Rep. Kelly Cassidy

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that rates and minimum mandated wage increases for homemaker services shall be, at minimum, a rate of $24.96 as of July 1, 2021 to sustain a minimum wage of $15 per hour. Requires rates in subsequent State fiscal years to be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2021. Provides that providers of in-home services shall be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2021.

Creates the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act. Defines terms. Establishes findings and purposes of the Act. Creates the Illinois Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission, and provides for: membership; terms and vacancies of members; quorum; meetings; compensation; duties; and responsibilities. Allows a regional domestic violence fatality review team to be established within the boundaries of each judicial circuit, and provides for: membership; terms and vacancies of members; quorum; meetings; compensation; duties; and responsibilities. Adds provisions governing: cases eligible for review; confidentiality of regional review teams, information, and domestic violence fatality reviews; access to records and information; storage and destruction of confidential information; penalties for unlawful disclosure of confidential information; and immunity. Makes conforming changes in the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Corrects a typographical error. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act. Defines terms. Establishes findings and purposes of the Act. Creates the Ad Hoc Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Board, and provides for: membership; terms and vacancies of members; quorum; meetings; compensation; duties; and responsibilities. Allows a regional domestic violence fatality review team to be established within the boundaries of each judicial circuit, and provides for: membership; terms of members; vacancies; quorum; meetings; compensation; duties; and responsibilities. Adds provisions governing: cases eligible for review; confidentiality of regional review teams, information, and domestic violence fatality reviews; access to records and information; storage and destruction of confidential information; penalties for unlawful disclosure of confidential information; and immunity. Makes conforming changes in the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act. Makes the Act's requirements applicable to victims of human trafficking. Deletes language providing that: a program participant who is otherwise qualified to vote may apply to vote under the Election Code; the program participant shall automatically receive absentee ballots for all elections in the jurisdictions for which that individual resides; and the election authority shall transmit the absentee ballot to the program participant at the address designated by the participant in his or her application. Provides instead that a program participant who is otherwise qualified to vote may register to vote by submitting an Illinois Address Confidentiality Program Voter Registration Application created by the State Board of Elections to the appropriate election authority. Provides that the State Board of Elections (rather than the Attorney General) shall adopt rules to ensure the integrity of the voting process and the confidentiality of the program participant. In a provision regarding when disclosure of an address is prohibited, removes the exception requirement that a certification has been canceled. Exempts a program participant's address and phone number on file with the Attorney General from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. Makes corresponding changes in the Freedom of Information Act and the Election Code.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide medical services to noncitizens 19 years of age through 64 years of age who (i) are not eligible for medical assistance under the Medical Assistance Program due to their not meeting the citizenship requirements under the Code and (ii) have income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level plus 5% for the applicable family size as determined under applicable federal law and regulations. Provides that persons eligible for medical services under the amendatory Act shall receive benefits identical to the benefits provided under the Health Benefits Service Package as defined under the Medical Assistance Article of the Code.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation or other available funding, shall conduct a program to promote awareness of firearms restraining orders to the general public. Provides that beginning July 1, 2022, the program must include the development and dissemination, through print, digital, and broadcast media, of public service announcements that publicize the options victims of domestic violence have to seek help with special emphasis on the firearms restraining order. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall develop and approve a standard curriculum for a training program on the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Provides that the Board shall conduct a training program that trains officers on the use of firearms restraining orders, how to identify situations in which a firearms restraining order is appropriate, and how to safely promote the usage of the firearms restraining order in a domestic violence situation. Officers who have successfully completed this program shall be issued a certificate attesting to their attendance. Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Provides that a firearms restraining order includes the seizure of the respondent's ammunition. Provides that "family member of the respondent" includes a former spouse and a person with whom the respondent has or allegedly has a child in common. Provides that a petition for a firearms restraining order may be filed in any county where an incident occurred that involved the respondent posing an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to the respondent or another by having in his or her custody or control, or purchasing, possessing, or receiving, a firearm or ammunition. Includes printing a petition for a firearms restraining order for which no fees may be charged by the circuit clerk. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall submit a yearly report to the General Assembly concerning the applications and issuance of firearms restraining orders.

Amends the Telehealth Act. Provides that the Act applies to all health insurance coverage offered by health insurance issuers regulated by the Department of Insurance or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the medical assistance program authorized under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that any policy, contract, or certificate of health insurance coverage that does not distinguish between in-network and out-of-network providers shall be subject to the Act as though all providers were in-network. Provides that health insurance issuers shall cover all telehealth services rendered by a health care professional to deliver any clinically appropriate, medically necessary covered services. Restricts health insurance issuers from engaging in specified activities. Provides that health care professionals and facilities shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to privacy laws. Changes the term "telehealth" to "telehealth services". Makes corresponding changes. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning coverage for telehealth services, makes changes to definitions. Provides that coverage and reimbursement for telehealth services delivered by health care professionals and facilities shall comply with the Telehealth Act. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department and managed care organizations shall comply with the Telehealth Act and removes provisions concerning behavioral health and medical services via telehealth. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.10 new 225 ILCS 150/20 new 225 ILCS 150/25 new 225 ILCS 150/30 new 225 ILCS 150/35 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall cover all telehealth services rendered by a health care professional to deliver any clinically appropriate, medically necessary covered services, and shall not engage in specified activities. Provides that any policy, contract, or certificate of health insurance coverage that does not distinguish between in-network and out-of-network providers shall be subject to the Act as though all providers were in-network. Provides that health care professionals and facilities shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to privacy laws. Provides that there shall be no restrictions on originating site requirements for telehealth coverage or reimbursement to the distant site. Defines terms. Amends the Telehealth Act. Changes the term "telehealth" to "telehealth services". Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and managed care organizations shall comply with specified provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code and removes provisions concerning behavioral health and medical services via telehealth. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. In provisions concerning coverage for telehealth services, removes language that provides that coverage and reimbursement for telehealth services delivered by health care professionals and facilities shall comply with the Telehealth Act. Removes changes to the Telehealth Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 In provisions in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act concerning emergency rulemaking, provides that provisions allowing the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt emergency rules are repealed on January 1, 2022 (rather than January 1, 2026). In provisions concerning coverage for telehealth services, provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall not require that in-person contact occur between a health care professional and a patient (rather than in-person contact shall not occur between a health care professional and a patient, except before an initial e-visit or virtual check-in in order to establish a patient relationship).

