Creates the Birth Center Licensing Act. Provides that, except as provided by the Act, no person shall open, manage, conduct, offer, maintain, or advertise as a birth center without a valid license issued by the Department of Public Health. Requires all birth centers in existence as of the effective date of the Act to obtain a valid license to operate within 2 years after the adoption of rules by the Department to implement the Act. Provides that an applicant for a license under the Act shall submit an application on forms prescribed by the Department, which shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable license fee, as established by rule by the Department. Provides that licenses under the Act are renewable every 3 years upon submission of specified materials. Requires birth centers, to the extent possible, to link and integrate services with nearby health care facilities. Contains provisions concerning staffing requirements; minimum standards to protect the health and safety of a patient of a birth center; and requirements for reimbursement, reporting, training, and inspections. Requires the Department to adopt specified rules. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Makes changes concerning definitions. Refers to certified nurse midwives (rather than midwives). Provides that licenses under the Act are renewable every year (rather than every 3 years) upon submission of specified materials. Provides that birth centers shall obtain certificates of need from the Health Facilities and Services Review Board under the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act before receiving a license by the Department of Public Health. Provides that if, after obtaining an initial certificate of need, a birth center seeks to increase the bed capacity of the birth center, the birth center must obtain a certificate of need from the Health Facilities and Services Review Board before increasing the bed capacity. Provides that a birth center in a medically underserved area shall receive priority in obtaining a certificate of need. Provides that a birth center shall link and integrate its services with at least one birthing hospital with a minimum of a Level 1 perinatal designation (rather than with nearby health care facilities). Provides that a birth center shall have an established agreement with a nearby receiving birthing center (rather than a written plan for transfer of patients). Provides that a birth center is encouraged to participate in quality improvement projects implemented by the Department of Public Health's Administrative Perinatal Centers and other Department-supported perinatal quality improvement projects. Requires clinicians, or their clinical representative, and attending persons in labor at a birth center to attend morbidity and mortality reviews that occur at the receiving birthing hospital on their patients. Requires the Department to require each birth center to report specified information every year (rather than every 3 years). Removes language requiring the Department to deem an accreditation body applicable to birth centers as a substitute for its own periodic inspection. Makes other changes.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a violation of the federal Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018 constitutes a violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends a provision of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act concerning the deceptive marketing, advertising, and sale of mental health disorder and substance use disorder treatment. Provides that it is an unlawful practice for any person to solicit, offer, or enter into an arrangement under which a patient seeking mental health disorder or substance use disorder treatment is referred to a mental health disorder or substance use disorder treatment program or facility in exchange for a fee or any other remuneration. Provides that it is not an unlawful practice for programs and facilities to enter into personal services agreements or management services agreements with third parties that do not take into account the volume or value of referrals. Provides that it is not an unlawful practice for programs or facilities to provide discounts for treatment services to clients as long as the discount is based on financial necessity in accordance with the program's or facility's charity care plan, regardless of referral source or reason. Provides that compensation paid by programs or facilities to their employees and independent contractors related to identifying, locating, and securing referrals to that program or facility is not an unlawful practice if the amount of compensation provided to the employee or independent contractor does not vary based upon the volume or value of such referrals. Effective immediately.
