advisory Committee, on or before December 15, 2023, to submit recommendations to the Governor, General Assembly, and State Board of Education on how school districts and the State Board of Education can better support historically disadvantaged males, including African American students and other students of color, to ensure educational equity. Makes that requirement inoperative on and after December 31, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Transportation Division of the Illinois Commerce Commission shall establish a statewide database in which any licensed tow operator may enter information regarding vehicles towed for safety or relocation purposes. Provides that the database: shall allow each tow operator to have its own login in order to facilitate the entry of information via a mobile device; may integrate with existing law enforcement databases; may have a vehicle identification number validation feature to permit only valid vehicle identification numbers to be submitted to the database; shall include the name of the tow company that took possession of the vehicle; and shall be available to the public. Provides that, within one hour after a vehicle is relocated, a commercial or safety relocator shall notify the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the area from which the vehicle was relocated by electronically entering the information into the database. Provides that the commercial or safety relocator shall maintain records documenting the notification. Provides that a commercial or safety relocator in possession of a vehicle that has remained unclaimed for a period of 15 days after having been towed shall, within 5 days after the expiration of that period, report the vehicle as unclaimed by entering the information into the database. Provides that notification shall include specified information. Provides that a commercial or safety relocator that fails to enter the information into the database as required may not charge or collect any amount in connection with the relocation, processing, or storage of the vehicle or dispose of the unclaimed vehicle. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 625 ILCS 5/18a-300.5 new 625 ILCS 5/18c-1204 625 ILCS 5/18d-137 new Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/4-203.5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes language exempting a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction solely over a municipality with a population over 1,000,000 from the requirement to maintain a tow rotation list.

Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Removes language exempting from coverage under the Act an employee of an employer subject to the provisions of Title II of the federal Railway Labor Act. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Provides that the rights afforded under the Act serve as the minimum standard in a negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish a field office in each legislative district (rather than such field offices as it shall find necessary to enable it to perform its duties). House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3.01 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to sufficient appropriations, the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall contract for a market research analysis of field services in this State. Provides that the analysis shall include the availability of veterans assistance commissions, veterans service organizations, and Department staff to assist veterans as well as the availability of nontraditional methods to deliver services through technology-based approaches. Provides that the analysis may use census data, as well as questionnaires, surveys, and town hall meetings to solicit input from veterans, their families, and other stakeholders. Provides that, within 18 months after sufficient appropriations, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a recommended plan for the future delivery of services by the Department's Field Division, including the estimated cost of implementing the plan. Repeals the new provisions on December 31, 2023.

Creates the Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals Act. Creates the Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that the Task Force shall have the following members: 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 2 members appointed by the Governor; the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation; the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation; and 2 members appointed from the nonprofit organization Upwardly Global. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least once a month until the Task Force votes to dissolve itself. Provides that the Department shall provide administrative support. Provides that the subject matter of the Task Force is intended to address health care professionals but also other professionals as needed, to be focused on professionals already licensed and practicing in another country and seeking licensure in the State, and to not include students. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare an annual report to address barriers to licensure and practice for health care professionals in the State and address strategies for reducing the barriers. Provides that the report shall be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly, and the first report shall be submitted one year after the effective date of the Act. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill and makes the following changes: Changes the members of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet once every two months (instead of at least once a month). Provides that the Task Force shall only meet once a majority of members are appointed. Designates the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation as the chair of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to submit the report one year after the first meeting of the Task Force (rather than after the effective date of the Act).

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that any person committed to the Department of Corrections may request a copy of the person's own master record file up to 4 times a year. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall provide the committed person with a copy of his or her master record file within 5 days after receipt of the committed person's request for a copy of his or her master record file. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 140/7 from Ch. 116, par. 207 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a committed person may request a summary of the committed person's master record file once per year and the committed person's attorney may request one summary of the committed person's master record file once per year. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall create a form for requesting this summary, and shall make that form available to committed persons and to the public on its website. Upon receipt of the request form, the Department shall provide the summary within 15 days. Provides that the summary must contain, unless otherwise prohibited by law: (1) the person's name, ethnic, racial, and other identifying information; (2) all digitally available information from the committing court; (3) all information in the Offender 360 system on the person's criminal history; (4) the person's complete assignment history in the Department of Corrections; (5) the person's disciplinary card; (6) additional records about up to 3 specific disciplinary incidents as identified by the requester; (7) any available records about up to 5 specific grievances filed by the person, as identified by the requester; and (8) the records of all grievances filed on or after January 1, 2023. Provides that a committed person's master record file is not subject to disclosure and copying under the Freedom of Information Act. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make a conforming change. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Corrects a typographical error.

Amends the School Code. Defines "school fees" or "fees" to mean any monetary charge collected by a public school, public school district, or charter school from a student or the parents or guardian of a student as a prerequisite for the student's participation in any curricular or extracurricular program of the school or school district. Provides that homeless children and youth as defined in Section 11434A of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act also qualify for a waiver for fees and fines for the loss or destruction of school property (currently, fees). Provides that the school board may provide for waiver verification no more often than once every academic year (currently, once every 60 days). Provides that no discrimination or punishment of any kind, including, but not limited to, the lowering of grades, exclusion from classes, or withholding of student records, transcripts or diplomas, (currently, lowering of grades or exclusion from classes) may be exercised against a student whose because the student's parents or guardians are unable to purchase required textbooks or instructional materials. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill but removes the applicability of the fine waiver for the destruction of school property, removes the applicability for children living in households eligible for reduced lunch, and makes technical corrections.