Rep. Katie Stuart

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Eating Disorder Treatment Parity Task Force within the Department of Insurance to review reimbursement to eating disorder treatment providers in Illinois as well as out-of-state providers of similar services. Provides for the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall elect a chairperson from its membership and shall have the authority to determine its meeting schedule, hearing schedule, and agendas. Provides that appointments shall be made within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the Task Force shall review insurance plans and rates and provide recommendations for rules, and the findings, recommendations, and other information determined by the Task Force to be relevant shall be made available on the Department's website. Provides that the Task Force shall submit findings and recommendations to the Director of Insurance, the Governor, and the General Assembly by December 31, 2021. Provides for repeal of the provisions on January 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no provision of the Illinois Insurance Code or any other law prohibits an insured under any policy of life insurance, or any other person who may be the owner of any rights under such policy, from making an irrevocable assignment of all or any part of his or her rights and privileges, not to exceed the purchase price of the prepaid burial contract, under the policy to a funeral home and to have an individual policy issued in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. Provides that nothing shall prohibit the purchaser of a life insurance policy or tax-deferred annuity contract for the purpose of funding a pre-need contract from irrevocably assigning ownership of the policy or annuity to a funeral home (rather than person) or trust for the purpose of obtaining favorable consideration for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or another public assistance program, as permitted under federal law. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to exempt certain prepaid funeral or burial contracts from consideration when making an eligibility determination for medical assistance, provides that at any time after submitting an application for medical assistance and before the Department makes a final determination of eligibility, an applicant may use available resources to purchase one of the exempted prepaid funeral or burial contracts. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/245.3 new 225 ILCS 45/2a Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill but without the amendatory changes made to the Illinois Insurance Code and the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/245.3 new 225 ILCS 45/1a from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 73.101a 225 ILCS 45/2a 225 ILCS 45/2b new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insured or any other person who may be the owner of rights under a policy of life insurance may make an irrevocable assignment of all or a part of his or her rights under the policy to a funeral home in accordance with a specified provision of the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. Provides that a policy owner who executes a designation beneficiary form irrevocably waives and cannot exercise certain rights, including the right to collect from the insurance company the net proceeds of the policy when it becomes a claim by death and the right to collect or receive income, distributions, or shares of surplus, dividend deposits, refunds of premium, or additions to the policy. Amends the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. In a provision concerning pre-need contracts funded through the purchase of a life insurance policy or tax-deferred annuity contract, provides that nothing shall prohibit the purchaser from irrevocably assigning ownership of the policy or annuity to a person or trust or from irrevocably assigning the benefits of the policy or annuity to a funeral home for the purpose of obtaining favorable consideration for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or another public assistance program. Provides that the form prepared by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or by the insurance company shall provide for an irrevocable designation of beneficiary of one or more life insurance policies. Requires the insured or any other person who may be the owner of rights under the policy of whole life insurance to sign a guaranteed pre-need contract with the provider that describes the cost of the funeral goods and services to be provided upon the person's death, up to $6,774, in addition to the purchase of burial spaces as defined under the Act. Requires the licensee to annually report certain information to the Comptroller. Requires the proceeds of the life insurance policy to be paid to the provider and disbursed in a certain order upon the death of the insured. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to exempt certain prepaid funeral or burial contracts from consideration when making an eligibility determination for medical assistance, provides that at any time after submitting an application for medical assistance and before the Department makes a final determination of eligibility, an applicant may use available resources to purchase one of the exempted prepaid funeral or burial contracts. Exempts up to $6,774 (rather than $5,874) in funds under an irrevocable prepaid funeral or burial contract when determining an individual's resources and eligibility for medical assistance. Provides that existing life insurance policies are exempt if there has been an irrevocable declaration of proceeds at the death of the insured. Requires the insured person to sign an irrevocable designation of beneficiary form declaring that any amounts payable from the policies not used for funeral goods and services shall be received by the State up to an amount equal to the total medical assistance paid on behalf of the person with any remaining funds paid to a secondary beneficiary (if any) listed on the policy.

Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 320 ILCS 20/1 Adds reference to: 320 ILCS 20/4 from Ch. 23, par. 6604 320 ILCS 20/4.1 320 ILCS 20/4.2 320 ILCS 20/5 from Ch. 23, par. 6605 320 ILCS 20/8 from Ch. 23, par. 6608 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Provides that any person may report information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult to an agency designated to receive such reports under the Act or to the Department on Aging. Provides that if a mandated reporter has reason to believe that the death of an eligible adult may be the result of abuse or neglect, the matter shall be reported to an agency designated to receive such reports under the Act or to the Department for subsequent referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the coroner or medical examiner. Prohibits an employer from discriminating against any employee who reports information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult in accordance with the Act. Provides that any mandated reporter who is required under the Act to report a suspicious death due to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation shall testify fully in any administrative hearing resulting from such report. Provides that a referral to law enforcement may be made after a report of a suspicious death, depending upon the circumstances. Provides that all records concerning reports of suspicious deaths due to abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect and all records generated as a result of such reports shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, with some exceptions. Effective January 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 320 ILCS 20/4 320 ILCS 20/4.1 320 ILCS 20/4.2 320 ILCS 20/5 320 ILCS 20/8 Adds reference to: 320 ILCS 20/2 from Ch. 23, par. 6602 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. In a provision listing mandated reporters, excludes the State Long Term Care Ombudsman and all representatives of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. Expands the definition of "mandated reporter" to include investment advisors and insurance adjusters. Defines "insurance adjuster" and "investment adviser". Effective immediately.

