Rep. Will Guzzardi

Creates the Illinois Rust Belt to Green Belt Pilot Program Act. Creates the Illinois Rust Belt to Green Belt Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Provides that the Fund shall be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to encourage and facilitate the employment of construction workforces located in underrepresented populations. Provides that applicants that are applying for a new utility-scale offshore wind project with the Illinois Power Agency shall file with the Department, as part of the applicant's application, an equity and inclusion plan. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions concerning the procurement of renewable energy credits, provides that in addition to the amount of renewable energy credits to be procured from wind projects, the Illinois Power Agency shall procure at least 700,000 renewable energy credits, delivered annually for at least 20 years, from one new utility-scale offshore wind project. In provisions concerning the development of a long-term renewable resources procurement plan, provides that the total of renewable energy resources procured under the procurement plan shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the amount necessary to limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by eligible retail customers in connection with electric service to no more than 4.25% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2009, and to no more than 4.5% of that amount as of the billing month following the expected date that a new utility-scale offshore wind project commences commercial operations and is expected to begin delivering power to the PJM Interconnection, LLC transmission grid. Provides that the Agency shall conduct at least one new utility-scale offshore wind procurement within 360 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Motor Vehicle Insurance Fairness Act. Provides that no insurer shall refuse to issue or renew a policy of automobile insurance based in whole or in part on specified prohibited underwriting or rating factors. Sets forth factors that are prohibited with respect to underwriting and rating a policy of automobile insurance. Sets forth provisions concerning the use of territorial factors. Provides that every insurer selling a policy of automobile insurance in the State shall demonstrate that its marketing, underwriting, rating, claims handling, fraud investigations, and any algorithm or model used for those business practices do not disparately impact any group of customers based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, or gender expression. Provides that no rate shall be approved or remain in effect that is excessive, inadequate, unfairly discriminatory, or otherwise in violation of the provisions. Provides that every insurer that desires to change any rate shall file a complete rate application with the Director of Insurance. Provides that all information provided to the Director under the provisions shall be available for public inspection. Provides that any person may initiate or intervene in any proceeding permitted or established under the provisions and challenge any action of the Director under the provisions. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall adopt rules. Provides that all insurers subject to the provisions shall be assessed a fee of 0.05% of their total earned premium from the prior calendar year, and that the fee shall be payable to the Department no later than July 1 of each calendar year and shall be used by the Department to implement the provisions.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police may (rather than shall) mail verification letters to registered sex offenders. Provides that the Illinois State Police may adopt rules to allow for the use of an electronic registration portal to comply with the verification letters. Provides that the Illinois State Police may (rather than shall) mail an annual nonforwardable verification letter, beginning one year from the date of his or her last registration. Requires that registration of a sex offender shall (rather than may) include a submission of the sex offender's fingerprints and may, subject to appropriation, include the palm prints, and a current photograph of the person which shall be updated at each registration (rather than annually). Deletes a provision that the registration information must include whether the person is a sex offender as defined in the Sex Offender Community Notification Law. Provides that the registering agency shall enter the information into the Illinois State Police Sex Offender database (rather than the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS)). Provides that the Illinois State Police may, subject to appropriation for this purpose, establish an electronic registration portal to be used by sex offenders and law enforcement to comply with the Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police may, subject to appropriation for this purpose, establish an electronic registration portal to be utilized by sex offenders and law enforcement to comply with the Act. Deletes a provision that the Illinois State Police shall establish and promulgate rules and procedures regarding the administration of this Fund. Deletes a provision that 50% of the moneys in the Fund shall be allocated for sheriffs' offices and police departments and that the remaining moneys in the Fund received shall be allocated to the Illinois State Police for education and administration of the Act. Provides that moneys in the Offender Registration Fund shall be allocated pursuant to the registration and penalty provisions of the Act, respectively

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act. Requires the State Employees Group Insurance Program to provide coverage for all FDA-approved treatments or medications prescribed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease or another related dementia, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Provides that diagnostic testing necessary for a physician to determine the appropriate use of treatments or medications shall be covered by the State Employees Group Insurance Program.

