Rep. Kam Buckner

Creates the Equity and Representation in Health Care Act. Contains the findings of the General Assembly. Creates the Equity and Representation in Health Care Workforce Repayment Program and the Equity and Representation in Health Care Workforce Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Public Health. Provides that a health care professional, medical facility, or behavioral health provider may apply to the Department for loan repayment assistance under the Program. Provides that, in order to be eligible for loan repayment under the Act, the health care professional or behavioral health provider shall comply with specified requirements. Requires the Department to submit an annual report with specified requirements to the General Assembly and the Governor. Contains provisions regarding the adoption of rules by the Department. Contains other provisions. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that loan repayment and scholarship program funds are subject to appropriation. Provides that an individual who is awarded a loan repayment authorized under the Act shall not receive concurrent loan repayments through any other Illinois or federal loan repayment program. Requires the Department of Public Health to share information about the application process for a scholarship or loan repayment under the Act prominently on the Department's website, as well as with specified Illinois-based health care training programs and institutions of higher education. Requires recipients who fail to meet their obligations to pay to the Department a sum of at least 1.5 times plus 7% interest annually (rather than a sum equal to) the amount of the received moneys. Contains provisions for waiver or deferment of a recipient's obligation under the Act. Provides that the Act is effective January 1, 2023. Makes other changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that a nurse is a "health care professional". Removes language providing that a certified nurse midwife is a "health care professional". Defines "nurse" as a person who is licensed as a licensed practical nurse or as a registered nurse under the Nurse Practice Act.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person may drive a motor vehicle if in possession of a digitized driver's license. Defines "digitized driver's license". Provides that a person shall not be issued a citation for driving a motor vehicle without a physical driver's license in his or her possession if the person presents a digitized driver's license to a law enforcement officer in connection with a traffic stop or checkpoint. Provides that the display of a digitized driver's license shall not serve as consent or authorization for a law enforcement officer, or any other person, to search, view, or access any other data or application on the mobile device, and that the fee to install the application to display a digitized driver's license shall not exceed $6. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 625 ILCS 5/6-101 Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/6-101.5 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall continue to monitor developments pertaining to digital driver's licenses and shall deliver a report to the General Assembly concerning these developments on or before December 31, 2022. Provides that the report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) advancements in technology standards necessary for the implementation of a digital driver's license; (2) production information on other states offering a digital driver's license to qualified drivers in their jurisdictions; and (3) advancements in the interoperability of digital driver's licenses. Effective immediately.

Creates the Real Estate Valuation Task Force Act. Establishes the Real Estate Valuation Task Force. Provides for membership of the Task Force. Provides for Task Force meetings and the selection of a Task Force chair and other officers. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. Provides for administrative and other support of the Task Force. Provides for duties of the Task Force. Provides Task Force reporting requirements. Provides for termination of the Task Force. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2029. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Modifies the membership of and provides for additional members to be appointed to the Real Estate Valuation Task Force. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds an additional member to be appointed to the Real Estate Valuation Tax Force.

