Rep. Lilian Jiménez

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that a license under the Act shall be automatically granted to an individual who has graduated from an approved program of professional nursing education or an approved program of practical nursing education, as applicable to the license being granted; passed a criminal background check with the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation; and completed and passed an examination specific to State laws that regulate the nursing profession as an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or registered nurse. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to adopt rules.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In provisions concerning the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, removes a provision requiring the Department of Human Services to report quarterly to the Governor and the General Assembly on the status of obligations and expenditures of the WIC nutrition program appropriation and make recommendations on actions necessary to expend all available federal funds. Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions requiring the Department of Human Services to enter into intergovernmental agreements with the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Cook County Department of Corrections, and the office of the sheriff of every other county, removes a requirement that the Department conduct monthly exchanges of information with the specified agencies in order to determine if an assistance unit receiving public aid includes an individual who is an inmate of a correctional institution, facility, or jail. Removes a requirement that the Department of Human Services exchange information with the office of the sheriff of every county and instead requires the Department to exchange information with the office of the sheriff to the extent available. Requires the Department to review each individual prior to authorizing benefits at application and redetermination to verify eligibility for benefits under the Code (rather than requiring the Department to review each month the entire list of individuals generated by the monthly exchange and verify the eligibility for benefits under the Code for each individual on the list).

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 in this State shall provide coverage for medically necessary hormone therapy treatment to treat menopause (instead of to treat menopause that has been induced by a hysterectomy). Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no insurer, dental service plan corporation, professional service corporation, insurance network leasing company, or any company that amends, delivers, issues, or renews an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall require a dental care provider to incur a fee to access and obtain payment or reimbursement for services provided. Provides that a dental plan carrier shall provide a dental care provider with 100% of the contracted amount of the payment or reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Adds definitions. Provides that the minimum ratio for each provider type shall be no less than any such ratio established for qualified health plans in Federally-Facilitated Exchanges by federal law or by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Provides that the maximum travel time and distance standards and appointment wait time standards shall be no greater than any such standards established for qualified health plans in Federally-Facilitated Exchanges by federal law or by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Makes changes to provisions concerning network adequacy, notice of nonrenewal or termination, transition of services, network transparency, administration and enforcement, provider requirements, and provider directory information. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning notice of nonrenewal or termination and transition of services. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize the Department of Insurance to adopt emergency rules implementing federal standards for provider ratios, time and distance, or appointment wait times when such standards apply to health insurance coverage regulated by the Department of Insurance and are more stringent than the State standards extant at the time the final federal standards are published. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Exotic Weed Act. Changes the title of the Act to the Illinois Exotic Weeds Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall determine the plants that are exotic weeds for the purposes of the Act and shall compile and keep current a list of such exotic weeds, which list shall be published and incorporated in the rules of the Department. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may (rather than shall) issue permits to buy, sell, offer for sale, distribute, or plant seeds, plants, or plant parts of exotic weeds pursuant to administrative rule. Provides that the Department, by rule, shall exempt varieties of any species listed in Department rule. Provides that, for the control of exotic weeds, a municipality may adopt an ordinance to eradicate exotic weeds listed in the rules of the Department. Deletes the listing of specified exotic weeds from the Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes.

Appropriates $15,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for costs associated with the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates $209,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for costs associated with the Healthy School Meals for All Program. Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates $16,358,900 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services Rehabilitation Services Bureau for grants to independent living centers. Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates funds from the General Revenue Fund to the governing board of each public university for personal services and the related costs of increasing the wage rates of university personnel employed in positions covered under the State Universities Civil Service System, beyond the annual cost of living adjustment, adjustments provided for in collective bargaining agreements, and any increases required by the Minimum Wage Law, in a fair and equitable manner so as to close the pay gap between public university workers and other State employees. Effective July 1, 2024.