Creates the Child Labor Law of 2024. Reinserts provisions of the Child Labor Law. Sets forth additional provisions concerning definitions; exemptions; employer requirements; restrictions on employment of minors; employment certificates; civil penalties; and criminal penalties. Repeals the Child Labor Law. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2025, except provisions concerning minors featured in vlogs and trust funds are effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Requires a summons issued in an action to collect a debt to include a separate notice containing specified language. Provides that the amount of wages that may be applied toward a judgment is limited to the lesser of 10% (rather than 15%) of gross weekly wages or the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed the total of 80 (rather than 45) times the State minimum hourly wage or the federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is greater. Provides that the amount of payment owed to or received by the judgment debtor under an independent contractor relationship that may be applied toward a judgment is limited to the lesser of 10% of gross weekly wages or the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed the total of 100 times the State minimum hourly wage or the federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is greater. Provides that when assets or income of the judgment debtor not exempt from the satisfaction of a judgment, deduction order, or garnishment are discovered, the court may order the unfreezing or return of wages or assets to the debtor under specified circumstances. Provides that a consumer debt judgment may not (rather than may) be revived and shall expire after 7 years from the date of entry. Provides that every individual is entitled to an estate of homestead to the extent in value of the modern homestead exemption (rather than $15,000) as applied to his or her interest in specified property. Defines "modern homestead exemption" as the greater of $260,000 and the most recently available median sales price of a home in the debtor's metropolitan statistical area or county. Expands the list of personal property that is exempt from judgment, attachment, or distress for rent, including an increase in the value of the property. Provides that with respect to any consumer debt judgment, no person or entity may recover interest accumulated on any indebtedness that the person or entity knew or should have known the cause of action accrued, if an action on that indebtedness is not brought within 5 years after the cause of action accrued. Makes conforming and other changes in the Act and the Illinois Wage Assignment Act.

Creates the Safe Patient Limits Act. Provides the maximum number of patients that may be assigned to a registered nurse in specified situations. Provides that nothing shall preclude a facility from assigning fewer patients to a registered nurse than the limits provided in Act. Provides that nothing in the Act precludes the use of patient acuity systems consistent with the Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act; however, the maximum patient assignments in the Act may not be exceeded, regardless of the use and application of any patient acuity system. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules governing the implementation and operation of the Act. Provides that all facilities shall adopt written policies and procedures for training and orientation of nursing staff and that no registered nurse shall be assigned to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has, among other things, demonstrated competence in providing care in that area. Provides specified requirements for the Act's implementation by a facility. Establishes recordkeeping requirements. Provides that the written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff shall require that all temporary personnel receive the same amount and type of training and orientation that is required for permanent staff. Provides specified nurse rights and protections. Provides that the Act's provisions are severable. Contains other provisions. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the exercise of professional judgment by a direct care registered professional nurse in the performance of his or her scope of practice shall be provided in the exclusive interests of the patient.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires insurance policies to be written in language easily readable and understandable by a person of average intelligence and education. Provides the factors the Director of Insurance shall consider in making the determination that the policy is easily readable and understandable by a person of average intelligence and education.

Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program Act. Creates within the Department of Human Services a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program to provide grants to mental health facilities and substance use disorder treatment programs. Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that money in the Fund shall be used by the Secretary of the Department to make grants to eligible mental health facilities and substance use disorder treatment programs. Requires grant recipients to use grant funds for expenses related to recruiting, retaining, and compensating licensed mental health or substance use disorder professionals. Provides that each grant recipient shall receive up to $200,000 in grant funding for each mental health or substance use disorder professional employed, engaged, or contracted by the recipient. Contains provisions concerning application requirements and Department rulemaking authority. Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that the amendatory provisions may be referred to as the Equity in Accessibility Law. Requires the Department to provide funding and reimbursement for those costs associated with the provision of American Sign Language services and interpretive services for non-English speaking patients at substance use disorder treatment programs and facilities. Provides that funding and reimbursement shall be based upon the actual cost incurred by the substance use disorder treatment program or facility and shall reflect regional differences in costs and expenses related to the provision of American Sign Language and interpretive services at each location. Contains provisions on applications requirements and Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2025, rates for psychiatric evaluations performed by community mental health centers and substance use disorder treatment providers and practitioners as set forth on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' Practitioner Fee Schedule shall be increased to $237.57. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2025, rates for medication monitoring performed by community mental health centers and substance use disorder treatment providers and practitioners as set forth on the Department's Practitioner Fee Schedule shall be increased to $140.77 per quarter hour. Provides that no existing or future reimbursement rates or add-ons shall be reduced or changed to address these rate increases. Provides that no later than October 1, 2024, the Department shall submit any necessary application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver or State Plan amendment to implement the requirements of the amendatory Act. Provides that beginning in State Fiscal Year 2025, and every State fiscal year thereafter, reimbursement rates for those community-based mental health and substance use disorder services shall be adjusted upward by an amount equal to the Consumer Price Index-U from the previous year, not to exceed 5% in any State fiscal year. Effective immediately.