Rep. Will Guzzardi

Declares the State of Illinois should take the lead on issues of Pan-Africanism, citizenship in Africa, and reparatory justice, and the State should champion the Eighth Pan-African Congress Part 1 (8PAC1) and its agenda to develop a continental-wide diaspora citizenship plan, establish the African Diaspora as the 6th Region of the African Union (AU), and determine a permanent headquarters for the 6th Region. Calls upon the State to immediately, through its African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission (ADCRC), provide matrilineal and patrilineal DNA testing through African ancestry to determine the ancestral lineages and territories of origin of its Black residents so that they can seek citizenship in their ancestral homelands, if so desired. Calls upon the State to become the first to conduct a repatriation census in preparation for honoring President Abraham Lincoln's desire for voluntary repatriation with compensation and to make conducting the repatriation census its immediate priority.

Amends the Rebuild Illinois Mental Health Workforce Act. In a provision concerning Medicaid funding for community mental health services, sets forth rate increases, to begin on and after January 1, 2024, for the following rates and services: the Mobile Crisis Response Medicaid Payment rate for all services provided under the S9484 procedure code; the Crisis Intervention Medicaid Payment rate for all levels of services provided under the H2011 procedure code; the Integrated Assessment and Treatment Planning Medicaid Payment rate for all levels of services provided under the H2000 procedure code; the Group and Family Therapy Medicaid Payment rate for all levels of services provided under the H0004 procedure code; the Community Support - Group Medicaid Payment rate for all levels of services provided under the H2015 procedure code; the Telepsychiatry Originating Site Medicaid Payment rate for services provided under the Q3014 procedure code; and the Medication Monitoring Medicaid Payment rate for services provided under the H2010 procedure code for medication monitoring provided by a physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, and all other levels of provider. Provides that no base Medicaid rate payment or any other payment for the provision of Medicaid community mental health services in place on January 1, 2023 shall be diminished or changed to make the reimbursement changes required by the amendatory Act. Provides that any payments required under the amendatory Act that are delayed due to implementation challenges or federal approval shall be made retroactive to January 1, 2024 for the full amount required by the amendatory Act.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning October 1, 2023 (rather than October 1, 2018), the Department of Human Services shall increase Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant amounts in effect on September 30, 2023 (rather than September 30, 2018) to at least 50% (rather than 30%) of the most recent United States Department of Health and Human Services Federal Poverty Guidelines for each family size. Provides that beginning October 1, 2024 (rather than October 1, 2019), and each October 1 thereafter, the maximum benefit levels shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to at least 50% (rather than 30%) of the most recent federal poverty guidelines for each family size. Effective October 1, 2023.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2023, and each State fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall increase the Prospective Payment System rates for federally qualified health centers by $100,000,000 using an alternative payment method acceptable to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and a trade association representing a majority of federally qualified health centers operating in Illinois, including a rate increase that is an equal percentage increase to the rates paid to each federally qualified health center. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, removes language that provides that the State Board of Education may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the moneys appropriated for the Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Provides that if the appropriation for the Program for a given fiscal year is less than $15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to certain school districts and shall impose additional eligibility criteria to limit the number of approved applicants to a cohort sufficient for each selected district to provide adequate training and ongoing coaching support to each teacher of students in grades K through 2 and special education teachers and evidence-based curriculum investments. Removes language that provides that programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom reading instruction. Provides that Program funds may be used for grades K through 6 to provide both evidence-based, high-quality core literacy curriculum materials that consider the unique needs of English learners for concurrent oral language practice and high-quality screening assessments designed to inform instruction in English language arts and literacy for students (instead of classroom reading materials for students). Sets forth other provisions concerning if the appropriation is less than $15,000,000 or is at least $15,000,000.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health, to allow for hospital presumptive eligibility for medical assistance for individuals presenting in hospital emergency rooms who are in a psychiatric crisis and meet the federal criteria for hospital presumptive eligibility. Requires the Department and the Division of Mental Health, with meaningful stakeholder input, to develop a process by which those individuals are referred to a community-based mental health provider, or any other appropriate organization, to facilitate enrollment in the medical assistance program immediately following hospital or emergency room discharge and a referral for community-based treatment. Provides that if the Department's Illinois Continuity of Care and Administrative Simplification 1115 Waiver, which includes waiving the federal requirement of hospital presumptive eligibility for medical assistance, is required to be amended to implement the amendatory Act, then the Department shall amend the 1115 Waiver within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2024 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $4.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for ID/DD facilities and MC/DD facilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2024 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $4.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services emergency rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Creates the Transition and Emergency Home Services Article. Provides that within 4 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Human Services shall create a program to provide nursing services and assistance with activities of daily living sufficient to allow individuals who otherwise qualify for placement in a nursing facility to receive short-term services in the community. Provides that the short-term services shall cover both: (1) emergency home services for individuals currently receiving home services who experience a temporary need for a substitute personal assistant because of the unavailability of their other home services providers; and (2) short-term services to bridge periods between release from medical or institutional settings and establishment of long-term home services under a State waiver or other arrangements that allow the individual to live in the community. Provides that a person receiving benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act and residing in a facility, shall receive a personal needs allowance of $90 per monthly, with the Department providing $60 per month in addition to the amount required under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. Provides that facility owners, management, and employees are prohibited from retaliating against facility residents or employees who complain about facility services, including the facility's physical condition, medical care, social supports and services, access to visitation and time outside the facility, and any other attribute connected to a resident's experience of living in a facility. Makes other changes.

Declares March 14, 2023 as "Equal Pay Day". Encourages the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.