Rep. Kam Buckner

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that an annual property tax adjustment shall be paid by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to each qualified facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act and the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that the adjustment shall be the equivalent of each facility's percent of annual paid Medicaid bed days as applied to the facility's property tax bill for the same tax year. Requires the Department to provide an electronic portal for submission of the facility's annual property tax obligation, the percent of paid Medicaid bed days for the same tax year, and the relevant calculations. Requires each facility to submit the information within 60 days of notification by the county of its annual property tax obligation. Requires the Department to have 60 days to audit the facility's information and calculations and pay as a lump sum property tax adjustment owed to the facility.

Creates the Small Business Truth in Lending Act. Sets forth provisions concerning disclosure requirements for sales-based financing, closed-end commercial financing, open-end commercial financing, factoring transactions, renewal financing, and other forms of financing. Provides that all commercial financing shall include a clear and conspicuous notice on how to file a complaint with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that the Department may adopt rules. Provides that upon a finding by the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation that a provider has violated the provisions or rules, the provider shall be ordered to pay the Department a civil penalty for each violation of the provisions or any rule not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, or if a violation is willful, $20,000 for each violation. Sets forth provisions concerning cease and desist orders, injunctions, investigation and examination, civil actions, violations, and registration. Provides that a violation of the provisions constitutes an unlawful practice in violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Makes a conforming change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Creates a third-party retailer delivery license. Provides that a third-party retailer delivery license shall authorize a person who is not licensed to sell alcoholic liquor to deliver alcoholic liquor on behalf of a retailer licensee and to deliver alcoholic liquor on behalf of or at the request of an unlicensed purchaser of alcoholic liquor from a retailer licensee. Provides that a third-party retailer delivery license is not required for an employee or independent contractor of a person holding a third-party retailer delivery license or for an employee of a retailer licensee who is not an independent contractor of a retailer licensee. Provides that the issuance and regulation of a third-party retailer delivery license is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission and does not require local approval prior to issuance by the State Commission. Sets forth fees for licensure and requirements for the delivery of alcoholic liquor by third-party retailer delivery licensees, including limitations on fees that may be charged, maintenance of an insurance policy, recordkeeping, labeling of alcoholic liquor, and verification that the recipient is 21 years of age or older. In a provision requiring alcohol servers to complete responsible alcohol service server training, adds a person who delivers alcoholic liquor on behalf of a third-party retailer delivery licensee to the definition of "alcohol server". Makes changes in provisions authorizing the delivery and carry out of mixed drinks. In a provision concerning prohibited possession and delivery of alcoholic liquor, removes an exemption from the provisions for persons under the age of 21 making a delivery of an alcoholic beverage in pursuance of his or her employment.

Amends the Ticket Sale and Resale Act. Provides that a person or entity that does not have actual or constructive possession of an event ticket shall not sell, offer for sale, or advertise for sale the event ticket unless specified conditions are satisfied. Prohibits a ticket issuer, ticket broker, or ticket reseller from offering for sale an event ticket unless the ticket issuer, ticket broker, or ticket reseller makes specified disclosures. Sets forth provisions concerning refunds, if an event is cancelled or postponed, and advertisements. Defines terms.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that a local government that has submitted a distressed location project as defined by Department of Natural Resources rule shall be eligible for assistance up to 100% for the acquisition of open space lands and for capital development and improvement projects on distressed location projects. Provides that no less than 10% of the amount appropriated under the Act in any fiscal year shall be made available as grants to distressed communities.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision requiring the Department on Aging to require an annual audit from all personal assistant and home care aide vendors contracting with the Department, provides that the annual audit shall assure that each audited vendor's procedures are in compliance with the Department's financial reporting guidelines requiring an 80% or higher employee wage and benefits cost split and an administrative cost split of no more than 20% (rather than an administrative and employee wage and benefits cost split as defined in administrative rules). Provides that subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2025, rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $32.75 to sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service workers. Provides that rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall be no lower than $32.75 upon federal approval. Requires providers of in-home services to be required to certify to the Department that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases. Provides that subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2025, the Department shall pay a rate add-on under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that attest and document their direct service workers attend paid, quarterly, in-person training sessions to fulfill the in-service training requirements. Provides that the add-on shall be 1% of the homemaker services rate. Requires the Department to adopt rules.

Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Human Services to establish eligibility standards for services provided under the Home Services Program, provides that the standards must provide that a person may not have more than $17,500 (rather than $10,000) in assets to be eligible for services. Provides that the Department may not decrease the asset level below $17,500 (rather than $10,000). Requires the Department to implement a pilot program of no less than 60 months in 3 geographically diverse locations wherein it shall exempt from consideration when determining eligibility for the Home Services Program retirement accounts that the person cannot access without penalty before the age of 59 1/2, and medical savings accounts. Provides that services provided to any individual determined eligible under the pilot program shall be funded solely by the State. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision regarding the income eligibility standard under the medical assistance program for persons with disabilities who are employed and for persons with a medically improved disability who are employed, requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to set the income eligibility standard at not lower than 450% (rather than 350%) of the federal poverty level.

Amends the Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the General Assembly finds it necessary to take measures to increase the amount of cash assistance provided to qualifying Illinoisans under the Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) program to reach a standard compatible with health and well-being. Provides that the amount of AABD aid granted to a person shall be determined by the Department of Human Services in such a manner as to produce assistance payments that bring the person's total monthly income from countable sources, as determined by the Department, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, if applicable, and AABD aid to an amount that is: (i) no less than 85% of the federal poverty level in effect for the month aid is paid, beginning July 1, 2024; (ii) no less than 90% of the federal poverty level in effect for the month aid is paid, beginning July 1, 2025; (iii) no less than 95% of the federal poverty level for the month aid is paid, beginning July 1, 2026; and (iv) no less than 100% of the federal poverty level in effect for the month aid is paid, beginning on and after July 1, 2027. Provides that the amendatory Act shall not result in any reduction in the amount of aid payable to a person determined eligible for aid prior to July 1, 2024. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a memorial resolution honoring Officer Luis M. Huesca, a Chicago Police Department officer who was killed in the line of duty in April 2024. The text formally expresses the sadness of the Illinois House of Representatives regarding his death and extends condolences to his family, friends, and community. It also directs that a copy of the resolution be given to the Huesca family as a gesture of sympathy. This legislative action serves to acknowledge his service and sacrifice rather than to change laws or policies.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that owners and operators of CCR surface impoundments at electric generating plants that are bordering Lake Michigan shall close the CCR surface impoundment by removal by off-site disposal, pursuant to specified provisions and requirements. In additional provisions, requires an owner or operator to remove from his or her site, for off-site disposal, all CCR generated by a facility that is not disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR surface impoundment, and remediate all soil and groundwater impacted by that CCR, in accordance with specified requirements. Requires owners or operators to submit specified plans and reports to the Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that an owner or operator shall post with the Agency a performance bond or other security for the purpose of ensuring removal and remediation in accordance with the provisions. Provides that the Agency may enter into such contracts and agreements as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the provisions. Provides that neither the State, nor the Director of the Agency, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damages or injuries arising out of or resulting from any action taken under the provisions. Contains other provisions. Contains a severability provision. Effective immediately.