Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as HEALTH-TECH, establishes a framework for implementing universal mental health screenings for students in Illinois public schools from kindergarten through grade 12. It requires the State Board of Education to submit a report with implementation recommendations by December 2023 and to release a strategy for measuring district readiness by October 2024, with a final plan due by April 2025. Additionally, the legislation repeals the previous Wellness Checks in Schools Program Act and strengthens protections for Medicaid enrollees by ensuring managed care organizations cover emergency services without requiring prior approval and by setting specific rules for post-stabilization care payments.

Creates the Water Plan Task Force Act. Establishes the State Water Plan Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be chaired by the Director of the Office of Water Resources of the Department of Natural Resources and composed of the directors, or their designee, from various other State entities. Requires the Task Force to identify critical water issues, to develop and implement recommendations that address the critical water issues, and to reevaluate critical water issues and needs. Requires the Task Force to publish a State Water Plan not less than every 10 years. Provides that the Task Force shall develop and maintain a publicly available website or portal that summarizes projects of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to meet not less than once per quarter each calendar year. Enumerates the authority granted to the Task Force.

Creates the Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force Act. Provides that it is the General Assembly's intent to require a coordinated, public health, and service-integrated response by various agencies within the State's health and child welfare systems to address the substance use treatment needs of infants born with prenatal substance exposure, as well as the treatment needs of their caregivers and families, by requiring the development, provision, and monitoring of family recovery plans. Creates the Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force within the Department of Human Services. Sets forth the duties of the Task Force, including reviewing models of family recovery plans that have been implemented in other states; and reviewing and developing recommendations to replace punitive policies with notification policies for health care professionals reporting a positive toxicology screen of a newborn. Contains provisions concerning Task Force membership, meetings, reporting requirements, and other matters. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to develop a standardized CAPTA notification form that is separate and distinct from the form for written confirmation reports of child abuse or neglect. Provides that a CAPTA notification shall not be treated as a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, shall not be recorded in the State Central Registry, and shall not be discoverable or admissible as evidence in any juvenile court or adoption proceeding unless the named party waives, in writing, his or her right to confidentiality. Repeals a provision requiring the Department to report to the State's Attorney every report of a newborn infant whose blood, urine, or meconium contains a prohibited controlled substance. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Removes newborn infants whose blood, urine, or meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance from the list of children presumed neglected or abused under the Act. Makes corresponding changes to a provision listing the types of evidence that constitute prima facie evidence of neglect and to relevant provisions under the Adoption Act. Effective immediately, except that some parts take effect January 1, 2025.

Amends the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may issue a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist, without the required examination, to an applicant who is currently registered, certified, or licensed to practice marriage and family therapy in another state, territory, or jurisdiction (rather than the requirements for licensure in another state or territory must be substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Act or the person must have possessed individual qualifications at the time of applying for licensure that were substantially equivalent to the requirements then in force in this State), submits an application on a form that is approved by the Department, and pays the application fee set by the Department. Provides that an individual applying for licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been licensed at the independent level in another United States jurisdiction without discipline (rather than 5 years without discipline) is not required to submit proof of completion of the education, professional experience, and supervision otherwise required. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Bikeway Act. Provides that a municipality or county may prepare a bicycle transportation plan. Specifies the information that must be included in the plan. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct or approve training programs in autism-informed responses, procedures, and techniques, including specified examples of training program subjects. Requires the Board to conduct or approve the autism-informed training program no later than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires all permanent and part-time law enforcement officers and permanent and part-time corrections officers to complete the autism-informed training program within 12 months after it was first offered or approved by the Board and every 24 months thereafter as part of the officer's in-service training. Provides that the Board shall adopt rules, in consultation with the Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Police, specifying training requirements for the programs.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a health plan shall limit the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for a covered prescription inhaler at an amount not to exceed $25 per 30-day supply and shall limit the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for all covered prescription inhalers at an amount not to exceed $50 in total per 30 days. Provides that coverage for prescription inhalers shall not be subject to any deductible. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents a health plan from reducing a covered person's cost sharing to an amount less than the cap. Authorizes rulemaking and enforcement by the Department of Insurance. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services may establish or authorize a program for dispensing and distributing fentanyl test strips. Provides that the Department may acquire fentanyl test strips, train individuals in the use of fentanyl test strips, and distribute fentanyl test strips. Provides that the Department may award grants for the purchasing and distributing of fentanyl test strips. Requires every law enforcement agency and fire department that responds to emergency medical calls to possess fentanyl test strips and to distribute fentanyl test strips to the public at no charge. Permits law enforcement agencies and relevant fire departments to apply to the Department for grants to fund acquisition of fentanyl test strips and related training programs. Requires every health care facility to possess fentanyl test strips and to make available fentanyl test strips to the public. Amends the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act. Adds fentanyl test strips to the needle and hypodermic syringe access program.

Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, provides that, in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, Union Ridge School District 86 may issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $35,000,000 if specified conditions are met, including (i) that the voters of the school district approve a proposition for the bond issuance at an election held on or after March 19, 2024 and (ii) that, prior to the issuance of the bonds, the school board determines, by resolution, that the projects set forth in the proposition for the bond issuance were and are required because of the age and condition of the district's existing school buildings. Provides that the debt incurred on the bonds shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation and must mature within not to exceed 25 years from their date, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Defines "research" to have the meaning that is ascribed to it in HIPAA and the Code of Federal Regulations. Changes the consent form to delete the requirement that the signature of the person giving consent or revocation of a consent does not have to be witnessed by a person who can attest to the identity of the person signing. Provides that records and communications may be disclosed for research in accordance with the requirements set forth under HIPAA and the Code of Federal Regulations.