Rep. Terra Costa Howard

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a technical correction to the State Revenue Sharing Act by changing a specific time period from three years to ten years. The amendment directly affects the short title section of the law regarding revenue sharing. This change does not alter the underlying financial rules or how funds are distributed, but it updates the text to reflect a longer duration. The legislation was approved by the Governor and will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as HEALTH-TECH, establishes a framework for implementing universal mental health screenings for students in Illinois public schools from kindergarten through grade 12. It requires the State Board of Education to submit a report with implementation recommendations by December 2023 and to release a strategy for measuring district readiness by October 2024, with a final plan due by April 2025. Additionally, the legislation repeals the previous Wellness Checks in Schools Program Act and strengthens protections for Medicaid enrollees by ensuring managed care organizations cover emergency services without requiring prior approval and by setting specific rules for post-stabilization care payments.

Creates the Increasing Representation of Women in Technology Task Force Act, and creates the Increasing Representation of Women in Technology Task Force. Includes provisions concerning Task Force membership, meetings, and duties. Provides that the State of Illinois Office of Equity shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2030. Effective immediately.

Creates the Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force Act. Provides that it is the General Assembly's intent to require a coordinated, public health, and service-integrated response by various agencies within the State's health and child welfare systems to address the substance use treatment needs of infants born with prenatal substance exposure, as well as the treatment needs of their caregivers and families, by requiring the development, provision, and monitoring of family recovery plans. Creates the Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force within the Department of Human Services. Sets forth the duties of the Task Force, including reviewing models of family recovery plans that have been implemented in other states; and reviewing and developing recommendations to replace punitive policies with notification policies for health care professionals reporting a positive toxicology screen of a newborn. Contains provisions concerning Task Force membership, meetings, reporting requirements, and other matters. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to develop a standardized CAPTA notification form that is separate and distinct from the form for written confirmation reports of child abuse or neglect. Provides that a CAPTA notification shall not be treated as a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, shall not be recorded in the State Central Registry, and shall not be discoverable or admissible as evidence in any juvenile court or adoption proceeding unless the named party waives, in writing, his or her right to confidentiality. Repeals a provision requiring the Department to report to the State's Attorney every report of a newborn infant whose blood, urine, or meconium contains a prohibited controlled substance. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Removes newborn infants whose blood, urine, or meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance from the list of children presumed neglected or abused under the Act. Makes corresponding changes to a provision listing the types of evidence that constitute prima facie evidence of neglect and to relevant provisions under the Adoption Act. Effective immediately, except that some parts take effect January 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a health plan shall limit the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for a covered prescription inhaler at an amount not to exceed $25 per 30-day supply and shall limit the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for all covered prescription inhalers at an amount not to exceed $50 in total per 30 days. Provides that coverage for prescription inhalers shall not be subject to any deductible. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents a health plan from reducing a covered person's cost sharing to an amount less than the cap. Authorizes rulemaking and enforcement by the Department of Insurance. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services may establish or authorize a program for dispensing and distributing fentanyl test strips. Provides that the Department may acquire fentanyl test strips, train individuals in the use of fentanyl test strips, and distribute fentanyl test strips. Provides that the Department may award grants for the purchasing and distributing of fentanyl test strips. Requires every law enforcement agency and fire department that responds to emergency medical calls to possess fentanyl test strips and to distribute fentanyl test strips to the public at no charge. Permits law enforcement agencies and relevant fire departments to apply to the Department for grants to fund acquisition of fentanyl test strips and related training programs. Requires every health care facility to possess fentanyl test strips and to make available fentanyl test strips to the public. Amends the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act. Adds fentanyl test strips to the needle and hypodermic syringe access program.

Amends the Subsidized Housing Joint Occupancy Act. Provides that an elderly parent with an adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex shall not be required to occupy subsidized housing with only one bedroom. Provides that exceptions to the largest permissible unit size for subsidized housing shall be made when the elderly parent and adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Removes language providing that no maintenance shall accrue while a party is imprisoned for failure to comply with the court's order for the payment of the maintenance. Adds criteria for determining child support if a parent is unemployed or underemployed. Allows a court to impute income to a party only upon conducting an evidentiary hearing or agreement of the parties. Provides that incarceration shall not be considered voluntary unemployment for child support purposes in establishing or modifying child support. Changes the definition of "relocation" to specify that the mileage shall be measured by an internet mapping service using surface roads, and that, if the internet mapping service offers alternative routes, the alternative route that is the shortest distance shall be used. Provides that, if the underlying action in which the parenting plan or allocation judgment is approved or entered by the court and the underlying action is subsequently dismissed, the parenting plan or allocation judgment is void and unenforceable. Provides that a parenting plan or allocation judgment, once approved or entered by the court, is considered final for purposes for modification or appeal so long as the underlying action is pending. Provides that, if the court orders the parties to participate in family or individual counseling, the counseling is subject to the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Removes language providing that, if counseling is ordered, all counseling sessions are confidential, and the communications in counseling shall not be used in any manner in litigation nor relied upon by an expert appointed by the court or retained by a party. Makes other changes.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In a provision concerning children accepted for care and training under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or through a voluntary placement agreement, provides that the parents or guardians of such children (rather than the parents or guardians of the estates of such children) shall only be liable for the sums representing the charges for such care and training. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish a standard by which the ability of parents or guardians to pay for the care and training of the child shall be measured on an individual basis. Requires such standards and rules to provide: (i) that no liability exists if the family's annual income is under $100,000 or 400% of the federal poverty guidelines, whichever is greater; and (ii) that any liability shall not be contrary to the best interests of the child and shall not negatively impact the family's ability to participate in services to achieve reunification or in parent or child visitation. Requires the Department to adopt rules no later than July 1, 2025. In a provision concerning the referral of Title IV-E foster care maintenance cases to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for child support enforcement services, provides that such cases shall only be referred if the Department of Children and Family Services has conducted a thorough individualized review of the family's circumstances, including, but not limited to, the impact the referral may have on the child's best interest and the ability to achieve permanency or participate in visitation. In a provision concerning liability for parents or guardians who make false written declarations to the Department concerning their income or ability to pay for their children's Department-sponsored care and training, provides that such parents and guardians will be liable to Department to the extent liability is consistent with the standards and rules set forth in the amendatory Act.

Amends the Self-Service Storage Facility Act. Provides that a rental agreement may be delivered and accepted by electronic mail. Provides that if the occupant does not sign a written rental agreement that the owner has tendered to the occupant, the occupant's continued use of the storage space shall constitute an acceptance of the rental agreement with the same effect as if it had been signed by the occupant. Defines "default" as the failure to perform any obligation or duty set forth in the rental agreement or the Act. Includes a trailer in the types of property for which specified towing remedies are available. Provides that an occupant may not use a self-service storage facility after the owner has delivered a written notice of termination or non-renewal of the occupant's rental agreement. Provides that notice must be in person, by verified mail, or by electronic mail. Allows the owner to place reasonable restrictions on the occupant's use of the self-service storage facility before removal of personal property, including denying access to the self-service storage facility, except for the occupant to remove personal property during the owner's normal business hours. Provides that the owner may dispose of any personal property remaining at the self-service storage facility after the date provided in the written notice.