Amends the Instructional Materials Article of the School Code. Provides that a Section of the Article may be referred to as the Pierce Twins Law. Provides that a school district (including a charter school) shall require that books that are included as a part of any course, material, instruction, reading assignment, or other school curricula related to literature during the school year or that appear on summer reading lists must include books that are written by diverse authors, including, but not limited to, authors who are African American, women, Native American, LatinX, and Asian. Provides that reading material may not perpetuate bias against persons based on specified categories. Provides that for any school district utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the selection of each book to be included in a reading assignment, course material and instruction, or other school curricula related to literature must first receive prior approval from the school board before the book may be included. Provides that the criteria for the approval or denial of a book shall be determined by school board policy, but the minimum requirement is that the book may not be approved by the school board if the book contains language or material that is derogatory or racist or incites hate against any persons. Provides for rulemaking and guidelines. Effective immediately.

Creates the Equity through Financial Literacy Task Force Act. Creates the Equity through Financial Literacy Task Force. Provides for membership of the Task Force. Provides that no less than one-third of the members of the Task Force shall reside in areas outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. Provides that members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation, except that the young adult and college student appointees of the Task Force shall receive a stipend for serving as members. Provides for meetings of the Task Force. Provides that the Office of the Governor shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Provides for duties of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor on or before December 31, 2021. Provides for the content of the report. Provides purpose and legislative intent provisions. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2023. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Adds to the membership of the Equity through Financial Literacy Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall hold its first meeting within 90 days (rather than 60 days) after the effective date of the Act. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor on or before December 31, 2022 (rather than 2021). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the amendatory Act applies to any person who is employed by the Department on Aging, or is contracted with the Department, to provide direct services to individuals enrolled in the Community Care Program. Requires dementia training of at least 2 hours to be completed at the start of employment with the Department or contractor. Provides that persons who are employees of the Department or a contractor on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall complete this training within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the training to cover the following subjects: Alzheimer's disease and dementia, safety risks, and communication and behavior. Requires annual continuing education training to include at least 2 hours of dementia training covering those subjects. Provides that if laws or rules existing on the effective date of the amendatory Act contain more rigorous training requirements for employees or contractors providing direct services to Community Care Program enrollees, those laws or rules shall apply. Provides that where there is overlap between the provisions of the amendatory Act and other laws and rules, the Department shall interpret the provisions of the amendatory Act to avoid duplication of requirements while ensuring that the minimum requirements set in the amendatory Act are met.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In provisions concerning greenhouse gases, removes language requiring (1) all electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that use coal as a fuel and are public greenhouse gas-emitting units to permanently reduce CO2e emissions to zero no later than December 31, 2045, (2) any source or plant with such units to reduce their CO2e emissions by 45% from existing emissions by no later than January 1, 2035, and, (3) if the emissions reduction requirement is not achieved by December 31, 2035, the plant to retire one or more units or otherwise reduce its CO2e emissions by 45% from existing emissions by June 30, 2038. Provides that all electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that use coal as a fuel and are public greenhouse gas-emitting units shall permanently reduce CO2e emissions to zero no later than December 31, 2045.

Amends the School Visitation Rights Act. Provides that an employer that terminates an employee for absences to attend school conferences is liable in a civil action for damages resulting to the employee. Imposes upon the employer the burden of proof to demonstrate that termination is not related to an employee's absence for attendance at a school conference, behavioral meeting, or academic meeting. Effective August 1, 2021.

Amends the Election Code. Allows the State Board of Elections to receive voter registration information provided by applicants using electronic voter registration portals (rather than the Board's website). Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who is otherwise qualified to vote may preregister to vote on or after that person's 16th birthday, with the registration held in abeyance by the appropriate election authority until that individual attains the required age to vote. Requires preregistration to be completed using the online voter registration system or an electronic voter registration portal. Provides that for the purposes of the Code, an individual who is 16 years of age or older (rather than who is 17 years of age and who will be 18 years of age on the date of the general or consolidated election) shall be deemed competent to execute and attest to any voter registration forms.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act and the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall establish and maintain a database of persons who register as being diagnosed with a communication disability or a disability that can impair communication. Provides that a person diagnosed with a communication disability or a disability that can impair communication who is 18 of age or older may register with the Illinois State Police for inclusion in the database by submitting a completed verification form established by the Department of Human Services. Provides that a parent or guardian of a minor child or a ward diagnosed with a communication disability or a disability that can impair communication may register the minor child or the ward with the Illinois State Police for inclusion in the database by submitting a completed verification form established by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall include in the database information provided on a completed verification form that the Illinois State Police determines is necessary for a law enforcement officer to identify a person as diagnosed with a communication disability or a disability that can impair communication. Defines terms.