Rep. Kelly Cassidy

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Safe Place to Go Act. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services' Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, to apply for a Medicaid State Plan amendment or federal waiver within 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act to draw federal financial participation for crisis triage and stabilization services provided by behavioral health urgent care centers to support adults or children 5 years of age and older who are in an active mental health crisis and adults 18 years of age and older in a substance use crisis. Sets forth the services provided by behavioral health urgent care centers that shall be covered, including, but not limited to, crisis triage services, crisis stabilization services, and medication monitoring. Contains provisions concerning the use of the Illinois Mental Health Crisis Assessment Tool to determine an individual's eligibility or medical need for crisis stabilization services; telehealth and on-site services; safe sobering services; linkages to enable rapid transition to next level of care; length of stay; the development of a single bundle rate for crisis triage services and 2 separate per diem reimbursement rates for crisis stabilization services and safe sobering services; no prior authorization requirements; and the establishment of a working group to provide meaningful input on the establishment, operations, staffing, and financing of behavioral health urgent care centers. Requires the Department to adopt rules within 6 months after federal approval of its State Plan amendment or federal waiver application, if granted. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals licensed under the Act to employ and schedule enough hospital workers to provide quality patient care and ensure patient safety. Establishes requirements concerning the reporting of staffing metrics for hospitals and the Department of Public Health. Sets forth provisions concerning competency validation credentials for each hospital worker hired; assignment despite objection forms and procedures; and an assignment despite objection resolution process. Provides that a hospital may not assign a certified nursing assistant or patient care technician to more than 7 patients at a time during a day or evening shift or more than 11 patients at a time during a night shift. Sets forth provisions concerning direct-care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and deviations from the ratio; complaint procedures; the Department's duties concerning complaints; meal and rest periods; investigations for violating staffing requirements; penalties and violations; recordkeeping requirements of a hospital; and rulemaking by the Department.

Creates the Community Supported Living Arrangement Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities shall work in coordination with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop, implement, and operate, and to submit, through the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, amendments to the Illinois Adults with Developmental Disabilities Section 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver, subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Provides for establishment of provider licensing, certification, and oversight standards for Community Supported Living-24 Hour services consistent with existing State authority for community-based residential services, but with the person's own home not requiring licensing or Bureau of Accreditation, Licensure and Certification reviews. Provides for 24-hour availability of trained personnel for individuals with intense physical, medical, or behavioral support needs. Contains provisions regarding: covered services; enrollment; the use of tools such as the Health Risk Screening Tool; housing independence; staffing and workforce standards; phased implementation; Person-Centered Plans; dignity of risk; compliance with mandates; quality assurance; evaluations; a Community Supported Living Advisory Council; reports; fiscal issues; administrative issues; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Creates the Warehouse Pollution Reduction Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to propose and the Pollution Control Board to adopt rules establishing a qualifying warehouse review program. Provides for reporting, recordkeeping, and notice requirements; annual emissions-reduction targets; and a system of points for air-pollution mitigation measures. Requires construction permits for new or modified qualifying warehouses and sets conditions for permit issuance, including zero-emission readiness and buffer requirements near sensitive receptors. Establishes a qualifying warehouse registry and requires public access to reports, notices, and permitting records. Provides for mitigation fees and directs their use in the same geographic area as the site of the qualifying warehouse. Requires the Agency to develop an air-quality modeling program and publish results annually. Creates the Warehouse Pollution Management Fund and provides for fee collection and deposit. Prohibits certain acts, provides civil penalties, authorizes enforcement and citizen suits, and allows recovery of attorney's fees. Limits home rule powers. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

