Rep. David Friess

Amends the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council Act. Provides that the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council may recommend the removal of a place from the National Register of Historic Places if the place is a bridge that: (1) is less than 22 feet wide and has a bannister that is at least 18 inches in height; (2) crosses or is on a township road; and (3) will be renovated or rebuilt.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that the Division of Developmental Disabilities of the Department of Human Services may impose progressive sanctions, excluding a situation in which a recipient of services is placed at immediate risk of harm, on providers that fail to comply with conditions specified by rule, contract, or policy as determined by the Division. Provides that sanctions include, but are not limited to, payment suspension, loss of payment, enrollment limitations including admission holds, or other actions up to and including contract termination. Provides that a service provider receiving a sanction may appeal the sanction in writing to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services within 30 days after receipt of the sanction.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the State Employees Group Insurance Program (for Illinois State Police officers), a county (for members of the sheriff's office), and a municipality (for members of the police department or fire department) shall provide coverage for joint mental health therapy services for the officer or firefighter and a spouse or partner of the officer or firefighter who resides with officer or firefighter. Specifies that the coverage shall be provided without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement, except that, for Illinois State Police officers and the spouse or partner of the officer under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, only if all resources available to those individuals through the State of Illinois' Employee Assistance Program and any first responder mental health program available are first exhausted. Directs the joint mental health therapy services to be provided by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, a licensed clinical psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed social worker, or a licensed professional counselor. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop, post, and maintain on its official website a comprehensive informational guide that explains the Medicaid 5-year look-back period as it applies to eligibility for long-term care coverage under the medical assistance program. Provides that the informational guide must be posted within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the contents of the informational guide must include a detailed explanation of the 5-year look-back period, including its purpose and relevance to eligibility for medical assistance; clear information on how the 5-year look-back period affects eligibility criteria, including income and asset requirements; step-by-step guidance on how the 5-year look-back period is calculated, including the start date and end date considerations; explanation of the consequences and implications of transfers or gifts made during the 5-year look-back period; information on exceptions and exemptions to the 5-year look-back period, clarifying circumstances where certain transfers or assets may not be subject to scrutiny; guidance on the documentation individuals may need to provide or maintain to demonstrate compliance with the 5-year look-back period; tips and considerations for individuals and families on how to plan for eligibility for medical assistance, taking into account the 5-year look-back period; information on the process for appeals and dispute resolution related to decisions made based on the 5-year look-back period; and other matters. Provides that to ensure user-friendly navigation and visibility, the Department shall post on the main page of its official website detailed information on how users can easily access the comprehensive guide on the website and a hyperlink that directs users to the comprehensive guide. Requires the Department to develop and implement strategies and initiatives to promote awareness and utilization of the guide, including outreach efforts through community organizations, healthcare providers, and other relevant channels.

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 Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that upon request by a unit of local government, the Department shall make available any study or survey completed by the Department that concerns traffic or the environmental impact on road construction projects. Allows a study or survey conducted by the Department to be substituted for a study or survey required by a unit of local government for construction projects affecting a portion of a State right-of-way.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a trafficking victim, as defined in the human trafficking provisions of the Criminal Code of 2012, may petition for vacation and expungement or immediate sealing of his or her juvenile court records and juvenile law enforcement records relating to events that resulted in the victim's adjudication of delinquency for an offense if committed by an adult would be a violation of the criminal laws occurring before the victim's 18th birthday upon the completion of his or her juvenile court sentence if his or her participation in the underlying offense was a direct result of human trafficking under the Criminal Code of 2012 or a severe form of trafficking under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Repeals the provisions of Public Act 102-1116 that make amendatory changes to the Firearms Restraining Order Act that provide that a petitioner for a firearms restraining order may request a plenary firearms restraining order of up to one-year, but not less than 6 months (restores the 6 months provision). Repeals provisions that the firearms restraining order may be renewed for an additional period of up to one year. Repeals amendatory provisions of the Criminal Code of 2012 making it unlawful, beginning January 1, 2024, for any person within the State to knowingly possess an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge, with exemptions. Repeals provisions that make it unlawful for any person within the State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, or purchased a large capacity ammunition feeding device, with specified exemptions. Repeals amendatory provisions of the Criminal Code of 2012 that prohibit the manufacture, possession, sale, or offer to sell, purchase, manufacture, import, transfer, or use any device, part, kit, tool, accessory, or combination of parts that is designed to and functions to increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm above the standard rate of fire for semiautomatic firearms that is not equipped with that device, part, or combination of parts. Repeals amendatory provisions of the Freedom of Information Act that exempt from disclosure under the Act certain information concerning assault weapons endorsements received by the Illinois State Police. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the standard registration fee for passenger motor vehicles of the first division and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds shall be reduced by 50% for any Illinois vehicle owner who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Effective January 1, 2024.

Appropriates $1,500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for a comprehensive study of the Kaskaskia River watershed in coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Effective July 1, 2023.