Rep. Nick Smith

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities. Provides that the boards of trustees shall provide by rule or contract for a procedure to evaluate the performance and qualifications of non-tenured faculty members. Provides that, if the implementation of the procedure results in a decision to dismiss a non-tenured faculty member for the ensuing academic year or term, the Board shall give notice to the faculty member not later than 60 days before the end of the academic year or term. Provides that, if the Board fails to give the notice within the time period, the faculty member shall be deemed reemployed for the ensuing academic year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Departments of State Government Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that it shall be the duty of the State Board of Health, among other duties, to deliver to the Governor for presentation to the General Assembly a State Health Assessment and a State Health Improvement Plan (currently, only a State Health Improvement Plan required). Provides further requirements concerning the State Health Assessment and the State Health Improvement Plan. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that fees for a coroner's or medical examiner's permit to cremate a human body is $100 (rather than $50). Provides that fees for a certified copy of a transcript of sworn testimony of a coroner's inquest made by written request declaring the request is for research or genealogy purposes is $15.00 for the entire transcript. Provides that a request shall be deemed a proper request for purpose of research or genealogy if the requested inquest occurred not less than 20 years prior to the date of the written request and that the transcript shall be stamped with the words "FOR GENEALOGY OR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY". Provides that a coroner may waive, at his or her discretion, fees under the Section (currently, only the cremation permit fee) if the coroner determines that the person is indigent and unable to pay the permit fee or under other special circumstances as determined by the coroner. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill but removes provisions regarding fees for a coroner's inquest transcript requested for research or genealogy purposes and the waiver of those fees. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to annually include information about the Child Care Assistance Program and the federal dependent care allowance in the language that schools are required to provide to students eligible for Monetary Award Program grants. Specifies the information that must be included. Provides that an institution of higher learning that participates in the Monetary Award Program shall provide, at a minimum, the information to all students who are enrolled, or who are accepted for enrollment and are intending to enroll, and who have been identified by the Commission as Monetary Award Program-eligible at the institution. Provides that an institution of higher learning shall also provide the information to any student identified by the institution of higher learning as a student with dependents. Provides that an institution of higher learning may designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Requires the Commission to adopt rules to implement the provisions on or before October 1, 2022. Effective immediately.

Urges the Governor to call a special session of the gaming board by March 1, 2021 to name the South Suburban casino license recipient. Details conditions that the license recipient is urged to follow after receiving the license.

Creates the Vacancy Fraud Act. Allows a taxing body or representative of a taxing body to file a vacancy fraud complaint with the county board of review if property is receiving vacancy relief and the property owner is not actively attempting to lease, sell, or alter the property. Sets forth factors in determining whether or not vacancy fraud has occurred. Sets forth penalties. Effective immediately.

Amends the evidence-based funding provisions of the School Code. Provides that funds received by the Chicago school district for low-income, English learner, and special education resources must be distributed to every school of the district in the appropriate amount specified under the Essential Elements component of the funding formula. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits sexual assault by deception if the person commits an act of sexual penetration and the person submits under the belief that the person committing the act is someone known to the victim other than the accused, and this belief is induced by pretense or concealment by the accused with the intent to induce that belief. Sexual assault by deception is a Class 3 felony.

Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Creates the South Suburban Trauma Center Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides for the deposit and use of moneys in the fund. Provides for duties of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board regarding a south suburban trauma center. Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides for the use of specified toll revenue. Amends the State Finance Act to provide for the South Suburban Trauma Center Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to require an insurance policy to provide coverage for medically necessary treatments for genetic, rare, unknown or unnamed, and unique conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and altered drug metabolism. Provides that an insurance policy that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall include coverage for opioid alternatives, coverage for medicines included in the Model List of Essential Medicines published by the World Health Organization, and coverage for custom-made medications and medical food. Provides that an insurance policy that limits the quantity of a medication in accordance with applicable State and federal law shall not require pre-approval for the treatment of patients with rare metabolism conditions that may need a higher dose of medication than what is otherwise allowed within a time frame or prescription schedule. Provides that the burden of proving that treatment is medically necessary shall not lie with the insured in cases of rejections for filing claims, preauthorization requests, and appeals related to coverage required under the Section.