Rep. Charlie Meier

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, in accordance with federal guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall exempt from electronic visit verification requirements all live-in caregivers who provide Medicaid-funded personal care services or home health care services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan or a waiver of the plan, including personal care services and home health care services provided under various home and community-based services waiver programs authorized under the Social Security Act. Defines "live-in caregiver". Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act and the Public Funds Investment Act. Prohibits the investment of State moneys and public funds in certain investments or institutions tied to the Chinese Communist Party or the People's Republic of China. Amends the Procurement Code. Provides that each bid or offer submitted for a State contract shall include a disclosure of whether or not the bidder, offeror, or any of its corporate parents or subsidiaries, within the 24 months before submission of the bid or offer had business operations that involved contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the Chinese Communist Party and certain other companies tied to the Chinese Communist Party. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the State-funded retirement systems shall not invest moneys in Chinese Communist Party sovereign debt, Chinese Communist Party-backed securities, any investment instrument issued by an entity that is domiciled or has its principal place of business in the People's Republic of China, or any investment instrument issued by a company that is subject to Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies Sanctions. Provides that as soon as practicable, each State-funded retirement system shall instruct its investment advisors to sell, redeem, divest, or withdraw all direct holdings of Chinese Communist Party sovereign debt and direct holdings of Chinese Communist Party-backed securities. Requires the Illinois Investment Policy Board to make its best efforts to identify all companies that are domiciled or have their principal place of business in the People's Republic of China and companies subject to Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies Sanctions and to include those companies in the list of restricted companies. Makes other changes. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall require a public institution of higher education to disclose to the Board any endowment or other donation given to the institution from a source associated with any company that is domiciled or has its principal place of business in the People's Republic of China and is on the list of restricted companies developed by the Illinois Investment Policy Board. Makes other changes.

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding the compulsory school age, provides that a student absent from a school in which the student is regularly enrolled shall be considered as being in attendance if the reason for such absence is to participate in scheduled Future Farmers of America Organization and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. Provides that the student and parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for obtaining assignments missed while the student was participating in such an activity from the student's teacher.

Amends the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Public Health, and members of the University of Illinois' INHS Medical Entomology Program to establish the Lyme Disease Innovation Program no later than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the Department shall contract with a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to raise awareness of tick-borne diseases with the public and the medical community to operate the Program. Provides that the Program's purpose is to raise awareness with the public and to assist persons at risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases with education and awareness materials and campaigns while developing evidence-based approaches that are cost-effective. Includes provisions relating to the Program's objectives. Provides that the Program shall be funded by the Lyme Disease Awareness Fund. Amends the Recreational Trails of Illinois Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall issue to an off-highway vehicle owner an Off-Highway Vehicle Usage Stamp, and the Stamp shall be $10 or $5 depending on the size of the vehicle's engine capacity. Provides that the proceeds from the Stamp must be deposited into the Lyme Disease Awareness Fund. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall cover a medically necessary home saliva cancer screening every 24 months. 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. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the School Code to create the Rural Education Advisory Council. Provides that the purpose of the council is to exchange thoughtful dialogue concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural districts and to provide policy recommendations to the State. Sets forth the functions and membership of the council. Contains provisions concerning expenses, meetings, and administrative support.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year fishing license. Provides that the fee for a 5-year fishing license is $62.50. Provides that for residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year fishing license. Provides that for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year fishing license. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents holding a license and to the same hunting privileges as residents holding a license to hunt all species under the Wildlife Code. Provides that the 5-year sportsmen's combination license fee shall be $112.50. Provides that a sportsmen's combination license shall not be issued to any individual who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting license separately. Provides that for residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year sportsmen's combination license. Provides that for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year sportsmen's combination license. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year hunting license to hunt all species for $52. Provides that for residents age 65 or older and resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year hunting license.

Amends the Vital Records Act. Requires death certificates to include (1) a "Yes" or "No" designation of whether the deceased was a veteran, (2) if the deceased was a veteran, a "Yes" or "No" designation of whether the deceased was receiving a compensatory pension or benefit at the time of his or her death for an illness or injury that may have contributed to his or her death, and (3) if the deceased is designated as having received a compensatory pension or benefit, a "Yes" or "No" designation of whether the illness or injury was a contributing cause or factor in the deceased's death.

Amends provisions of the Lyme Disease Prevention and Protection Act concerning the Lyme Disease Task Force. Provides that one veterinarian appointed to the Task Force by the Director of Public Health must be a practicing Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Adds one medical entomologist appointed by the Director of Public Health to the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to meet not less than 4 (rather than 2) times each year.