Amends the Election Code. Provides the procedure for filling a vacancy of a Senator or Representative in the General Assembly. Provides that within 3 days after a vacancy, the committee for that legislative or representative district shall create a uniform application for candidates seeking appointment and determine the date, time, and location at which the committee shall make the appointment (allowing for at least 7 days of public notice). Provides that applications received within 2 days before the appointment shall be made publicly available. Provides that candidates shall be granted an opportunity to present their credentials publicly and take questions from the committeepersons. Provides that a State Senator or Representative who is also a committeeperson is prohibited from participating in the appointment of his or her successor. Provides for a proxy for a committeeperson who is ineligible to vote for an appointment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act to provide that if an individual's benefit year begins on or after March 8, 2020, but before the week following the last week of a disaster period established by the gubernatorial disaster proclamations in response to COVID-19, recovery by suit in the name of the People of the State of Illinois or recoupment from benefits payable to an individual for any week shall be permanently waived if the sum was received by the individual without fault on his or her part. Provides that, in cases of such permanent waiver of recovery or recoupment, the Director of Employment Security may not request the Comptroller or the Secretary of the Treasury to withhold a sum of benefits for which an individual is found to be ineligible. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Employment Security) The legislation may have a fiscal impact on the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The reported data indicates that for the programs payable under Illinois state law: (1) Fiscal Year 2019, non-fraudulent recovery totaled approximately $14,303,046.00; (2) Fiscal Year 2020, non-fraudulent recovery totaled approximately $16,552,059.00; and (3) First and Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2021, non-fraudulent recovery totaled approximately $10,147,378.00. Based on the above data, it appears the legislation could forgive $3.5 million to $5.1 million for each quarter the waiver provision remained in effect. While the system is generally designed to replenish the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund account by charging employers for benefits paid from the account, employers would not be directly charged for the forgiven overpayments as the bill is currently written.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to provide monthly supplemental payments of $279 to persons who receive federal Supplemental Security Income grants and to undocumented residents who have a disability and meet other criteria. Provides that the supplemental payments shall not be considered income for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of assistance for any public aid benefit under State or federal law including, subject to federal approval, benefits provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or any housing voucher or rental subsidy provided under the Rental Housing Support Program Act or a similar locally funded rent subsidy program, or under the Housing Choice Voucher Program under Section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. Provides that the funding for the payments shall come from amounts collected under a specified provision of the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act and deposited into the Illinois Supplemental Payments for Supplemental Security Income Recipients Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury. Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Imposes an additional estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax on taxable transferred property valued at $4,000,000 or more. Provides that the additional tax shall be in an amount equal to 5% of the value of the transferred property. Requires the proceeds of the tax to be deposited into the Illinois Supplemental Payments for Supplemental Security Income Recipients Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to include the new special fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Corporate Fiduciary Act to create the Special Purpose Trust Company Authority and Organization Article. Provides that a corporation that has been or shall be incorporated under the general corporation laws of the State for the special purpose of providing fiduciary custodial services or providing other like or related services as specified by rule may be appointed to act as a fiduciary with respect to such services and shall be designated a special purpose trust company. Provides that it shall not be lawful for any person to engage in the activity of a special purpose trust company without first filing an application for and procuring a certificate of authority from the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for the administration of the Article, and that specified Articles of the Corporate Fiduciary Act shall apply to a special purpose trust company as if the special purpose trust company were a trust company. Amends the Illinois Banking Act. In provisions concerning conversion and merger with trust companies, provides that a special purpose trust company may merge with a State bank or convert to a State bank as if the special purpose trust company were a trust company. Defines "special purpose trust company". Amends the Blockchain Business Development Act to provide that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall have authority to adopt rules, opinions, or interpretive letters regarding the custody of digital assets, including digital consumer assets, digital securities, and virtual currency. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall have the authority to adopt rules, opinions, or interpretive letters regarding the provision of custodial services for digital assets by banks chartered under the Illinois Banking Act, savings banks chartered under the Savings Bank Act, and corporate fiduciaries authorized under the Certificate Of Authority And Organization Article or Special Purpose Trust Company Authority And Organization Article of the Corporate Fiduciary Act. Defines "digital asset". Removes language that provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall have authority to adopt rules, opinions, or interpretive letters regarding the custody of digital assets, including digital consumer assets, digital securities, and virtual currency.