Amends the School Code. Provides that any child from a public school, subject to guidelines established by the State Board of Education, shall be permitted by a school board at least one school day-long excused absence per school year for any middle school or high school student for a child that is absent from school to engage in a civic event. A school board may require that the student provide advance notice of the intended absence and require that the student provide documentation of participation in a civic event. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/26-2 from Ch. 122, par. 26-2 105 ILCS 5/26-2a from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Provides that school boards may require reasonable advance notice (instead of requiring advance notice) of the intended absence. Provides that the reasonable advance notification and documentation shall be provided to the appropriate school administrator. Further amends the Compulsory Attendance for Pupils Article of the School Code. Defines "civic event", and provides that the State Board of Education may adopt rules to further define "civic event". Adds attending a civic event as part of the definition of "valid cause". Makes corresponding, grammatical, and stylistic changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that all school boards shall waive fees assessed by the district for each student with a parent who is a veteran with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that all school boards shall waive fees assessed by the district for each student with a parent who is a veteran or active duty military personnel (only veteran in the introduced bill) with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Creates the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act. Provides for licensure of professional music therapists and clinical music therapists by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Establishes the Music Therapy Advisory Committee. Establishes the powers and duties of the advisory committee, including advising the Department on all matters pertaining to licensure, education, and continuing education requirements for licensees. Establishes the powers and duties of the Department, including prescribing rules defining what constitutes an appropriate curriculum for music therapy, reviewing the qualifications of applicants for licenses, investigating alleged violations of the Act, conducting hearings on disciplinary and other matters, and establishing a schedule of fees for the administration and enforcement of the Act. Establishes qualifications for licensure as a professional music therapist and clinical music therapist. Establishes grounds for discipline of a license. Provides for civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Act. Creates provisions concerning formal hearings, including transcripts of proceedings, appointment of hearing officers, subpoenas and depositions, and rehearings. Provides for judicial review of all final administrative decisions of the Department. Preempts home rule. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Removes all references to licensed clinical music therapists. Changes references to the "Music Therapy Advisory Committee" and "Advisory Committee" to "Music Therapy Advisory Board" and "Advisory Board". Changes the definition of "music therapy". Adds provisions concerning applicants' and licensees' addresses of record and email addresses of record. Makes changes concerning composition and powers and duties of the Music Therapy Advisory Board. Makes changes in provisions concerning exemptions from the Act, collaboration with audiologists and speech-language pathologists, the practice of psychotherapy by licensed music therapists, the powers and duties of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, qualifications for licensure, license renewal, grounds for discipline, violations, investigations, hearings, and findings. Removes provisions concerning restrictions and limitations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 2 with the following changes. Provides that "music therapy intervention" as defined occurs during a therapist-client relationship and includes collaborating with and educating the client and the family, caregiver of the client, or any other appropriate person regarding the needs of the client that are being addressed in music therapy and the manner in which the music therapy treatment addresses those needs in compliance with state and federal law. Provides that the Music Therapy Advisory Board shall advise the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on all matters pertaining to disciplinary actions for practice of music therapy in the State. Removes a provision that provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to prohibit the practice of a person whose training and national certification attests to the individual's preparation and ability to practice the individual's certified profession or occupation. Provides that the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation shall issue a license to an applicant for a professional music therapist license if the applicant is of good moral character. Provides that in determining moral character under the provisions of qualifications for licensure, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant has engaged in conduct which would constitute grounds for discipline under the Act. Removes as a ground for discipline the failure to file a return, or to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as required by a tax Act administered by the Department of Revenue. Adds that whenever the Secretary believes substantial justice (rather than only justice) has not been done in the revocation, suspension, or refusal to issue or renew a license or the discipline of a licensee, the Secretary may order a rehearing. Removes provisions concerning: the suspension of a license for failure to pay restitution; the surrender of a license; and any conflict with the Act and any other law. Makes other and conforming changes. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 80/4.38 Repeals the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act on January 1, 2028.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that notwithstanding a positive test for the presence of cannabis within the petitioner's body from a drug test taken within 30 days before the filing of the petition for expungement or sealing or the failure of the petitioner to take such test, the petitioner may petition for the sealing or expungement of his or her felony records for a violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or the Cannabis Control Act or felony records of a qualified probation for a felony drug offense. Defines "cannabis" and "felony drug offense". House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall not deny a petition for expungement or sealing because the petitioner has submitted a drug test taken within 30 days before the filing of the petition for expungement or sealing that indicates a positive test for the presence of cannabis within the petitioner's body. Defines "cannabis".

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that in order to maximize the accessibility of preventive prenatal and perinatal health care services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall amend its managed care contracts such that an managed care organization must pay for preventive prenatal and perinatal healthcare services rendered by a non-affiliated provider, for which the health plan would pay if rendered by an affiliated provider, at the same rate the Department would pay for such services exclusive of disproportionate share payments and Medicaid percentage adjustments, unless a different rate was agreed upon by the health plan and the non-affiliated provider. Effective January 1, 2023. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 210 ILCS 170/5 210 ILCS 170/25 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Amends the Birth Center Licensing Act. Provides that a licensed certified professional midwife may attend or be delegated to attend to each person in labor from the time of admission through birth and throughout the immediate postpartum period. Defines "licensed certified professional midwife". Makes a conforming change. Effective January 1, 2023. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Further amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that a managed care organization must pay for preventative prenatal services, perinatal healthcare services, and postpartum services rendered by a non-affiliated provider, for which the health plan would pay if rendered by an affiliated provider, at the rate paid (rather than at no less than the rate paid) under the Illinois Medicaid fee-for-service program methodology for such services. Provides that, in cases where a managed care organization must pay for preventive prenatal services, perinatal healthcare services, and postpartum services rendered by a non-affiliated provider, the payment rate requirements under the amendatory Act shall not apply if the services were not emergency services, as defined in a specified provision of the Code, and: (1) the non-affiliated provider is a perinatal hospital and has, within the 12 months preceding the date of service, rejected a contract that was offered in good faith by the health plan as determined by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services; or (2) the health plan has terminated a contract with the non-affiliated provider for cause, and the Department has not deemed the termination to have been without merit. Provides that the Department may deem that a determination for cause has merit if: (i) an institutional provider has repeatedly failed to conduct discharge planning; or (ii) the provider's conduct adversely and substantially impacts the health of Medicaid patients; or (iii) the provider's conduct constitutes fraud, waste, or abuse; or (iv) the provider's conduct violates the code of ethics governing his or her profession. Effective January 1, 2023.