Creates the Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act. Establishes a firearms manufacturer licensing program in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, with certain requirements, including that the sum of all fees for firearms manufacturer licenses shall be equal to the public health costs and financial burdens from firearm injuries and deaths. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a manufacturer of firearms may not operate in this State without a license from the Department and that a manufacturer who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000,000 per month. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a retailer may not sell a firearm to a consumer in this State from a manufacturer who does not have a license from the Department and that a retailer who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation, with certain requirements. Establishes the RIFL Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, with certain limitations. Provides that the proceeds from fees under the licensing program shall be deposited into the RIFL Fund. Establishes a financial assistance program in the Department with moneys from the RIFL Fund for financial assistance to victims of firearms and for other purposes. Provides that the Department shall contract with a program administrator to administer the financial assistance program, with certain requirements. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for financial assistance to victims of firearms, with certain requirements, including regarding exemption from certain State taxes. Provides that the Department may contract with a program administrator to implement or administer any part of the Act, with certain requirements. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall report certain information to the Department. Provides that the Department may provide for other civil penalties of no more than $1,000 per violation. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce the Act. Makes other provisions. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Illinois Newborn Equity Support Transfer (NEST) Program Act. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer, subject to appropriations, the Illinois Newborn Equity Support Transfer (NEST) Program to provide direct cash assistance to eligible participants by July 1, 2026. Defines "participant" to mean any individual who gives birth in Illinois while enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid through Moms and Babies. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the NEST Program. Provides that program participants shall receive a $1,500 lump sum payment in or around the third trimester of pregnancy, prior to delivery; and a $500 monthly cash payment for the first 6 months following delivery. Requires the Department to submit reports to the General Assembly on a biennial basis that summarizes (1) the number of program participants and distribution across the State, (2) outcomes related to maternal and child health, housing stability, and economic security, or other outcomes identified by the Department in collaboration with stakeholders, and (3) recommendations for program improvements or additional populations beyond Medicaid enrollment to include as participants. Provides that cash disbursements made to participants under the NEST Program shall be considered "guaranteed income" as described in the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act for purposes of determining eligibility for assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate degree program and confer a bachelor's degree if specified conditions are met. Requires the board of trustees to demonstrate that the community college district has the expertise, the resources, and sufficient student demand to offer a baccalaureate degree. Sets forth the application requirements. Prohibits a community college district from using semester credit hours generated in a baccalaureate degree program for certain grants. Sets forth limitations on community college districts for establishing baccalaureate programs. Requires a community college district that offers a baccalaureate degree program to submit an annual report to the Illinois Community College Board. Requires the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to conduct a statewide evaluation of all baccalaureate degree programs established under the amendatory Act and report the results of the evaluation on or before 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, in addition to being made publicly available online. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that specified entities that spend $10,000 or more on independent expenditures in the 12 months prior to an election, or who accepts $10,000 or more in an election cycle of in-kind contributions to enable independent expenditures, shall maintain transfer records and submit reports to the State Board of Elections. Provides that independent expenditures for public communications financed by specified entities shall include specified information. Provides that no person shall, for the purpose of evading the reporting requirements, structure or assist in structuring, or attempt to structure or assist in structuring, any solicitation, contribution, expenditure, disbursement, or other transaction. Sets forth provisions concerning independent expenditures; election spending; and coordinated expenditures. Replaces references to "electioneering communication" with "election spending". Defines terms. Makes other changes.

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a member who is eligible to receive an alternative retirement annuity may elect to receive an estimated payment that shall commence no later than 30 days after the later of either the member's last day of employment or 30 days after the member files for the retirement benefit with the System. Provides that the estimated payment shall be the best estimate by the System of the total monthly amount due to the member based on the information that the System possesses at the time of the estimate. Provides that if the amount of the estimate is greater or less than the actual amount of the monthly annuity, the System shall pay or recover the difference within 6 months after the start of the monthly annuity. Excludes a benefit increase resulting from the amendatory Act from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.

Specifies that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules establishing effluent limitations for wastewater, spills, and runoff associated with the production, transport, and packaging of plastic pellets and other preproduction plastic materials. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to grant the Agency emergency rulemaking powers. Effective immediately.