Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Provides that a person who provides teledentistry is considered to practice dentistry under the Act. Provides that a dentist practicing teledentistry is subject to the same standard of care as if those services were being delivered in a clinic or office setting. Provides that a patient receiving dental services through teledentistry shall be provided with the name, direct telephone number, and physical practice address of the treating dentist who will be involved in the teledentistry services. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may adopt rules to implement the provisions of the use of teledentistry services. Provides that it shall be a violation of the Act for a provider of dental services utilizing care through teledentistry to require a patient to sign an agreement that limits in any way the patient's ability to write a review of services received or file a complaint with the Department or other regulatory agency. Provides that a person may not sell a clear aligner to a patient unless the person has received written or electronic confirmation from a dentist licensed in this State that the patient has received an intraoral or extraoral dental examination and has had a review of new or recently conducted x-rays, panoramic x-rays, computed tomography, bone imaging scans, or other appropriate diagnostic imaging sufficient to allow the dentist to detect conditions in the patient that would preclude or contraindicate the provision of safe orthodontic treatment. Provides that a person who sells a clear aligner to a patient shall maintain any documents for not less than 7 years after the date of sale. Defines "informed consent" and "clear aligner". Changes the definitions of "patient of record" and "teledentistry".

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create an Equity for Autistic Students Commission to research, recommend, and review policies that affect autistic students to ensure fair access to resources, therapies, education, and equity with a focused lens on historically marginalized groups. Provides that the Commission shall review different therapies and practices used or recommended for autistic students and, with the help of experts appointed to the Commission, decide if those therapies and practices are still the best therapies and practices. Provides that the Commission shall consist of members appointed by the State Board of Education and shall include experts in the field of autism in children and students. Provides that at least one member appointed to the Commission by the State Board of Education shall have autism. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative assistance and necessary staff support services. Provides for meetings and reporting.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, a person is eligible for a diaper allowance of $30 per month per child if: the person's household income is at or below 50% of the federal poverty guidelines; the person is responsible for the welfare of a child 3 years of age or younger; and the child who is 3 years of age or younger receives medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the diaper allowance may be used only to purchase diapers and shall be issued through an electronic benefit transfer card. Provides that the diaper allowance is not considered income for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of assistance for any public aid benefit provided under State law. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Provides that a day and temporary labor service agency must provide an application receipt to applicants who seek a work assignment. Provides that a day or temporary laborer has the right to refuse an assignment to a place where a strike, a lockout, or other labor trouble exists. Provides that a day or temporary laborer who is assigned to work at a third party client for more than one week shall be paid not less than the average rate of pay and equivalent benefits as directly hired employees of the third party client performing the same or substantially similar work. Provides for a right of action by interested parties for civil penalties against a day and temporary labor service agency. Provides for protections against abusive contracts. Makes changes in provisions concerning recordkeeping; wage payment and notices; work restrictions; registration; violations; enforcement; penalties; third party clients; retaliation; and private rights of action. Defines terms. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act. Repeals a provision excluding certain minors accused of committing specified crimes from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. In provisions concerning presumptive transfers, provides that a State's Attorney may file a petition for transfer to criminal court for a minor who is at least 16 years of age and charged with first degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, or specified instances of aggravated battery with a firearm.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that for any person applying a pesticide that results in exposure to the pesticide by a human, the penalty shall be $2,500. Provides that an additional penalty of $1,000 shall be assessed for each individual human exposed to the pesticide. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, to ensure that foster parents who foster children with diabetes have the knowledge and tools they need to provide and advocate for their foster children's proper care, the Department of Children and Family Services shall provide eligible foster parents with training on diabetes care, including training on insulin pump therapy, general diabetes management, carbohydrate counting, how to administer insulin with an insulin pen or syringe, and how to identify the warning signs of low blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person engaged in the business of selling or offering to sell goods or services at retail to the public with an individual accepting in-person payments at a physical location shall not: (1) refuse to accept cash as a form of payment for sales of less than $2,000 made at the physical location; (2) post a sign on the premises stating that cash payment is not accepted; or (3) charge a higher price to customers paying with cash compared to the price charged to customers not paying with cash. Provides for specified exceptions. Provides that any person who violates the provisions commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that in a ratemaking proceeding, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not approve for ratemaking purposes either a cost of equity exceeding 8% unless clear and convincing record evidence demonstrates that a higher return on equity is strictly necessary to prevent an imminent and significant threat of negative credit action that would be expected to increase the cost of service for the utility's ratepayers; or a capital structure comprised of more than 50% common equity unless clear and convincing record evidence demonstrates that a higher equity ratio is strictly necessary to prevent an imminent and significant threat of negative credit action that would be expected to increase the cost of service for the utility's ratepayers. Provides that the Commission shall not treat the utility's interest in offsetting the revenue impact of enforcing either of these limitations as justification for approving or adjusting any other proposed revenues. Makes corresponding changes to the Multi-Year Rate Plan.

Amends the School Code. Specifies that menstrual hygiene products shall be made available in all bathrooms (rather than in bathrooms) of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day. Provides that the school employee or third-party contractor who is responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of toilet tissue and paper towels in school bathrooms shall be responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of menstrual hygiene products in the bathrooms. Effective immediately.