Rep. Nick Smith

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and administer the Pat McGuire Child Welfare Education Fellowship Pilot Program to provide financial assistance to a diverse pool of eligible students (rather than to eligible students) who commit to seek and maintain employment at a purchase of service agency that contracts with the Department upon graduation from a participating institution with a degree in social work.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish a field office in each legislative district (rather than such field offices as it shall find necessary to enable it to perform its duties). House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3.01 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to sufficient appropriations, the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall contract for a market research analysis of field services in this State. Provides that the analysis shall include the availability of veterans assistance commissions, veterans service organizations, and Department staff to assist veterans as well as the availability of nontraditional methods to deliver services through technology-based approaches. Provides that the analysis may use census data, as well as questionnaires, surveys, and town hall meetings to solicit input from veterans, their families, and other stakeholders. Provides that, within 18 months after sufficient appropriations, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a recommended plan for the future delivery of services by the Department's Field Division, including the estimated cost of implementing the plan. Repeals the new provisions on December 31, 2023.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the Cook County Treasurer shall maintain a special fund known as the Cook County Housing Trust Fund for which the Housing Authority of Cook County shall be the sole beneficiary. Provides that the Fund may receive moneys from appropriations from the State for use by the Housing Authority of Cook County, as well as loan repayments, cash distributions from equity investments, and similar cash payments generated by a funded project that may be redeposited into the Fund and used for additional projects. Specifies the use of moneys in the Fund. Requires the Cook County Treasurer, in consultation with the Housing Authority of Cook County, to make accounting annually to the Cook County Board of Commissioners through the County Clerk of the use of moneys maintained in the Fund. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Revenue) HB 5018 does not impact state revenues of the taxes administered by the Department of Revenue.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the application fee for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License shall be waived when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Effective immediately.

Creates the Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Department of Labor shall develop a 5 year Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program. Specifies that the Pilot Program shall provide transportation assistance and a child care subsidy to eligible individuals participating in a qualified apprenticeship. Provides that no later than January 1, 2028, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report that evaluates the results of the Pilot Program and its effectiveness in assisting Program participants in entering the workforce or in obtaining better employment. Provides for the adoption of rules. Repeals Act on January 1, 2029. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Changes the name to the Act to the Job Training Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (rather than the Department of Labor) shall develop the Pilot Program. Provides that the Department shall award grants to organizations to distribute subsidies to qualifying individuals. Provides that to be eligible for assistance under the Pilot Program, an individual is required to participate in a registered apprenticeship program, pre-apprenticeship program as defined by the United States Department of Labor, or work-based learning programs, such as an internship, paid work experience, transitional jobs training, on-the-job training, or incumbent worker programs administered by the Department. Provides that the assistance provided by the Pilot Program may include funds for transportation, child care, housing-related expenses, including, but not limited to, rent and utilities, transportation, child care, digital technology needs, education needs, mental health services, substance abuse services, income support, and work-related supplies that are not typically covered by programmatic supportive services.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, for license renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2023, Emergency Medical Services personnel must complete at least one one-hour course of training on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias per license renewal period. Contains training requirements. Provides that completion of the course may count toward meeting minimum credit hours required for relicensure requirements. Provides that specified training may count toward the continuing education required under the amendatory provisions. Provides that the Department of Public Health may adopt rules for the implementation of the amendatory provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or third-party payer and a covered entity under Section 340B of the federal Public Health Service Act shall not contain specified provisions. Provides that a violation by a pharmacy benefit manager constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance, and that a provision that violates the prohibition on certain provisions in a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or a third-party payer and a 340B covered entity that is entered into, amended, or renewed after July 1, 2022 shall be void and unenforceable. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning pharmacy payments, provides that no later than January 1, 2023, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement a mechanism for entities participating in the federal drug pricing program and their contracted pharmacies to submit quarterly retrospective utilization files containing the minimum fields necessary to accurately identify the drugs to the Department or its contractor for processing Medicaid drug rebate requests to Medicaid beneficiaries or Medicaid managed care organization enrollees. Provides that the Department or its contractor shall use the utilization files to remove 340B claims from the Department's Medicaid drug rebate requests and that the Department shall not require the entities or their contracted pharmacies to use any other method or billing code to identify 340B drugs billed to Medicaid or Medicaid managed care organizations. In provisions concerning pharmacy benefits, provides that a Medicaid managed care organization or pharmacy benefit manager administering or managing benefits on behalf of a Medicaid managed organization shall not include specified provisions in a contract with a covered entity or with any pharmacy owned by or contracted with the covered entity. Provides that a violation by a Medicaid managed care organization or its pharmacy benefit manager constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance, and that a provision that violates the prohibition on certain provisions in a contract between a Medicaid managed care organization or its pharmacy benefit manager and a 340B covered entity entered into, amended, or renewed after July 1, 2022 shall be void and unenforceable. Effective July 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or third-party payer and a 340B entity or 340B pharmacy shall not contain specified provisions. Provides that a violation by a pharmacy benefit manager constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance, and that a provision that violates the prohibition on certain provisions in a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or a third-party payer and a 340B entity that is entered into, amended, or renewed after July 1, 2022 shall be void and unenforceable. In provisions concerning pharmacy benefit managers, provides that the provisions apply to contracts entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2022 (rather than July 1, 2020). Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning pharmacy benefits, provides that a Medicaid managed care organization or pharmacy benefit manager administering or managing benefits on behalf of a Medicaid managed organization shall not include specified provisions in a contract with a 340B entity or 340B pharmacy. Provides that a provision that violates the prohibition on certain provisions in a contract between a Medicaid managed care organization or its pharmacy benefit manager and a 340B entity entered into, amended, or renewed after July 1, 2022 shall be void and unenforceable. Effective July 1, 2022.

