Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In provisions concerning volunteer emergency workers, provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, "volunteer emergency worker" also includes a community policing volunteer, a volunteer auxiliary police officer, or a volunteer auxiliary deputy. Effective immediately.
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. In a provision requiring a facility licensed under the Act to notify the Department of Human Services when emergency calls are made from the facility, provides that the notification is required regardless of whether the Office of the Inspector General has substantiated the allegations or the call resulted in a criminal charge, arrest, or incarceration. Provides that the Department shall adopt by rule a definition for "emergency calls".
Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Prohibits persons who fail to report to the Department of Public Health individuals who commit certain violations from being involved in direct care for clients, patients, or residents, or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of clients, patients, or residents unless they have been issued a waiver under the Act. Provides that reports of violations shall be made no later than 5 days after the incident constituting the violation. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when the person battered, other than by the discharge of a firearm, is known to be a patient at a Department of Human Services facility and the person who commits the battery is an employee of the Department of Human Services; and a recipient at a community-integrated living arrangement, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, who is battered by an employee of the community-integrated living arrangement. Provides that the offense is a Class 2 felony.
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer, no later than January 1, 2026, a 5-year pilot program that integrates an occupational therapy component into the State's home-delivered meals program, commonly known as Meals on Wheels, authorized under the federal Older Americans Act. Provides that under the pilot program, the Department shall award grants funded under the Section 14(c) transition program to eligible community agencies for the purpose of training and employing qualifying workers with disabilities to accompany Meals on Wheels drivers on their regular delivery routes and assist in the delivery of meals to homebound meal recipients who opt to participate in the pilot program. Provides that at the option of a participating homebound meal recipient, a qualifying worker may remain with the recipient for up to 2 hours after meal delivery to provide an opportunity for social engagement and interaction. Provides that a direct support professional shall travel with and supervise all deliveries made by a worker whose disability makes the worker less independent. Sets forth qualification requirements under the program for workers with disabilities. Provides that all workers with disabilities selected to participate in the pilot program shall be compensated at a rate level consistent with those wage standards applied for workers engaged in competitive integrated employment as defined in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Requires community agencies selected to receive grant funding under the pilot program to have active or pending subminimum wage certificates authorized under Section 14(c) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and meet any other eligibility requirements established by the Department by rule. Requires the Department to conduct annual surveys during the duration of the pilot program on participating homebound meal recipients and workers with disabilities to gauge such participants' overall satisfaction with the pilot program and to document any other additional benefits to program participants. Effective July 1, 2025.
Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to submit the necessary application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend the State's home and community-based services waiver programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities to provide coverage under the Home-Based Services Program for any therapeutic recreation programs offered by park districts, health clubs, and community colleges.
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the personal needs allowance for a qualifying medical assistance recipient who is a resident in a facility licensed under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act shall equal $100. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the personal needs allowance shall increase annually at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment to take effect on January 1 of each year.
Amends the Time Standardization Act. Provides that daylight saving time shall be the year-round standard time of the entire State. Makes other changes.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, subject to federal approval, any individual who is initially approved to provide personal care services as a live-in caregiver under the Adults with Developmental Disabilities Waiver or the Support Waiver for Children and Young Adults but is subsequently ordered by the Department of Human Services to complete mandatory electronic visit verification (EVV) training on account of the individual submitting an incomplete or insufficient application for the live-in caregiver exemption from EVV requirements shall be allowed a one-time waiver of the mandatory EVV training if: (i) the individual's application for the live-in caregiver exemption was determined by the Department to be incomplete or insufficient due to missing documentation; (ii) the individual is otherwise eligible for the live-in caregiver exemption; and (iii) the individual has not previously been ordered to complete mandatory EVV training. Provides that, subject to federal approval, any individual who is approved for the live-in caregiver exemption either through formal application or a waiver shall be required to renew the exemption by written application every 5 years. Effective immediately.
Congratulates the Central High School Varsity Cheerleading squad, the Cougars, on winning the 2025-2026 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 1A Competitive Cheerleading State Final. Wishes the squad many more successful seasons.
Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that, of the moneys in the Transportation Renewal Fund that are used for highway maintenance, highway construction, bridge repair, congestion relief, and construction of aviation facilities, 40% (instead of 60%) shall be transferred to the State Construction Account Fund and 60% (instead of 40%) shall be distributed by the Department of Transportation to municipalities, counties, and road districts of the State. Effective immediately.
