Rep. Kam Buckner

Amends the Pharmacy Benefit Managers Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a pharmacy benefit manager shall not prohibit a pharmacist or pharmacy from, or indirectly punish a pharmacist or pharmacy for, making any written or oral statement or otherwise disclosing information to any federal, State, county, or municipal official, including the Director of Insurance or law enforcement, or before any State, county, or municipal committee, body, or proceeding under specified circumstances. Provides that the provisions apply to contracts entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2023 (rather than July 1, 2022).

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority (Authority) may develop a program that provides incentives for the development of affordable housing projects that incorporate urban and suburban gardening programs. Provides that under the program, the University of Illinois shall be consulted regarding best practices in urban gardening and farming, including vertical gardening, aquaponics, and community gardening. Provides that an affordable housing project that incorporates an urban or suburban gardening program must provide any land, buildings, or tools necessary to develop and maintain the garden or farm. Provides that under the program, the Authority shall also coordinate and collaborate with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create distribution networks that link urban and suburban gardens with local businesses in order to facilitate the sale and distribution of locally-grown agricultural products and food stuffs to consumers residing within the local community. Provides that the Authority and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may adopt any rules necessary to implement the program. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district must create, implement, and maintain an age-appropriate policy on race-related harassment and discrimination. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that the required policy on bullying shall also include age-appropriate information about the definitions of harassment and sexual harassment, the procedures for reporting harassment, and the protections and relief available under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that harassment by an elementary, secondary, or higher education representative or the failure of an institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education to take remedial action or appropriate disciplinary action against a student or an elementary, secondary, or higher education representative employed by the institution (if the institution knows that the student or representative committed or engaged in harassment) is a civil rights violation. Provides that each institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education shall establish, implement, and maintain a continuing race-related discrimination and harassment program. Sets forth requirements concerning policies and procedures, a model training program, and reporting. Makes other changes. Effective August 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In provisions regarding security improvements that assist a not-for-profit organization in preventing, preparing for, or responding to acts of terrorism, requires the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to determine that an organization is at high risk of being subject to threats, attacks, or acts of terrorism based on the organization's profile, ideology, mission, or beliefs in order to be eligible for assistance under the provisions. Requires the Agency to post specified information on its website. Throughout the provisions, refers to threats, attacks, or acts of terrorism (rather than just acts of terrorism). Makes other changes.

Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that an injunction enjoining the issuance of a permit to disinter human remains shall issue only when the person seeking the injunction has rights superior to the person seeking the permit to disinter. Provides that if a person seeking an injunction does not have rights superior to the person seeking the permit to disinter, a court of competent jurisdiction may award costs to the person seeking the permit to disinter, if the court makes a finding that the action seeking the injunction was brought in bad faith. Amends the Disposition of Remains Act. Provides that if a court finds that a person has filed or opposed an action relating to the person's right to control disposition, the court may award costs against the person it finds has acted in bad faith. Amends the Cemetery Protection Act. Provides that any bylaws, rules, and regulations made by the cemetery authority for the government thereof are effective if made publicly available through continuous publication on the cemetery authority's website or on the cemetery authority's social media page. Requires a cemetery authority that does not maintain a website or social media page to provide a copy of the bylaws, rules, and regulations to each person prior to or contemporaneous with the cemetery authority's presentment of any contract or legal agreement for services in relation to the cemetery. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Michael Bauer Memorial Act.

Creates the Access to Affordable Insulin Act. Sets forth provisions concerning an insulin urgent-need program. Provides that each manufacturer shall establish procedures to make insulin available to eligible individuals who are in urgent need of insulin or who are in need of assistance to access an affordable insulin supply. Sets forth provisions concerning insulin urgent-need program exceptions, eligibility, forms, applications, claims and reimbursement, copayments, information sheets, navigators, and penalties. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs, provides that an insurer that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs under the terms of a health coverage plan the insurer offers shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a 30-day supply of covered prescription insulin drugs at an amount not to exceed $35 (rather than $100). Effective immediately.

Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Provides that an applicant may use an examination alternative to allow the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the independent practice of clinical social work. Provides that the examination alternative shall consist of at least 2 years of supervised professional experience subsequent to obtaining the degree as established by rule. Provides that the examination alternative supervised professional experience shall be in addition to any other supervised clinical professional experience required for licensure. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, an applicant acquiring the examination alternative supervised professional experience must be a licensed social worker or licensed in this State for the practice of school social work prior to acquiring the supervised professional experience. Provides that the Department shall require that a qualified licensed clinical social work supervisor to complete at least 6 hours of continuing education training. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that a person who engages in the practice of telemedicine without a license issued under the Act shall be subject to the penalties provided in provisions concerning unlicensed practice. Provides that for purposes of the Act, telemedicine means the performance of acupuncture provided via technology or telecommunication methods. Provides that the standard of care shall be the same whether a patient is seen in person, through telehealth, or another method of electronically enabled health care. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall, by rule, determine the appropriate acupuncture services allowed via telemedicine in consultation with the Board of Acupuncture. Provides that whenever the Department has reason to believe that a person has violated the provisions concerning telemedicine, the Department may issue a rule to show cause why an order to cease and desist should not be entered against that person. Provides that an out-of-state person providing a service allowed under the provisions to a patient residing in the State through the practice of telemedicine submits himself or herself to the jurisdiction of the Department and the courts of the State. Amends the Telehealth Act. Changes the definition of "health care professional" to include acupuncturists. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program Act. Establishes the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program within the Department of Human Services to help expand the availability of nutritious, locally grown, raised, or processed foods for Illinois' emergency food system. Provides that the program shall (1) acquire and distribute agricultural products from Illinois agricultural entities or aggregators to Illinois' emergency food system, and (2) provide grants to improve capacity of the emergency food system to allow for the proper transportation, storage, or distribution of agricultural products to underserved areas. Provides that the program shall target fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy, and eggs produced in Illinois. Provides that foods shall be surplus, seconds, or market-grade quality levels and must be safe for consumption. Provides that the program is subject to appropriation and shall dedicate no less than 75% of available funds to acquisition and distribution of food. Requires the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to engage a not-for-profit entity from Illinois' emergency food system to administer the program. Requires the administering entity to have statewide reach and represent multiple food banks that source and distribute food to Illinois food pantries and soup kitchens under the same authorities and standards as the Emergency Food Assistance Program administered by the Department. Contains provisions concerning the duties of the administering entity. Creates the Farm to Food Bank Advisory Council to provide support to the program through facilitating relationship-building and partnerships between the Illinois agricultural sector and the emergency food system and other matters. Provides that the program may distribute food to those food banks with the infrastructure to accept, store, and distribute foods through the emergency food system and with the capacity to serve significant geographic areas within Illinois. Provides that the program shall distribute capacity-building grants for facility upgrades, equipment, or other investments necessary to support the objectives of the program. Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning kindergartens, provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each school board must establish a kindergarten with full-day attendance (instead of allowing a school board to establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance or with full-day attendance); makes related changes. Repeals another provision concerning kindergartens on July 1, 2023. Effective immediately.