Rep. Katie Stuart

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person who unlawfully possesses fentanyl commits reckless endangerment of a first responder or coroner by fentanyl exposure if he or she, by any means lawful or unlawful, recklessly performs an act or acts that causes a first responder or coroner bodily harm as a result of exposure to or contact with fentanyl. Provides that a person commits reckless endangerment of a first responder or coroner by fentanyl exposure when he or she unlawfully delivers fentanyl to another that causes bodily harm to a first responder or coroner as a result of exposure to or contact with that fentanyl. Reckless endangerment of a first responder or coroner by fentanyl exposure is a Class 2 felony. Effective immediately.

States opposition to any additional excise taxes on Illinois businesses that produce beer, wine, or liquor or their related industries.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for public school fees and contributions. Sets forth purposes for which those fees and contributions may be used. Provides that the credit may not exceed $200 for each individual taxpayer or $400 for a married couple filing jointly. Effective immediately.

Creates the Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish the Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program for the purpose of providing direct relief to hotels impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall award a one-time grant to the operator of each hotel in the State in an amount equal to $1,500 for each room in the hotel. Sets forth the permitted uses for grant funds awarded under the Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides for emergency rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions that limit the number of days and hours an annuitant may accept employment for without impairing retirement status, provides that the limitation does not apply to an annuitant who returns to teaching as a substitute teacher in a school district that has been granted a waiver by the System. Provides that a school district may apply for a waiver by providing to the System sufficient evidence that there is a substitute teacher shortage in the school district and an estimate of the number of paid hours in the school year that the annuitant will work. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provides that an application for an organization license shall be submitted to the Illinois Racing Board and that the Board may grant the license at any of its meetings. Provides the timeline for the application process, including if an application is rejected and the Board advises the applicant of the deficiencies and allows the applicant to resubmit the application. Provides that if the application is found to be in compliance with the Act and the Board's rules, the Board shall then issue an organization license to the applicant (rather than providing that the organization license shall be granted upon application). Changes the bond requirement for an applicant for an organization license. Provides that the Board may appoint the Director of Mutuels to serve as the State director for inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering by inter-track wagering licensees and inter-track wagering location licensees. Provides that the pari-mutuel tax imposed at all pari-mutuel wagering facilities and on advance deposit wagering shall be remitted to the Board (rather than the Department of Revenue). Provides that the Board shall distribute contributed funds to a charitable organization on a schedule determined by the Board, based on the charitable organization's estimated expenditures related to the grant (rather than by December 31 of each year). Provides that any funds not expended by the grantee in a grant year shall be distributed to the charitable organization or charitable organizations selected in the next grant year after the funds are recovered. Repeals provisions requiring the Board and the Department of Agriculture to establish a program to conduct drug testing on horses at county fairs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section relating to long-term care insurance. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/351A-4 Adds reference to: New Act 215 ILCS 5/356z.41 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Access to Affordable Insulin Act. Sets forth provisions concerning an insulin urgent-need program. Provides that by July 1, 2022, each manufacturer shall establish procedures to make insulin available to eligible individuals who are in urgent need of insulin or who are in need of access to an affordable insulin supply. Sets forth provisions concerning insulin urgent-need program exceptions, eligibility, forms, applications, claims and reimbursement, copayments, information sheets, navigators, and penalties. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs, provides that an insurer that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs under the terms of a health coverage plan the insurer offers shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a 30-day supply of covered prescription insulin drugs at an amount not to exceed $35 (rather than $100). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to $500 for individuals who serve as volunteer emergency workers for or on behalf of a volunteer fire protection association. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Provides that, to qualify for the credit, the volunteer emergency worker may not receive compensation for his or her services of more than $10,000 for the taxable year. Removes provisions concerning volunteer fire protection associations. Makes changes to the definition of "volunteer emergency worker". Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to permit medical assistance recipients, including those enrolled in managed care, to obtain pharmacy services from the pharmacy of their choice if the pharmacy is licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act and accepts the professional dispensing fee for pharmacy services as determined by the Department. Provides that no managed care organization that contracts with the Department to provide services to recipients may restrict a recipient's access to pharmacy services to a selected group of pharmacies. Provides that if a managed care organization merges with or is acquired by another entity, the resulting entity may not restrict a recipient's access to pharmacy services to a selected group of pharmacies. Permits the Department to renegotiate with the resulting entity the terms of the managed care contract the Department had with the original managed care organization prior to the merger or acquisition. Requires the Department to contract with an independent research organization to conduct a study and submit a report on those managed care organizations that are contracted to provide services to recipients. Requires the report to include an analysis of pharmacy access for medical assistance recipients with the aim of identifying "pharmacy deserts"; an analysis of the costs and benefits of having managed care organizations administer health care services, including pharmacy services, to recipients; and other matters. Prohibits the Department from entering into any new contract with a managed care organization before the report has been received and analyzed by the Department and posted on its website. Effective immediately. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 591 as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Judicial Note (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) Based on a review of the bill, it has been determined that the proposed legislation would neither increase nor decrease the number of judges needed in the State of Illinois. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 591 will not have any impact on any public pension fund or retirement system in the State of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 591 would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Healthcare & Family Services) The bill would require the Department to accept claims from any provider licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act for services provided to recipients under the Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) program or through a contractual managed care organization (MCO) entity. There would be a significant impact to liability for the MCO capitation rates. This bill has a total fiscal impact of $186 million.

Amends the Illinois Local Library Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning penalties.