Rep. Michael J. Zalewski

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation of Cook County Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow for the issuance of decals for Universal special license plates by the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation of Cook County. Provides for the original fee, renewal fees, and fee distribution for Universal special license plates with decals issued by the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation of Cook County.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Deletes language that requires the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to construct and maintain at least one electric vehicle charging station at any location where the Authority has entered into an agreement with any entity for the purposes of providing motor fuel service stations and facilities, garages, stores, or restaurants. Deletes language that requires the Authority to charge a fee for the use of charging stations. Deletes language that requires the Authority to adopt rules to implement the creation, user fees, and maintenance of electric vehicle charging stations.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Requires manufacturers of brand name or generic prescription drugs to notify State purchasers, health insurers, health care service plan providers, pharmacy benefit managers, and the General Assembly of specified increases in drug prices at least 60 days before such increase and the cost of specified new prescription drugs within 3 days after approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Provides that within 30 days after such notifications, prescription drug manufacturers shall report specified information to State purchasers, health insurers, health care service plan providers, pharmacy benefit managers, and the General Assembly. Provides that failure to report such information shall result in a specified civil penalty. Requires the General Assembly to conduct an annual public hearing on aggregate trends in prescription drug pricing. Provides that if the manufacturer of a prescription drug or its agent meets or otherwise communicates with a prescriber for the purpose of marketing a drug, then the manufacturer or its agent shall disclose to the prescriber if any ingredient in the drug it is marketing is known to pose a risk of dependency in humans. Makes other changes.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Autonomous Vehicle Act. Defines terms. Provides that a fully autonomous vehicle may drive or operate upon the highways of this State, regardless of whether a human operator is physically present in the vehicle. Provides that when engaged, the automated driving system shall be considered the driver or operator for purposes of assessing conformance to applicable traffic or motor vehicle laws and shall be deemed to satisfy any physical acts required of a driver or operator. Provides that liability for incidents involving a fully autonomous vehicle shall be determined under existing product liability law or common law negligence principles. Preempts home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to contracts entered into prior to July 1, 2022 by a State agency, or by multiple State agencies, for the single integrated tax processing system currently in use by the Department of Revenue on the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to contracts entered into by multiple State agencies for the single integrated tax processing system currently in use by the Department of Revenue on the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning tax checkoff explanations.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches may collaborate with a physician assistant (rather than may delegate care and treatment responsibilities to a physician assistant). Provides that a collaborative agreement shall be for services in the same area of practice or specialty as the collaborating physician in his or her medical practice. Deletes language providing that a physician may enter into collaborative agreements with no more than 7 full-time physician assistants. Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a physician assistant in a health professional shortage area with a score greater than or equal to 12 shall own his or her own medical practice. Provides that medical and surgical services provided by a physician assistant include: obtaining and performing comprehensive health histories and physical examinations; evaluating, diagnosing, and providing medical treatment; ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies and therapeutic procedures; educating patients on health promotion and disease prevention; providing consultation upon request; and writing medical orders. Provides other provisions regarding scope of practice. Deletes language requiring: a written collaborative agreement for all physician assistants to practice in the State; a written collaborative agreement to describe the working relationship of the physician assistant with the collaborating physician and the categories of care, treatment, or procedures to be provided by the physician assistant; and the collaborating physician to file with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation notice when employing, discharging, or collaborating with a physician assistant. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. Provides that property due or owed by a business association resulting from a transaction occurring in the normal and ordinary course of business is exempt from the Act. Provides that an action or proceeding may not be maintained by the administrator more than 10 years after the holder filed a non-fraudulent report with the administrator (rather than after the holder specifically identified the property in a report filed with the administrator or gave express notice to the administrator of a dispute regarding the property). Deletes language regarding the tolling of the period of limitation. Provides instead that the parties may agree to extend the period of limitation. Provides that the administrator may not commence an action, proceeding, or examination with respect to a duty of a holder more than 10 years after the duty arose. Provides that if a person subject to examination does not retain the records, the administrator may use specific estimation techniques to determine the amount of unclaimed property and shall incorporate a net method of extrapolation (rather than determine the value of property due using a reasonable method of estimation based on all information available to the administrator). Deletes language providing that a payment made based on estimation is a penalty for failure to maintain the records and does not relieve a person from an obligation to report and deliver property to a State in which the holder is domiciled. Provides that a holder may request a hearing to contest the use or validity of the estimation technique. Provides that the examination is final upon the failure of the holder to request a hearing. Provides that if a hearing is held, the State Treasurer shall issue an order approving or disapproving the use or validity of the estimation techniques. Deletes language providing that if the administrator contracts with a person, the contract may provide for compensation of the person based on a contingent fee. Deletes language providing that an initial report filed for property that was not required to be reported before the Act took effect must include all items of property that would have been presumed abandoned during the 5-year period preceding the effective date as if the Act had been in effect during that period.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the research and development credit applies on a permanent basis. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for a period of 20 taxable years (currently, 5 taxable years). Makes changes concerning the calculation of the credit. Effective immediately.