Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the purpose of the Entrepreneur Learner's Permit pilot program is to encourage and assist beginning entrepreneurs in starting new businesses (instead of "new information services, biotechnology, and green technology businesses"). Removes provisions limiting the aggregate amount of all reimbursements under the Entrepreneur Learner's Permit pilot program to $500,000 per State fiscal year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that the publication requirement in a petition for change of name shall be waived if: (i) the petitioner is 18 years of age or older; (ii) concurrent with the petition, the petitioner files with the court a statement, verified under oath, attesting that the petitioner is or has been a person protected under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, the stalking provisions of the Criminal Code of 2012, or a similar provision of a law in another state or jurisdiction; (iii) the petitioner attaches to the statement any supporting documents, including relevant court orders; and (iv) the circuit court, after reviewing the statement and supporting documents, enters an order waiving publication. Provides that, under certain circumstances, the petitioner's address may be omitted from court documents and the petitioner may designate an alternative address for service. Provides that court administrators may allow domestic abuse advocates to assist petitioners in the preparation of certain name change petitions. Provides that if publication requirements have been waived, the circuit court shall enter an order providing that any system operated by the judiciary that is designed to provide public case information electronically shall not make the petition publicly available.

Amends the Simplified Municipal Telecommunications Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning legislative intent.

Amends the Currency Exchange Act. Defines "government assistance check", "government check", "payroll check", "printed", and "protected class". Provides additional considerations by the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation for determining the maximum rate schedules that can be charged for check cashing and writing of money orders by community currency exchanges and ambulatory currency exchanges. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's authority to establish rate schedules for check cashing is subject to specified rate caps. Makes other changes. Effective June 1, 2019.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that each State agency entering into or maintaining a contract for the purchase of food under the Code shall adopt a policy that permits the donation of leftover food procured by State funds. Provides that the policy shall address any daily food operations run by the agency, including one-time events, and shall contain a list of nearby soup kitchens, food pantries, and other non-profit organizations where leftover food can be donated. Requires each State agency to circulate its policy to all agency employees, and submit its food donation policy to the Department of Central Management Services on an annual basis beginning December 31, 2018. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires long-term care providers to submit all changes in resident status, including, but not limited to, death, discharge, changes in patient credit, third party liability, and Medicare coverage to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange System, the Recipient Eligibility Verification System, or the Electronic Data Interchange System under a specified schedule. Requires the Department and other agencies to establish an expedited long-term care eligibility determination and enrollment system. Requires the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, in coordination with the Secretary of Human Services and the Director of Aging, to hold meetings for provider associations representing facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act and certified as supportive living programs. Provides that the meetings shall be held every 6 weeks until all backlogged cases have been adjudicated and the application process has been reduced to the federal timeframe. Contains provisions concerning a 45-day extension of the federal eligibility application processing deadline in suspected cases of fraud; the identification of applicants who had full Medicaid benefits in the community for 6 months or more immediately before entering the long-term care facility; reporting requirements; public-private partnerships aimed at redeploying caseworkers to targeted high-Medicaid facilities for the purpose of expediting initial Medicaid and long-term care benefits applications; the establishment of a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant database; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wind Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Provides that the Act may be cited as the Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Changes references in the Act from "commercial wind energy facility" to "commercial renewable energy facility". Provides that "commercial renewable energy facility" means a commercial wind energy facility or commercial solar energy facility. Defines "commercial solar energy facility". Provides that for commercial renewable energy facility owners of a commercial solar energy facility, the agricultural impact mitigation agreement shall be entered into prior to the commercial renewable energy facility owner making contact with a landowner seeking an underlying agreement for the development of a commercial solar energy facility. Makes conforming changes in the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Effective immediately.

Provides for the ratification of the proposed equal rights amendment to the United States Constitution.

Recognizes Emerson Elementary School on attending the 10th Annual Our American Voice Summit.

Recognizes Freedom Middle School on their participation in the 10th Annual Our American Voice Program.