Rep. Jen Gong-Gershowitz

Creates the Improving Access to State-operated Mental Health Facilities Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, shall provide education and training on an annual basis for all psychiatrists and clinical psychologists who provide care to forensic patients in State-operated mental health facilities utilizing nationally recognized best practices for determining when forensic patients are no longer, due to mental illness, reasonably expected to inflict serious physical harm upon themselves or others or when they may be safely restored to fitness to stand trial and subject to treatment on an outpatient basis under the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that the Division shall also provide training to psychiatrists and clinical psychologists concerning how to provide expert testimony in court hearings to determine whether forensic patients should be released. Provides that the Division shall provide education and training on an annual basis for all clinical social workers who provide care to forensic patients in State-operated mental health facilities concerning the types of community mental health services available in the community. Defines "forensic patient" as a person in an Illinois State-operated mental health facility who has been committed to the facility after having been found not guilty by reason of insanity or unfit to stand trial. Defines other terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Alternate Fuels Act. Provides that the Act's purpose shall be to encourage the use of electric power (rather than alternate fuel) in vehicles for the purpose of reducing the risks from global warming. Eliminates defined terms. Removes provisions allowing the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to promulgate rules to implement a portion of the Act. Removes provisions specifying rules to be implemented. Eliminates original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") rebates and fuel cost differential rebates. Removes provisions concerning car sharing organizations.

Creates the Pharmaceutical Recovery Act. Requires covered manufacturers to, no later than July 1, 2021 or 6 months after becoming a covered manufacturer, whichever is later, participate in an approved drug take-back program or have established and implemented a drug take-back program independently or as part of a group of covered manufacturers. Provides requirements for the drug take-back program and for manufacturer program operators. Requires each manufacturer program operator to submit a proposal for the establishment and implementation of a drug take-back program to the Environmental Protection Agency for review and approval. Contains provisions regarding changes or modifications to drug take-back programs, promotion of drug take-back programs, annual reports, funding, and reimbursement. Requires covered manufacturers and manufacturer program operators to submit an annual $5,000 registration fee. Provides civil penalties. Creates the Pharmaceutical Take-Back Reimbursement Program Fund and makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Contains other provisions. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that proprietary information submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency under the Pharmaceutical Recovery Act is exempt from inspection and copying under the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits surplus line insurance producers from procuring and domestic surplus line insurers from insuring the risk of legal fees, costs, or expenses related to an investigation, indictment, or prosecution of any criminal charge arising out of the use of a firearm. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that an applicant for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card or for renewal of that Card must submit to the Illinois State Police that he or she has proof of liability insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000 for accidental injuries caused by a firearm. Provides that the Illinois State Police may require annual proof of the person's liability insurance coverage and may suspend a person's Firearm Owner's Identification Card for failure to maintain that coverage or for failure to provide the Illinois State Police with proof of that coverage. Provides that the proof of liability insurance coverage required under these provisions is required for both an initial application for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card and for renewal of that Card.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to prohibit the Board of Higher Education from awarding any grant funds to a private institution of higher education that is operated for profit. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to remove a for-profit educational organization from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". Removes a provision allowing Monetary Award Program grants to be made to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit institutions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, and the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that the court may, upon request, allow a witness to forgo testifying in person and may allow testimony by means of two-way audio-visual communication, including closed circuit television or computerized video conference, if the court finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the in-person testimony of the witness may result in the deportation of the witness. Provides that all two-way electronic testimony shall be conducted in accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court. Provides that if, for any reason, the court determines on its own motion or on the motion of any party that the conduct of two-way electronic testimony may impair the legal rights of the minor alleged to be delinquent, the defendant, or in civil cases, any party to the case, it shall not permit the two-way electronic testimony to proceed.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities. Provides that the boards of trustees shall provide by rule or contract for a procedure to evaluate the performance and qualifications of non-tenured faculty members. Provides that, if the implementation of the procedure results in a decision to dismiss a non-tenured faculty member for the ensuing academic year or term, the Board shall give notice to the faculty member not later than 60 days before the end of the academic year or term. Provides that, if the Board fails to give the notice within the time period, the faculty member shall be deemed reemployed for the ensuing academic year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who (i) has an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, (ii) has annual student loan repayment expenses, and (iii) is employed full-time in the State, or has an offer of full-time employment in the State, in one or more of the specified science and technology fields is eligible for an income tax credit equal to the taxpayer's student loan repayment expenses for the taxable year, but not to exceed a maximum credit limit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall each appoint a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Compliance Officer to assist with the responsibilities of enforcing the requirements of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that group accident and health policies providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness on an expense-incurred basis shall provide specified coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Provides criteria and standards for the types of treatment that constitute medically necessary treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Provides that an insurer shall not limit benefits or coverage for chronic or pervasive mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions to short-term treatment or to alleviating current symptoms. Provides that insurers shall perform specified actions to ensure the proper use of medical necessity criteria. Provides that if medically necessary services for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions are not available in-network within the geography and timeliness standards, the insurer must cover out-of-network services. Provides that if the Department of Insurance determines that an insurer has failed to meet the requirements of the amendatory Act, it shall impose a penalty per product line with respect to each beneficiary. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking. Effective immediately.