Rep. Jaime Andrade

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow tow trucks to use red, blue, and white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights while operators are performing official duties. The change directly affects tow truck companies and drivers who need these lights to warn other motorists of hazardous conditions or stationary vehicles. By updating the list of vehicles authorized to use such lighting, the legislation clarifies that tow trucks now have the same visual signaling rights as other emergency vehicles. This update does not alter existing penalties for drivers who fail to yield to emergency vehicles or change the rules for which specific colors can be used, as those provisions remain unchanged.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an incorrect response to a question on the written portion of the driver's license examination concerning driver responsibilities when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle shall be deemed an automatic failure of the written portion of the driver's license examination. Provides that the Secretary of State shall allow an applicant to retake the written portion of the driver's license examination the same day if the reason for failing was due to selecting an incorrect response relating to such a question.

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 Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires registration stickers issued as evidence of renewed registration issued by the Secretary of State to be displayed on the upper right corner of the rear registration plate or in a manner otherwise provided by the Secretary. Provides that registration stickers issued to truck-tractors shall be displayed on the upper right corner of the front registration plate or in a manner otherwise provided by the Secretary. Makes changes to other provisions concerning the definitions of "low-speed gas bicycle" and "pedestrian", the removal or towing of motor vehicles, antique vehicles and expanded-use antique vehicles, spot lamps and auxiliary driving lamps, stop and yield signs, crash notifications, police reporting of motor vehicle crash investigations, signal lamps and signal devices, use of head lamps and auxiliary driving lamps, when lighted lamps or required, street racing, duty to give information and render aid, operation of motorcycle and similar vehicles, fees for furnishing copies, overtaking on the right, and police escort fees.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. In the definition of "conviction", provides that "conviction" means a judgment of conviction and sentence entered upon a plea of guilty or upon a verdict or finding of guilty of an offense, rendered by a legally constituted jury or by a court of competent jurisdiction authorized to try the case without a jury (rather than a judgment of conviction or sentence). Provides that if judgment is withheld, the plea, verdict, or finding of guilty is not a conviction under Illinois law unless and until judgment is entered. Amends the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Provides that for the first-time offender provisions of those Acts, a sentence under those provisions shall not be considered a conviction under Illinois law unless and until judgment is entered for a violation of the terms of the probation. Provides that a sentence (rather than discharge and dismissal) is not a conviction for purposes of disqualification or disabilities imposed by law upon conviction of a crime unless and until judgment is entered. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes the same changes with respect to the Second Chance Probation Program and the First Time Weapon Offense Program.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires that upon approaching an emergency scene, a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, or a construction or maintenance area or zone, a person who drives a vehicle shall, proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than 2 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle reduce the speed of the vehicle to a speed that is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway to avoid a collision and leaving a safe distance until safely past the stationary authorized emergency vehicle, or construction or maintenance area or zone. Provides that if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle to a speed that is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway to avoid a collision, or until safely past the construction or maintenance area or zone.

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 Transportation Cooperation Act of 1971, the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Bi-State Development Agency Act, and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that a railroad passenger service, a Transportation Service Association, the Department of Transportation, the Regional Transportation Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority shall issue an annual report on or before December 31 of each year containing all rail safety recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board during the previous 12 months and the status of the entity's implementation of those recommendations. Provides that the Federal Railroad Corporation (also known as Amtrak) and the Bi-State Development Agency may issue a similar report. Provides that a report issued under the provisions shall be made publicly available on the website of the entity. Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates $35,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for the New Arrival Student Grant Program. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. In provisions concerning the College Savings Pool, provides that an account may be rolled over into a Roth IRA account, to the extent permitted by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. In provisions concerning the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, provides that the definition of "eligible child" includes a child born or adopted after December 31, 2022, to a parent who is a resident of Illinois at the time of the birth or adoption, as evidenced by documentation received by the Treasurer from a parent or legal guardian of the child. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.