Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, in accordance with federal guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall exempt from electronic visit verification requirements all live-in caregivers who provide Medicaid-funded personal care services or home health care services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan or a waiver of the plan, including personal care services and home health care services provided under various home and community-based services waiver programs authorized under the Social Security Act. Defines "live-in caregiver". Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Government Electronic Records Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Protect Health Data Privacy Act. Provides that a regulated entity shall disclose and maintain a health data privacy policy that, in plain language, clearly and conspicuously disclosures specified information. Provides that a regulated entity shall prominently publish its health data privacy policy on its website homepage. Provides that a regulated entity shall not collect, share, sell, or store categories of health data not disclosed in the health data privacy policy without first disclosing the categories of health data and obtaining the consumer's consent prior to the collection, sharing, selling, or storing of such data. Prohibits the collection, sharing, selling, or storing of health data. Describes the regulated entity's duty to obtain consent; the consumer's right to withdraw consent; prohibitions on discrimination; prohibitions on geofencing; a private right of action; enforcement by the Attorney General; and conflicts with other laws. Makes other changes.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the effect of Article, Part, and Section headings.

Creates the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce Act. Establishes the GROW Illinois Program, in which public institutions of higher education award incentive loans to applicants. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may, each year, administer applications for assistance under the GROW Illinois Program. Sets forth qualifications for recipients, degrees, and jobs. Provides for loan repayment and rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (GROW) Illinois Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Teacher Article: provides that through June 30, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2023), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year; deletes language concerning an additional 20 days or 100 paid hours that an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status for the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022; and provides that a person may receive optional credit for certain periods of service as a student teacher. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20) of the Code. In the definition of "pension credit", provides that the one-year limitation does not apply to persons who acquire credit as a substitute teacher covered under the Downstate Teacher Article and reach retirement eligibility under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Mental Health Equity Access and Prevention Act. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Public Health shall undertake a public educational campaign to bring broad public awareness to communities across the State on the importance of mental health and wellness. 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 on or after January 1, 2025 shall cover all medically necessary out-of-network mental health visits, treatment, and services provided by a mental health provider or facility. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for 2 annual mental health prevention and wellness visits for children and for adults. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall not require the diagnosis of a mental, emotional, or nervous disorder or condition to establish medical necessity for mental health care, services, or treatment. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall contract with an independent third party with expertise in analyzing commercial insurance premiums and costs to perform an independent analysis of the impact of the coverage of services pursuant to the provisions has had on insurance premiums. Provides that the Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions by no later than October 31, 2024. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning in-service training, provides that the training program shall cover professional educator licensees, educational support personnel, and non-licensed school personnel (instead of teachers) Provides that professional educator licensees, educational support personnel, and non-licensed school personnel who work with pupils must be trained in the following topics at least once every 5 years: prevalent health conditions of students, social-emotional learning practices and standards, developing cultural competency, identifying warning signs of mental illness, trauma, and suicidal behavior in youth, domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth, working with exceptional students, educator ethics, and child sexual abuse and grooming behavior. Sets forth requirements regarding the contents of the training, and resources available. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2024, all educators shall be required to complete the previously specified training at least once each 5-year renewal cycle. Amends various other Articles of the School Code, the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act, the Care of Students with Diabetes Act, and the Seizure Smart School Act to make conforming changes. Makes other changes.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for the purposes of computing service for academic years for any participant, one month of service means a calendar month during which the participant qualifies as an employee for any fraction of the month (instead of at least 15 or more days). Provides that the change applies to all service periods of a member who is a participant on or after January 1, 2024, except for certain service periods subject to purchases of service credit, repayment of a refund or distribution, or transfers of service if payment for such purchase, repayment, or transfer commenced prior to January 1, 2024. Provides that a provision concerning calculating a retirement annuity for a participant who has been employed at 1/2 time or less for 3 or more years shall not apply to a member who is a participant on or after January 1, 2024. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Includes the use of alternative nicotine products and electronic cigarettes in the definition of "smoke" or "smoking". Defines "electronic cigarette", "nicotine", and "tobacco product". Effective January 1, 2024.