Rep. Will Guzzardi

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, every public high school shall require a unit of instruction addressing climate change in either a required science class or a required social studies class. Sets forth what the unit of instruction shall include. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or the Director's designee, shall prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials and professional development training for educators that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public high school shall include instruction on climate change and the impacts and causes of climate change in grades 9 through 12 in specified courses. Provides that the State Board of Education shall convene a working group of students, educators, and experts in the area of climate change. Sets forth the membership of the working group. Sets forth tasks for the working group concerning State learning standards. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education shall prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials and professional development training for educators that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for at-home, urine-based pregnancy tests that are prescribed to the covered person, regardless of whether the tests are otherwise available over-the-counter.

Maddy summaryThis law creates a new program within the Department of Juvenile Justice designed specifically for young adults aged 18 to 22 who are currently held in adult correctional facilities. It allows eligible individuals to be transferred to juvenile facilities to participate in these emerging adult programs, provided the move follows specific federal guidelines. The transfer process requires written approval from the directors of both the Juvenile Justice and Corrections departments, and the two agencies must create an agreement to set rules for who qualifies and how transfers are handled.

Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that if a county government does not have a local health department, the county government shall enter into an agreement or contract with an adjacent local health department to register cottage food operations in the county's jurisdiction. Provides that the adjacent local health department where the cottage food operation registers has the power to take specified actions pertaining to complaints, inspections, fees, and penalties. Makes a conforming change.

Creates the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, hotels with 50 rooms or more and, beginning January 1, 2026, hotels with less than 50 rooms may not provide small single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products to either (i) a customer of the establishment who is staying in a sleeping room accommodation or any space within the sleeping room accommodation or (ii) a customer of the establishment who is using a bathroom shared by the public or guests. Establishes civil penalties. Defines terms.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning charitable exemptions granted to limited liability companies, removes a requirement that the limited liability company must be a disregarded entity for federal and Illinois income tax purposes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a health plan shall limit the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for a covered prescription inhaler at an amount not to exceed $25 per 30-day supply and shall limit the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for all covered prescription inhalers at an amount not to exceed $50 in total per 30 days. Provides that coverage for prescription inhalers shall not be subject to any deductible. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents a health plan from reducing a covered person's cost sharing to an amount less than the cap. Authorizes rulemaking and enforcement by the Department of Insurance. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Subsidized Housing Joint Occupancy Act. Provides that an elderly parent with an adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex shall not be required to occupy subsidized housing with only one bedroom. Provides that exceptions to the largest permissible unit size for subsidized housing shall be made when the elderly parent and adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Defines "research" to have the meaning that is ascribed to it in HIPAA and the Code of Federal Regulations. Changes the consent form to delete the requirement that the signature of the person giving consent or revocation of a consent does not have to be witnessed by a person who can attest to the identity of the person signing. Provides that records and communications may be disclosed for research in accordance with the requirements set forth under HIPAA and the Code of Federal Regulations.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall maintain and operate, or contract for (instead of being empowered to establish, maintain, and operate or contract for) the operation of a permanent statewide residential education facility (instead of statewide service center), known as the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Provides that the State Board of Education shall include a line item in its budget to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Limits the specified services provided by the Philip J. Rock Center and School to eligible deaf-blind persons of all ages to being subject to appropriated funding for those specified services. Makes changes concerning provided services. Provides that for the purposes of employment, the Philip J. Rock Center and School shall be considered its own employer. Provides that the State Board of Education shall appoint a Chief Administrator of the Philip J. Rock Center and School who shall be employed by the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Specifies the duties of the Chief Administrator. Sets forth provisions concerning a student with an individualized education program at the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes changes concerning the Advisory Board for the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes other changes.