Rep. Jen Gong-Gershowitz

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Education Equity Committee shall include a member from an organization that works for economic, educational, and social progress for Native Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to convene a Native American Curriculum Advisory Council. Creates the Native American Curriculum Task Force. Provides that the unit of instruction on the Holocaust and genocides shall include instruction on the Native American genocide in North America. Provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the Native American experience and Native American history within the Midwest and the State since time immemorial. Provides that the teaching of the history of the United States shall include the study of the role and contributions of Native Americans and teaching about Native Americans' sovereignty and self-determination. Effective immediately.

Creates the Access to Affordable Insulin Act. Sets forth provisions concerning an insulin urgent-need program. Provides that each manufacturer shall establish procedures to make insulin available to eligible individuals who are in urgent need of insulin or who are in need of assistance to access an affordable insulin supply. Sets forth provisions concerning insulin urgent-need program exceptions, eligibility, forms, applications, claims and reimbursement, copayments, information sheets, navigators, and penalties. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs, provides that an insurer that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs under the terms of a health coverage plan the insurer offers shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a 30-day supply of covered prescription insulin drugs at an amount not to exceed $35 (rather than $100). Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Digital Forgeries Act. Provides that an individual depicted in a digital forgery has a cause of action against any person who, without the consent of the depicted individual, knowingly distributes a digital forgery, creates a digital forgery with intent to distribute, or solicits the creation of a digital forgery with the intent to distribute: (1) in order to harass, extort, threaten, or cause physical, emotional, reputational, or economic harm to an individual falsely depicted; (2) with reckless disregard for whether such a creation, distribution, reproduction, or manipulation will cause physical, emotional, reputational, or economic harm to an individual falsely depicted; or (3) in order to incite violence or interfere with an official proceeding. Allows a prevailing plaintiff to be awarded damages, costs, and additional relief. Allows the court to grant injunctive relief maintaining the confidentiality of a plaintiff using a pseudonym.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that school districts shall provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl. Specifies the elements of the instruction. Provides that students shall be assessed on the fentanyl instruction.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a plaintiff has the right to designate an additional person to be present and video record an examination conducted as part of discovery. Provides that, in the case of a wrongful death action, a surviving spouse or next of kin who has reached the age of 67 years (rather than 70 years) shall, upon motion by the administrator of the estate of the deceased person or special administrator, be entitled to preference in setting for trial. Provides that the trial shall occur within one year of the hearing on the motion. Provides that the changes apply to actions commenced or pending on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates under the authority of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator, appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of 4 years. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall receive a salary as provided by law and is eligible for reappointment. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall be responsible for implementing a program of mental health support and education for law enforcement officers. Establishes qualifications for the Coordinator. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall report to the Board on the development and implementation of programs and training for law enforcement officers and shall advise the Board and receive advice from the Board on direction and training needs for law enforcement agencies that vary in size, location, and demographics.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, unless some other speed restriction is established under the Code, the maximum speed limit on a highway with a designated bicycle lane is 25 miles per hour.

Creates the Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act. Prohibits a limited services pregnancy center from using or employing any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation, or the concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact, with the intent that others rely upon the concealment, suppression or omission of such material fact: to interfere with an individual seeking to gain entry or access to a provider of abortion or emergency contraception; to induce an individual to enter or access the limited services pregnancy center; in advertising, soliciting, or otherwise offering pregnancy-related services; or in conducting, providing, or performing pregnancy-related services. Allows the Attorney General to enforce the Act when: it appears to the Attorney General that a limited services pregnancy center has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any practice declared to be unlawful by the Act; the Attorney General receives a written complaint of the commission of a practice declared to be unlawful under the Act; or the Attorney General believes it to be in the public interest that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether a limited services pregnancy center has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any practice declared to be unlawful by the Act. Establishes the remedies available under the Act for violation of the Act, including preliminary or permanent injunction and a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000. Allows any party aggrieved by a violation of the Act to bring an action against any limited services pregnancy center that has committed such a violation, in which the court may award actual damages and any other relief the court deems proper. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires a non-public school to perform a check of the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database (in addition to the Statewide Sex Offender Database) of applicants and once every 5 years and persons employed by the school to determine whether the applicant has been adjudicated a sex offender, of a sex offense, or of a murder or other violent crime against youth. Extends the grants for preschool educational programs 2028-2029 school year (rather than the 2023-2024 school year). Provides that a school district may adopt a policy to waive tuition costs for a non-resident pupil if the pupil is a child of a district employee. Provides that, until June 30, 2028 (rather than June 30, 2023), applicants may apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a 5-year Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Makes conforming changes. Modifies the Alternative Educator Licensure Program by removing the requirement for a second year of residency (changing to only if recommended by the principal and program coordinator). Provides that, if the residency period is to be less than 2-years in length, the partner school districts must provide assurances that the district will provide intensive mentoring and supports through at least the end of the second full year of teaching for educators who completed the Program in less than 2 years. Effective immediately.