Amends the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. In provisions regarding demonstration program requirements, requires there to be 6 (rather than 4) birth center alternative health care models in the demonstration program located in the area comprising Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, 2 (rather than one) of which shall be owned or operated by a federally qualified health center. Provides that one birth center alternative health care model in the demonstration program shall be located within Planning Area A-3 to address the disparate perinatal and child health outcomes in Planning Area A-3. Provides that birth centers located in Planning Area A-3 or operated by a federally qualified health center are exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act or successor Acts. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that there shall be no more than 17 (rather than 12) birth center alternative health care models in the demonstration program. Provides that: 10 (rather than 6) birth center alternative health care models shall be located in the area comprising Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties; 2 birth center alternative health care models shall be located in Planning Area A-2; 2 birth center alternative health care models shall be located in Planning Area A-4; and one birth center alternative health care model shall be located in the City of East St. Louis in Planning Area F-1. Removes language providing that a birth center located in Planning Area A-3 or operated by a federally qualified health center is exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act or successor Acts.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that no later than December 31, 2022, and no later than December 31 of each year thereafter, the Department of Children and Family Services shall prepare and submit an annual report, covering the previous fiscal year, to the General Assembly regarding racial disparities for children and families involved in the child welfare system. Provides that the report shall be conducted by a research institution at a public university and must include, at a minimum, the following de-aggregated data by race as compared, where appropriate, to population-level data: (1) education success, health and behavioral health, housing, jobs or economic justice, criminal justice, and other key metrics that serve as indicators of child and family well-being and can measure socioeconomic conditions in communities; and (2) children and families involved in a safety plan, the number of protective custodies, the number of investigations of each type of abuse and neglect allegation described in a specified provision of the Illinois Administrative Code and the findings of such investigations, the number of Department recommended court filings for each allegation type, the number of intakes into the foster care system, placement settings, lengths of stay, and permanency outcomes.
Amends the School Code and the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. Provides that if a school district issues an identification card to pupils in any of grades 7 through 12, the district shall provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and a local suicide prevention hotline on the identification card. Provides that if a public college or university issues an identification card to students, the public college or university must provide on the identification card (i) contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and a local suicide prevention hotline and (ii) the campus police or campus security telephone number or a local nonemergency telephone number. Effective July 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new 105 ILCS 5/27A-5 110 ILCS 58/25 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.75 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Beyond Charity Law. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 shall provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and either the Safe2Help Illinois helpline or a local suicide prevention hotline or both on the identification card. Requires the contact information to identify each helpline that may be contacted through text messaging. Provides that the contact information shall also be included in the school's student handbook and student planner if a student planner is custom printed by the school for distribution to students in any of grades 6 through 12. Effective July 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new 105 ILCS 5/27A-5 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.75 new 110 ILCS 58/25 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Beyond Charity Law. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 shall provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and either the Safe2Help Illinois helpline or a local suicide prevention hotline or both on the identification card. Amends the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. Provides that if a public higher education institution issues student identification cards to its students, the institution must provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and a local suicide prevention hotline on the identification card. Requires the contact information on the school's or institution's card to identify each helpline that may be contacted through text messaging. Provides that the contact information shall also be included in the student handbook and student planner if a student planner is custom printed by the school or institution. Effective July 1, 2022.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, in determining income eligibility for child care benefits beginning in State fiscal year 2022, the income threshold shall be no less than 200% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Effective July 1, 2021. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the income threshold established for the child care program in the amendatory Act shall be in effect notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule to the contrary.
Creates the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force Act. Creates the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force within the Department of Children and Family Services. Requires the Task Force to examine the historical and current role of mandatory reporting and its impact on the racial and gender disparities of families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services; examine the underlying factors that bring families into contact with the Department and the factors that lead to child removal; review the Department's progress on the planning and implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act; examine the current processes and policies, data, and data collection methods for families involved simultaneously in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal justice systems; explore policies and protocols for race-blind child protection screenings and child removal reviews; and other duties. Contains provisions concerning the composition of the Task Force and Task Force meetings. Requires the Task Force to submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor within one year after the Task Force has its first meeting. Provides that the report shall contain policy recommendations that seek to prioritize preserving and reunifying families involved in the child welfare system, particularly Black families; reduce child welfare system involvement, particularly for Black families; and eliminate racial disproportionality in system involvement and the disproportionate impact of system involvement on families. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act repealed, on January 1, 2024. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Task Force shall include one member (rather than 2 members) from an organization with expertise in the child welfare system that advocates to preserve and reunify families, appointed by the Governor's Office; 2 members who provide legal representation on behalf of the State of Illinois in child protection cases, one from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, appointed by the Governor's Office, and one from a State's Attorney's office outside of Cook County, appointed by the Governor's Office; and one member from a statewide organization advocating for the advancement of civil liberties for at least 80 years in Illinois, appointed by the Governor's Office. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall facilitate the prompt and timely collection and provision of data as requested by or on behalf of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to explore policies and protocols that honor language, culture, and heritage in identity formation and familial relationships, including, but not limited to, race-blind child protection screenings and child removal reviews, as implemented in other jurisdictions around the United States, and to make recommendations for implementation in Illinois. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that any data provided by the Department of Children and Family Services to the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force shall not contain any personally identifiable information of any clients or families in accordance with the provisions of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
Creates the Opioid Overdose Reduction Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Alex's Law. Provides that a person who, in good faith, seeks or obtains emergency medical assistance for someone experiencing an opioid overdose shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike substance or a controlled substance analog if certain conditions are met. Provides that a person who is experiencing an overdose shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike substance or a controlled substance analog if evidence for the possession charge was acquired as a result of the person seeking or obtaining emergency medical assistance. Provides that a person's pretrial release, probation, furlough, supervised release, or parole shall not be revoked based on an incident for which the person would be immune from prosecution under the provisions. Effective August 16, 2021. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: New Act Adds reference to: 720 ILCS 570/414 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Opioid Overdose Reduction Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Alex's Law. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. In a provision concerning overdose and limited immunity, provides that specified violations must not serve as the sole basis of a violation of parole, mandatory supervised release, probation, conditional discharge, a person's pretrial release, or furlough, or any seizure of property under any State law authorizing civil forfeiture so long as the evidence for the violation was acquired as a result of the person seeking or obtaining emergency medical assistance in the event of an overdose. Effective January 1, 2022.
Creates the Advisory Commission on Reducing the Disproportionate Representation of African-American Children in Foster Care Act. Creates the Advisory Commission on Reducing the Disproportionate Representation of African-American Children in Foster Care. Provides that the Commission shall be a coordinating and advocating body that acts on behalf of the interests of African-American children who are at risk of placement within the State's child welfare system. Requires the Commission to advise the Governor and the General Assembly, as well as work directly with State agencies, to identify factors contributing to the overrepresentation of African-American children in foster care; to collaborate with State agencies and other social services organizations to develop effective strategies, policies, services, and programs that are aimed at providing African-American children and their families with the resources and preventive services they need to stay out of foster care and the child welfare system; and to assist in the development of child welfare policies and practices that advance more equitable outcomes for African-American children and their families who have contact with the Department of Children and Family Services. Sets forth specific duties including: examining and developing strategies and policies to address reported racial disproportionality during key stages of the child welfare decision-making process; assisting in the development of cultural competency training programs for child welfare workers; and identifying best practices to safely increase the number of family or relative placements for African-American children. Contains provisions on Commission membership; meetings; and reporting requirements. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to administer an annual survey, which shall be named the Healthy Illinois Survey. Provides that the Healthy Illinois Survey shall: (1) include interviews of a sample of State residents such that statistically reliable data for specified areas can be developed, as well as statistically reliable data on racial, ethnic, gender, age, and other demographic groups of State residents important to inform health equity goals; (2) be collected at the zip code level; and (3) include questions on a range of topics designed to establish an initial baseline public health data set and annual updates. Provides that, in developing the annual Healthy Illinois Survey, the Department shall consult with specified persons and entities with the goal of a comprehensive survey that will assist the State and other partners in developing the data to measure public health and health equity. Requires the Department to provide the results of the Healthy Illinois Survey in forms useful to cities, communities, local health departments, hospitals, and other potential users, including annually publishing on its website data at the most granular geographic and demographic levels possible while protecting identifying information. Requires the Department to produce periodic special reports and analyses relevant to ongoing and emerging health and social issues in communities and the State. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 500/1-10 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the identity, or any group of facts that tends to lead to the identity, of any person whose condition or treatment is submitted to the Healthy Illinois Survey is confidential and shall not be open to public inspection or dissemination and is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that information for specific research purposes may be released in accordance with procedures established by the Department. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code shall apply regardless of the source of funds with which contracts are paid, including federal assistance moneys. Provides that, except as specifically provided in the Code, the Code shall not apply to procurement expenditures necessary for the Department of Public Health to conduct the Healthy Illinois Survey.