Rep. Charlie Meier

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the General Assembly shall annually appropriate to the Department of Transportation $60,000,000 (instead of $15,000,000) for apportionment to counties for the use of road districts for the construction of bridges 20 feet or more in length. Provides that funds that are not obligated within 72 (instead of 48) months shall revert to the Road Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, for a person who resides in a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act and who is determined to be eligible for medical assistance, the monthly personal needs allowance shall be $60.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that the General Assembly may determine by statute the limit of liability for all damages and losses other than economic damages of a provider of medical or health care with respect to treatment, lack of treatment, or other claimed departure from an accepted standard of medical or health care or safety that is or is claimed to be a cause of or that contributes or is claimed to contribute to the disease, injury, or death of a person. Requires a majority vote of all the members elected to each house to pass legislation to limit liability on non-economic damages. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2024 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $4.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for ID/DD facilities and MC/DD facilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2024 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $4.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services emergency rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Urges the Illinois Department of Transportation and the High Speed Railroad Commission to move expeditiously in preparing a Statewide Integrated Network Plan, including the identification of desired service points and key transfer stations, the construction of a theoretical rail and bus schedule with timed transfers, the creation of a ridership and revenue model for the desired network, the estimation of needed infrastructure investments, and the development of a phased implementation plan.

Directs the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the oversight of the Independent Service Coordination (ISC) program by the Department of Human Services' Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Declares the month of September 2023 as River Clean Up Month. Encourages chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, local economic development organizations, area groups and associations, and local schools and colleges to organize and coordinate local cleanup activities along portions of rivers and waterways in their area. Encourages the State of Illinois to promote September as River Clean Up Month.

Congratulates the Okawville High School girls basketball team, the Lady Rockets, on winning the 2023 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 1A Girls Basketball Championship.

Creates the College Insurance Program Task Force to study the College Insurance Program and present policy and legislative recommendations to the General Assembly to ensure the program remains a viable and healthy benefit.

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that licenses for community mental health or developmental services agencies are valid for 2 years (rather than 3 years). Provides that if a community mental health or developmental services agency receives a compliance score as the result of a survey or audit from the Department of Human Services or the Bureau of Accreditation, Licensure and Certification that is less than acceptably compliant, the agency shall implement a plan of corrections to address the violations listed in the survey or audit and may be subject to additional sanctions based on the agency's compliance score, including, but not limited to, a freeze on admissions or revocation of the agency's license.