Maddy summaryThis bill expands access to religious dietary food options, specifically halal and kosher meals, for students in Illinois public schools and patients in state hospitals and prisons. It requires the State Board of Education to create statewide master contracts with vendors to supply prepackaged meals that meet federal nutritional standards and specific religious requirements without needing special kitchen equipment or staff. The legislation mandates that these meals be sold at no more than the federal reimbursement rate and establishes certification rules for vendors to ensure compliance with religious dietary laws. Additionally, the bill directs the University of Illinois Hospital to offer these options upon request and strengthens existing laws by adding penalties for vendors who falsely claim their products are halal or kosher.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that a marriage may be solemnized by a State executive branch constitutional officer who is in office on the date of the solemnization or by a member of the General Assembly who is in office on the date of the solemnization.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes provisions specifically excluding academic programs for incarcerated students from the definitions of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". In provisions concerning the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program, removes the restriction that the applicant must not be incarcerated.
Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Specifies that the notice in contested case hearings must include an enclosure that notifies the recipient of the ability to request interpretive assistance for the hearing and to receive language assistance in translating the contents of the notice. Provides that an administrative law judge has the duty to inquire and determine whether a self-represented litigant or witness in a hearing needs interpretive assistance to participate in or understand the hearing. Authorizes any self-represented litigant, witness, or indigent person to request, at any time during the course of a hearing, interpretive assistance needed to participate in or understand the hearing. Provides that, if interpretive assistance is requested by a self-represented litigant, a witness, or an indigent person or if interpretive assistance is determined to be necessary by the administrative law judge, the administrative agency must appoint a foreign language interpreter at no cost to the person in need of the assistance for use in a substantive hearing. Authorizes an administrative agency to provide interpretive assistance during a nonsubstantive hearing through use of an interpreter who is not a foreign language interpreter, provided the administrative law judge examines the interpreter for competency for the purposes of the nonsubstantive hearing. Requires all persons appointed to provide interpretive assistance in substantive and nonsubstantive hearings to make certain affirmations. Contains provisions concerning waiver of these language assistance provisions.
Amends the Wildlife Code. Prohibits contests or competitions with the objective of taking any fur-bearing mammal. Provides an exception for field trials. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no less than $500 and no more than $5,000 in addition to other statutory penalties.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Strengthening Mental Health and Substance Use Parity Act. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, or any third-party administrator administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer, shall cover all out-of-network medically necessary mental health and substance use benefits and services (inpatient and outpatient) as if they were in-network for purposes of cost sharing for the insured. Provides that the insured has the right to select the provider or facility of their choice and the modality, whether the care is provided via in-person visit or telehealth, for medically necessary care. Sets forth minimum reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health benefits. Sets forth provisions concerning responsibility for compliance with parity requirements; coverage and payment for multiple covered mental health and substance use services, mental health or substance use services provided under the supervision of a licensed mental health or substance treatment provider, and 60-minute individual psychotherapy; timely credentialing of mental health and substance use providers; Department of Insurance enforcement and rulemaking; civil penalties; and other matters. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes a minor technical correction to the official short title of a section within the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. It does not create new laws, change existing policies, or directly affect any individuals or organizations. The change was approved by both the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor for final approval.
Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Establishes the role of HIV Treatment Innovation Coordinator to be housed within the Department. Provides that the Department shall create and fill the Coordinator role within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the Coordinator to develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to adopt a Rapid Start model for HIV treatment as the standard of care. Requires compensation and benefits for the Coordinator be at the Program Director level. Describes the specific job responsibilities of the Coordinator. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections, including any laboratory costs of processing the home test kit, that are deemed medically necessary or appropriate and ordered directly by a clinician or furnished through a standing order for patient use based on clinical guidelines and individual patient health needs. Makes a conforming change to the Illinois Public Aid Code regarding coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections. Amends the AIDS Confidentiality Act. Creates the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Provides that Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications shall be processed within 72 hours after the time of submission. Provides for conditional approval of Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications within 24 hours after time of submission. Requires Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applicants to document residency within the State of Illinois. Provides for 8 Rapid Start for HIV Treatment pilot sites established by the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Department shall publish a report on the operation of the pilot program 15 months after the pilot sites have launched. Establishes requirements for the report, requires that the report be shared with the General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and requires that the report be made available on the Department's Internet website. Amends the County Jail Act. Creates new annual adult correctional facility public inspection report requirements on the topics of HIV and AIDS.
Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Internet-based system for determining the validity of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall include a written notice, in both English and Spanish, of a firearm owner's obligation to report to local law enforcement any lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours after the owner first discovers the loss or theft. Provides that within one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois State Police shall create an electronic portal into which law enforcement and prosecutors shall report individuals who have failed to report the loss or theft of a firearm. Provides that upon the issuance and each renewal of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the Illinois State Police shall advise the applicant or holder in writing, in both English and Spanish, of his or her obligation to report to local law enforcement any lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours after he or she first discovers the loss or theft. Provides that the Illinois State Police has authority to deny an application for or to revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued under the Act if a card holder fails to report a loss or theft of a firearm within 48 hours of the discovery of such loss or theft to local law enforcement. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that if a person who possesses a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card and who possesses or acquires a firearm thereafter loses the firearm, or if the firearm is stolen from the person, the person must report the loss or theft of any such firearm to the local law enforcement agency within 48 (rather than 72) hours after obtaining knowledge of the loss or theft. Increases the penalty for failure to report a lost or stolen firearm to the local law enforcement agency from a petty offense to a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Changes the elements of the offenses of firearms trafficking, possession of a stolen firearm, and aggravated possession of a stolen firearm. Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act and the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act to make conforming changes.
Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Internet-based system for determining the validity of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall include a written notice, in both English and Spanish, of a firearm owner's obligation to report to local law enforcement any lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours after the owner first discovers the loss or theft. Provides that upon the issuance and each renewal of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the Illinois State Police shall advise the applicant or holder in writing, in both English and Spanish, of his or her obligation to report to local law enforcement any lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours after he or she first discovers the loss or theft. Provides that a person is deemed to have discovered that a firearm was lost or stolen only when the person has received evidence indicating that a loss or theft has occurred. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that if a person who possesses a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card and who possesses or acquires a firearm thereafter loses the firearm, or if the firearm is stolen from the person, the person must report the loss or theft of any such firearm to the local law enforcement agency within 48 (rather than 72) hours after obtaining knowledge of the loss or theft. Provides that for a second or subsequent offense of failure to report the loss or theft of a firearm to the local law enforcement agency within 48 hours of the discovery of such loss or theft shall result in revocation of the person's Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Changes the elements of the offenses of firearms trafficking, possession of a stolen firearm, and aggravated possession of a stolen firearm. Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act and the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act to make conforming changes. Contains a severability provision.