Creates the Children's Mental Health Council Act. Creates the Children's Mental Health Council. Requires the Council to conduct at least 4 meeting each year, research and provide recommendations for the General Assembly on children with mental and behavioral disabilities and residential placements around the State and out of state, research and provide recommendations on how State agencies will be able to provide emergency placement for children with disabilities, research and provide recommendations on expanding residential beds and increasing the workforce, and review and provide recommendations for the General Assembly, State Board of Education, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, and any other agency that is involved in the process of the placement of a child. Provides guidelines for appointing members. Provides terms for members appointed by the Governor. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative support. Provides that the Council shall prepare and deliver annual reports to the General Assembly, the Governor, and certain State agencies with any recommendations for legislation and any additional recommendations regarding children's mental and behavioral health. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2032. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: New Act Adds reference to: 405 ILCS 49/5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Adds a requirement that the Children's Mental Health Plan include recommendations on how to more effectively meet the emergency and residential placement needs for all children with severe mental and behavioral challenges. Adds representatives of community mental health provider trade organizations to the group of representatives to the Children's Mental Health Partnership that are appointed by the Governor. Provides that the annual report will be delivered to the Governor and the General Assembly (currently, only the Governor). House Floor Amendment No. 5 Adds reference to: 405 ILCS 49/1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Changes the title of the Act to the "Children's Mental Health Act". Provides that the Children's Mental Health Partnership shall advise the State of Illinois on designing and implementing short-term and long-term strategies to provide comprehensive and coordinated services for children from birth to age 25 and their families with the goal of addressing children's mental health needs across a full continuum of care. Provides that the Partnership shall have the responsibility of developing and updating the Children's Mental Health Plan and advising the relevant State agencies on implementation of the Plan (instead of developing and monitoring the implementation of the Plan as approved by the Governor). Removes provisions concerning development of previous Plans. Provides for the powers and duties of the Partnership. Provides that the Partnership shall submit: an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the progress of the Plans; recommendations regarding State policies, laws, or rules necessary to fulfill the purposes of the Act; and any additional recommendations regarding mental or behavioral health that the Partnership deems necessary. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide technical and administrative support for the Partnership. Effective January 1, 2023. House Floor Amendment No. 6 Provides that a representative of a statewide organization representing pediatricians shall also be included as one of the required public representatives of the Partnership appointed by the Governor.

Creates the Legislative Accessibility Act. Provides that the General Assembly shall make all efforts to increase the accessibility of the General Assembly for people with disabilities. Provides that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall each appoint an accessibility coordinator who, in consultation with the Architect of the Capitol, shall be responsible for addressing accessibility needs for his or her corresponding house. Provides that the Illinois General Assembly website shall include either an email address, webform, or other similar mechanism to request reasonable accommodations to meet the accessibility needs of people with disabilities attending legislative events. Establishes the General Assembly Accessibility Task Force. Provides for the membership and meetings of the Task Force. Provides that members and ex officio members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides administrative support for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall examine issues concerning accessibility of persons with a disability. Requires the Task Force to make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning General Assembly accessibility no later than December 31, 2021. Repeals specified provisions January 1, 2023. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Removes provision requiring the General Assembly Accessibility Task Force to be convened by the Department of Central Management Services in coordination with the Secretary of State. Modifies the appointment of members to the Task Force. Provides that the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader of the Senate, and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 2 members to the Task Force (rather than the Governor appointing 15 members). Provides for the appointment of the Task Force chair. Provides that appointees shall include persons who self-identify as having a disability or advocates for such persons. Provides for specified State officials to serve on the Task Force as ex officio members. Provides that the Architect of the Capitol (rather than the Department of Central Management Services) shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to issue its recommendations to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2023 (rather than December 31, 2021). Repeals the Task Force on January 1, 2025 (rather than January 1, 2023). Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Further amends the Legislative Accessibility Act. Provides that the Illinois General Assembly website shall include an email address, web form, or other similar mechanism to meet the accessibility needs of persons attending legislative meetings, hearings, floor proceedings, and press conferences at the Capitol Complex (rather than persons attending legislative events, including, but not limited to, all hearings and floor proceedings). Makes a technical change.