Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Addressing Health Equity for Uninsured and Underinsured Illinois Residents Through the Support of Free and Charitable Clinics Law. Contains background provisions. Appropriates a total of $15,000,000 from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for provision to the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics for specified grants and expenses. Provides that no less than 70% of the funds shall be used for expenses relating to free and charitable clinics serving minority populations. Effective July 1, 2022.

Creates the Illinois Container Fee and Deposit Act. Provides for a deposit value of 5 cents to be paid by consumers on each beverage container sold in the State by a dealer for consumption. Provides that upon the return to a dealer or person operating a redemption center, the dealer or redemption center shall pay the value of the deposit back to the consumer as a refund. Sets forth requirements for the administration of the program. Provides certain exemptions to the program. Requires that the refund value be clearly indicated on all beverage containers sold in the State. Provides for the Environmental Protection Agency to certify redemption centers. Prohibits snap-top beverage containers. Provides that persons violating the Act shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Prohibits the manufacture or sale of plastic cans. Prohibits the disposal of beverage containers at sanitary landfills. Provides that deposits not passed on to the consumer through bottle redemption shall be distributed as follows: 75% to the Agency for environmental and conservation-related programs; and 25% to each distributor in proportion to the amount of beverage containers each distributor sold in the State. Creates the Illinois Container Fee and Deposit Fund and makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Firearm Violence Prevention and Reduction Study Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to conduct a study on methods to prevent and reduce firearm violence in Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health must file a yearly report of the study's findings with the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2022 and on or before December 31 of each year thereafter through December 31, 2031. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the study is to be provided sufficient funding in the amount of $150,000 per year. Allows the Department to adopt rules necessary for the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2032. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $250,000 from the SBE Federal Department of Education Fund to the State Board of Education for a grant to or a contract with the Illinois Association of School Nurses to complete a study for school nursing capacity in this State. Effective July 1, 2022.

Creates the Local Cannabis Licensing Act. Provides that a county or municipality may issue licenses for temporary events, cannabis clubs, and cannabis tours that will allow for the sale and consumption of cannabis or cannabis-infused products and for the sale of cannabis paraphernalia at such temporary events, clubs, or tours. Requires ordinances with specified regulations of such temporary events, cannabis clubs, and cannabis tours be adopted before any licenses are issued. Allows tours of cannabis craft grower or cultivation center facilities. Limits home rule powers. Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and Smoke Free Illinois Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Employee Security Act. Establishes a framework for employee discipline and discharge. Prohibits the unjust discharge of an employee. Requires employers to utilize progressive discipline measures. Limits the use of electronic monitoring. Provides for severance pay. Directs the Department of Employment Security to adopt rules and administer the Act. Provides statutory remedies for wrongfully discharged employees and authorizes the recovery of damages. Creates the Wrongful Discharge Enforcement Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Applies to disciplinary and discharge actions occurring one year after the Act's effective date. Effective January 1, 2022.

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Oversight Officer (Officer) within the Department of Human Services under the Secretary of Human Services. Provides that the Officer shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Permits the Officer to: (i) maintain a staff; (ii) make recommendations for policy, statute, and rule changes; (iii) collect data on the opioid crisis; (iv) ensure the coordination of efforts between various State agencies involved in treating mental health and substance use disorders within the State; and (v) encourage, promote, suggest, and report best practices for treating mental health and substance use disorders in Illinois. Prohibits the Officer from participating in the issuance of any licensing or certification of mental health or substance use disorder treatment services. Prohibits the Officer from participating in any adjudicative decision-making process involving licensing, certification, or licensee discipline. Permits the Officer to compile, collect, or otherwise gather data necessary for the administration of the amendatory Act and to carry out the Officer's duties relating to the recommendation of policy changes. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Oversight Officer Fund. Provides that moneys in the fund shall be expended for the Officer, its staff, and its activities and for no other purpose. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Code.

Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that any member of the General Assembly who sponsors or co-sponsors an amendment to the Illinois Constitution that provides for the implementation of General Assembly member term limits shall immediately be bound by the terms of that amendment upon sponsorship of such amendment, which shall include prior time served in office by that member, regardless of whether the provisions of that amendment exclude time served in office. Provides that if a member has reached his or her mandated term limit due to prior time served in office, but has time remaining on his or her current term of office, he or she shall be allowed to serve the remainder of his or her current term of office. Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that a member of the General Assembly may, prior to being sworn into office, elect to reject any travel reimbursement provided under the Act. Provides that once a member elects to reject travel reimbursement, he or she shall not be eligible to receive travel reimbursement for current and future terms of office. Provides that any moneys received by a member for purposes of travel reimbursement may be repaid to the State. Amends the Compensation Review Act. Provides that members of the General Assembly and executive branch constitutional officers may, prior to being sworn into office, elect not to receive any increase in compensation that would otherwise apply based on a cost of living adjustment. Provides that once a member of the General Assembly or an executive branch constitutional officer elects not to receive a cost of living adjustment, he or she shall not be eligible to receive a cost of living adjustment for current and future terms of office. Provides that any increase in compensation received as a cost of living adjustment by a member of the General Assembly or an executive branch constitutional officer may be repaid to the State.