Rep. Kevin Schmidt

Amends the Coal Mining Act. Provides for State mine rescue stations that are maintained by the Department of Natural Resources for the sole purpose of responding to and preparing for emergencies in the coal mines of Illinois. Provides that recovery operations that are intended solely for the purpose of securing property are not covered under a provision concerning State mine rescue services. Provides that additional mine rescue services for the purpose of securing property are the responsibility of the operator of the property. Provides that mine rescue teams shall be based out of each State mine rescue station to serve the Illinois coal industry as either a primary or secondary responder. Provides that every coal producing mine in the State must assign its mine rescue team or mine complex rescue team to a State mine rescue station and must compensate these employees at their regular rate of pay. Provides that the Mining Board shall establish training requirements for mine rescue teams and mine complex rescue teams. Provides that coal producing mines that maintain a mine rescue station are exempt from providing a mine rescue team or mine complex rescue team to serve the State mine rescue station if certain conditions are met. Sets forth provisions concerning the Department providing suitably located sites for State mine rescue stations; supervision of State mine rescue operations; definitions; and mine rescue teams.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that, in addition to required professional development leadership training, every voting member of a school board of a school district elected or appointed for a term beginning after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall complete a minimum of 3 hours of training every 2 years on continuous improvement planning and leveraging instruction, funding, and support to improve student outcomes. Provides that this training must be completed within one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act or the first year of a school board member's term and must be completed at least every 2 years thereafter. Provides that, subject to the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, school board members may take this training together. Provides that the training may be provided by an association established under the Code for the purpose of training school board members or by other qualified providers approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with an association so established.

Creates the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act. Requires the Department of Agriculture to develop and administer a Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program to enhance local food processing, aggregation, and distribution within the State through the award of annual grants. Specifies that eligible grant applicants include certain entities that store, process, package, aggregate, or distribute farm products raised in Illinois. Provides that grant awards shall be between $1,000 and $150,000. Describes match requirements for grant recipients. Describes allowable expenses. Requires the Department to create an independent Steering Committee to guide the implementation and evaluation of the grant program. Describes the Steering Committee's composition and responsibilities. Establishes various grant application requirements. Requires the Director of Agriculture to report certain information to the Governor and General Assembly each year. Limits the liability of program administrators. Contains provisions concerning termination of a grant agreement under the Act. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the County Department of Corrections Law. In provisions about pregnant prisoners, modifies the definitions of "post-partum" and "correctional institution", including that "correctional institution" includes institutions in all counties (rather than only in counties more than 3,000,000 inhabitants). Modifies and removes provisions relating to security restraints on a prisoner who is pregnant or in postpartum recovery. Adds provisions relating to annual reports by sheriffs documenting the number of pregnant prisoners in custody each year and the number of people who deliver or miscarry while in custody, relating to county department of corrections providing informational materials concerning the laws pertaining to pregnant prisoners to any pregnant or postpartum prisoner, and relating to supplemental nutrition for prisoners who are pregnant or lactating. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the County Jail Act making similar changes. In the Unified Code of Corrections, also adds language relating to restraints of committed persons who are pregnant. Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. In provisions relating to pregnant prisoners, removes a limitation on the provisions to pregnant prisoners in the custody of the Cook County. Provides that restraint of a pregnant prisoner shall comply with specified provisions of the Counties Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the County Jail Act (rather than only the Counties Code provisions).

Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act must provide coverage for wigs or other scalp prostheses worn for hair loss caused by alopecia, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions. Makes a conforming change in the Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that certain food, drugs, and medical appliances that were taxed at the rate of 1% shall be exempt from the taxes under those Acts.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as Defense Superior Service plates or Defense Distinguished Service plates to residents of the State.

Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Changes the definition of "emergency services" to provide that for the purposes of the provisions, emergency services are not required to be provided in the emergency department of a hospital. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a health insurance issuer or a contracted utilization review organization may not require prior authorization or approval by the health plan for emergency services.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates to a resident who was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. Makes other conforming changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow tow trucks to use red, blue, and white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights while operators are performing official duties. The change directly affects tow truck companies and drivers who need these lights to warn other motorists of hazardous conditions or stationary vehicles. By updating the list of vehicles authorized to use such lighting, the legislation clarifies that tow trucks now have the same visual signaling rights as other emergency vehicles. This update does not alter existing penalties for drivers who fail to yield to emergency vehicles or change the rules for which specific colors can be used, as those provisions remain unchanged.