Rep. Lilian Jiménez

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Provides that upon approval of a charter renewal by an authorizer, the charter operator shall execute the renewal agreement no later than 90 days after the date of the authorizer's final renewal approval. Provides that a charter school that is deemed nonrenewed is ineligible to receive any payments from a school district. Provides that a charter operator that fails to execute a renewal agreement within a specified period may not continue to operate the charter school beyond the expiration of the existing charter term and is subject to closure procedures. Requires every charter operator to maintain closure security. Provides that failure to maintain closure security is a basis for the authorizer to withhold a portion of per-pupil payments until compliance is achieved and for consideration in denying a charter renewal or revoking the charter or ineligibility to operate additional charter campuses. Provides that if the closure security is insufficient to cover the costs of a closure event, the authorizer or the State Board of Education may bring a civil action against the charter operator to recover the unpaid amounts and seek to impose a lien on any property owned by the charter operator to secure recovery. Provides that if an authorizer determines that a charter school is in financial distress, the authorizer may require the charter operator to submit a financial remediation plan within 30 days. Provides that if the authorizer determines that the charter school has failed to implement an approved remediation plan or the financial distress presents an immediate risk to students, employees, or public funds, the authorizer may initiate financial intervention by appointing an independent fiscal manager approved by the authorizer and the State Board. Allows the fiscal manager to exercise authority limited to financial matters. Provides that financial intervention is temporary and may not exceed 180 days, except that the authorizer may extend the intervention once for good cause. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 4811 prohibits all Illinois public high schools from starting classes before 8:30 a.m. This law directly affects every public high school in the state by requiring a minimum start time. The bill amends the School Code to establish this specific time requirement, replacing any existing earlier start times. It creates a concrete policy change with no exceptions specified in the current text. The law applies uniformly to all public high schools under Illinois education regulations.

Amends the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act. Requires the Department of Natural Resources, after consulting with the Illinois Prescribed Fire Council and the Department of Insurance, to adopt rules establishing a Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Pilot Program for the purpose of providing, for a period of 6 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, coverage for losses incurred by eligible persons as a result of prescribed burns conducted in accordance with the Act by certified prescribed burn managers. Sets forth programmatic requirements for the pilot program. Creates the Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Fund. Allows the Department to impose and collect specified premiums and fees to implement and administer the Act and to maintain the solvency of the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be expended by the Department for purposes of the Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Pilot Program and its administration and for no other purpose. Allows the Department to contract with any entity to serve as the third-party administrator of the program and to assist in administering the Fund. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act shall not be construed to limit the liability of a person who is enrolled in the pilot program for damages in excess of the cap established by the Department by rule. Further provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act shall not be construed to impose liability on the State for any payment of any claim beyond the amount of moneys available in the Fund. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Provides that in any eviction proceeding in which the trier of fact determines that the tenant has complied with the terms of the last written and signed lease as to the amount and timeliness of rent payments, the proceedings shall be sealed.

Amends the Landlord Tenant Act. Provides for a "pet fee" or "pet deposit" (any nonrecurring, refundable fee or charge paid at the beginning of a tenancy to allow a pet to remain at the property for the duration of the tenancy) and "pet rent" (any recurring, non-refundable fee or charge paid to allow a pet to remain at the property for the duration of the tenancy). Provides that a landlord may charge a tenant either a pet fee or pet rent, but not both. Provides that pet rent may not exceed 1% of the tenant's monthly rent or $35, whichever is less. Provides that a pet fee or a pet deposit is refundable and may not exceed 15% of the tenant's monthly rent or $350, whichever is less. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to provide that a landlord who violates these new provisions violates the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act. Applies to leases or agreements executed after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority shall make grants to nonprofit corporations for housing counseling services, subject to appropriation for that purpose and in accordance with rules adopted by the Authority.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that required notification by the court under the Act does not prevent the Department of Juvenile Justice from exercising its release authority under the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, if a youth is released to aftercare supervision prior to the date set by the court for reporting, the Department shall ensure that a report is given to the court that complies with the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Department shall also make reasonable efforts to facilitate the youth's appearance in court, if required. Provides that, if the court sets a court date after a youth's anticipated release from a Department facility, this does not prevent the Department from exercising its release authority under the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if a youth is released to aftercare supervision prior to the date set by the court for the youth's return, the Department shall make reasonable efforts to facilitate the youth's appearance in court.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that all housing assistance payments payable from funds appropriated to the Department of Human Services in State Fiscal Year 2027 for the purpose of providing ongoing housing assistance to long-term care residents seeking to transition to less restrictive community housing shall be structured to ensure that housing assistance recipients pay no more than 30% of their income as housing costs and may relocate to a different residence that meets applicable Department rules without losing eligibility for such housing assistance payments. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Lead-Safe Water for Families Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall establish and administer a program to provide lead-reducing water filters at no cost to Medicaid-eligible households with children or expectant mothers. Requires outreach, application procedures, and rulemaking. Requires annual reporting to the General Assembly. Declares findings and states the purpose of the Act. Defines terms.

Creates the Global Hospital Budget Authority Act. Defines terms. Established the Global Hospital Budget Authority as a Division of the Department of Public Health. Provides that the powers and duties of the Authority shall be vested in and exercised by the Global Hospital Budget Board, which shall have the sole power to employ staff, including an executive director, legal counsel, consultants, or any other staff deemed necessary by the Board to effectuate the purposes of the Act. Provides that individuals employed by the Board shall not be employees of the State for any purpose, including for purposes of compensation, pension benefits, or retirement. Sets forth provisions concerning membership requirements; powers and duties of the Board; roles of participating payers; roles of participant hospitals; data collection and retention; confidentiality of data, contracts, and agreements; and the Global Hospital Budget Fund. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that, in reviewing and issuing permits and licenses, the Department shall accept, as factors that satisfy staffing and service-line presence requirements, one or a combination of the following alternative mechanisms if the Department finds that patient safety and continuity of care are maintained: (i) on-site staffing by appropriately licensed clinicians; (ii) written and operative affiliation agreements meeting standards adopted by the Department that provide timely specialty coverage; (iii) documented telemedicine coverage that meets certain standards; or (iv) a waiver issued under certain provisions for a rural or critical access hospital. In provisions concerning requirements for the employment of physicians, provides that employing entities may employ physicians to practice medicine in all of its branches if employment, privileging, and oversight requirements are met. Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; certificates of exemption for change of ownership of a health care facility; applications for permit for discontinuation of a health care facility or category of service; and the powers and duties of State Board. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.