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.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school counseling services may include the promotion of career and technical education by assisting each student to determine an appropriate postsecondary plan based upon the student's skills, strengths, and goals and assisting the student to implement the best practices that improve career or workforce readiness after high school. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the school counseling services of developing individual career plans with students and assisting all students with a college or postsecondary education plan includes planning for postsecondary education, as appropriate, and engaging in related and relevant career and technical education coursework in high school.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that each regional office of the Department may hire an individual to serve as Citizen Services Coordinator. Provides that each Citizen Services Coordinator shall assist citizens in the region in seeking out and obtaining State services and shall monitor citizen inquiries to determine which services are most in demand in the region. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 605/605-1055 new Adds reference to: New Act 305 ILCS 5/12-4.11-5 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Murdered Children Funeral and Burial Assistance Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Mychal Moultry, Jr. Funeral and Burial Assistance Act. Provides that, with respect to the provision of burial rights and funeral and burial services and merchandise within the applicable scope of practice, a funeral establishment or cemetery authority is entitled to disbursement under the Act if within one year of the occurrence of the crime upon which a disbursement request is made, the funeral establishment or cemetery authority submits the request to the Department. Provides that the total amount of disbursement for funeral and burial expenses for a child victim shall be no more than $10,000, to be apportioned between the funeral establishment and cemetery authority by those eligible survivors authorized to direct the disposition of remains pursuant to the Disposition of Remains Act. Provides that the Department shall develop a brochure informing the public of the existence of funeral and burial assistance for the families of murdered children under the Act and make the brochure available on its website. Provides that any law enforcement agency that investigates an offense committed in this State shall inform the parent or guardian of the child victim concerning the availability of assistance for funeral and burial expenses under the Act and advise such persons that any information concerning the Act may be obtained from the Department. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall by rule administer the Murdered Children Funeral and Burial Assistance Program. Provides that the Department of Human Services, beginning July 1, 2023 and subject to appropriation, shall make eligibility determinations and make disbursements for eligible cases to a funeral establishment or cemetery authority as provided under the Murdered Children Funeral and Burial Assistance Act. Effective immediately.