Amends the Election Code. Provides that in distribution of the remaining funds received under the federal Help America Vote Act, the State Board of Elections may make such funds available to election authorities for the maintenance of secure collection sites for the return of vote by mail ballots. Allows election authorities to establish curb-side voting for individuals to cast a ballot during early voting or on election day. Provides that an election authority's curb-side voting program shall designate at least 2 election judges from opposite parties per vehicle and the individual must have the option to mark the ballot without interference from the election judges. Requires election authorities to accept any vote by mail ballot returned, including ballots returned with insufficient or no postage. Allows election authorities to establish secure collection sites for postage-free return of vote by mail ballots. Provides for the collection and processing of vote by mail ballots submitted to collection sites. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall establish additional guidelines for the security of collection sites. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Congratulates the University of Illinois Men's Basketball Team, the Fighting Illini, on winning the 2021 Big Ten Tournament Championship.
Condemns the conduct of Illinois State Representative Chris Miller.
Commends Assistant Doorkeeper Wayne Padget of the Illinois House of Representatives for his quick thinking and decisive action on the House floor on January 10, 2021 and for his unflinching dedication to the Illinois House of Representatives.
Mourns the passing of Scott J. Helton, Ed.D.
Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that supplemental funding for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program shall be set aside on a yearly basis. Provides that local matching funding shall be required according to a sliding scale based on community size, median income, and percentage of population living below the federal poverty line (rather than community site, median income, and total property tax base). Provides that at least 25% of funding shall be directed towards projects in high-need communities, based on community median income and percentage of population living below the federal poverty line (rather than community median income and total property tax base). Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2705/2705-615 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 345/1 from Ch. 70, par. 91 40 ILCS 5/5-144 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 5-144 40 ILCS 5/5-153 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 5-153 40 ILCS 5/6-140 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-140 40 ILCS 5/6-150 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-150 820 ILCS 310/1 from Ch. 48, par. 172.36 30 ILCS 805/8.44 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Public Employee Disability Act. Provides that upon the occurrence of circumstances, directly or indirectly attributable to COVID-19, occurring on or after March 9, 2020 and on or before June 30, 2021 (instead of December 31, 2020) which would hinder the physical recovery from an injury of an eligible employee within a one-year period, the eligible employee shall be entitled to an extension of no longer than 60 days by which he or she shall continue to be paid by the employing public entity on the same basis as he or she was paid before the injury. Amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning line-of-duty death benefits and other death benefits, provides a rebuttable presumption that the death of a policeman or fireman from COVID-19 was a fatal injury while in active service if the policeman or fireman was exposed to and contracted COVID-19 on or after March 9, 2020 and on or before June 30, 2021 (instead of December 31, 2020). Amends the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Provides that the rebuttable presumption that the exposure to and contraction of COVID-19 by a COVID-19 first responder or front-line worker was causally connect to the hazards or exposures of the employee's first responder or front-line work employment if the diagnosis of COVID-19 was made on or after March 9, 2020 and on or before June 30, 2021 (instead of December 31, 2020). Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 210 ILCS 45/1-101 Adds reference to: 210 ILCS 45/2-106.1 210 ILCS 45/2-204 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4152-204 210 ILCS 45/3-202.05 210 ILCS 45/3-209 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153-209 210 ILCS 45/3-305 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153-305 210 ILCS 45/3-305.8 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Removes language that requires light intermediate care to be staffed at the same staffing ratio as intermediate care. Provides that for purposes of minimum staffing ratios, all residents shall be classified as requiring either skilled care or intermediate care. Defines "intermediate care" and "skilled care". Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules on or before January 1, 2020 establishing a system for determining compliance with minimum direct care staffing standards and establishing penalties for noncompliance with minimum direct care staffing ratios. Provides that monetary penalties shall be imposed beginning no later than October 1, 2020 and quarterly thereafter. Provides that a violation of the minimum staffing requirements is, at minimum, a Type "B" violation. Provides that a facility that has received a notice of violation for having violated the minimum staffing requirements shall display a notice stating that the facility did not have enough staff to meet the needs of the facility's residents during the quarter cited in the notice of violation. Adds members to the Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Board. Provides that the affirmative vote of 7 (instead of 6) members of the Board shall be necessary for Board action. Provides that a prescribing clinician must obtain voluntary informed consent, in writing, from a resident or the resident's legal representative before authorizing the administration of a psychotropic medication to that resident. Provides that a violation of certain provisions concerning informed consent is a Type "A" violation and shall serve as prima facie evidence of abuse or criminal neglect of a person in a long-term care facility under the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that no facility or managed care plan shall deny admission or continued residency to a person or resident based on the refusal of the administration of psychotropic medication, unless the prescribing clinician or facility can demonstrate that the resident's refusal would place the health and safety of the resident, the facility staff, other residents, or visitors at risk. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 210 ILCS 45/3-305 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153-305 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes: Throughout the Act, replaces references to a resident's authorized representative with references to a resident's surrogate decision maker. Contains provisions regarding the Department of Public Health's informed consent protocol. Provides that the Department shall utilize the rules, protocols, and forms previously developed and implemented under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, unless specified exceptions apply. Provides that informed consent forms may include side effects that the Department reasonably believes are more common. Provides that informed consent shall be sought by the facility from the resident unless the resident's attending physician determines that the resident lacks decisional capacity, as determined under the Health Care Surrogate Act. Provides that if the resident lacks decisional capacity, the facility shall seek informed consent from the resident's surrogate decision maker. Provides that no monetary penalty may be issued during the implementation period of rules establishing those penalties. Provides that the implementation period shall be July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020. Provides that if a violation of staffing requirements is not more than a 5% deviation of the required minimum staffing requirements, the Department shall have the discretion to determine the gravity of the violation and, taking into account mitigating and aggravating circumstances and facts, may adjust any penalty or type or class of violation. Provides a notice form for facilities that do not meet the minimum staffing ratios. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 210 ILCS 45/2-106.1 210 ILCS 45/2-204 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4152-204 210 ILCS 45/3-202.05 210 ILCS 45/3-209 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153-209 210 ILCS 45/3-305 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153-305 210 ILCS 45/3-305.8 new Adds reference to: 210 ILCS 45/1-101 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 210 ILCS 45/1-101 Adds reference to: New Act 305 ILCS 5/5A-2.1 new 305 ILCS 5/5A-2 from Ch. 23, par. 5A-2 305 ILCS 5/5-5.07 305 ILCS 5/14-12 305 ILCS 5/12-4.53 210 ILCS 45/3-206 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153-206 225 ILCS 65/55-35 225 ILCS 65/60-40 225 ILCS 70/11 from Ch. 111, par. 3661 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Reenacts provisions regarding assessments on inpatient and outpatient services imposed on hospitals. Provides for the continuity of effect of the reenacted provisions between July 1, 2020 and the effective date of the amendatory Act. Validates actions taken in reliance on or pursuant to the reenacted provisions. In a Section concerning the Department of Children and Family Services' per diem rate for an inpatient psychiatric stay beyond medical necessity, provides that the Section is inoperative on and after July 1, 2021 (instead of July 1, 2020). Provides that notwithstanding the provision of Public Act 101-209 stating that the Section is inoperative on and after July 1, 2020, the Section is operative from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Provides that beginning July 1, 2012 and ending on December 31, 2022, a hospital that would have qualified for the rate year beginning October 1, 2012 shall be a Safety-Net Hospital. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a health care transformation program which shall be supported by the transformation funding pool. Provides that it is the intention of the General Assembly that innovative partnerships funded by the pool must be designed to establish or improve integrated health care delivery systems that will provide significant access to the Medicaid and uninsured populations in their communities, as well as improve health care equity. Provides that during State fiscal years 2021 through 2027, the hospital and health care transformation program shall be supported by an annual transformation funding pool of up to $150,000,000, pending federal matching funds, to be allocated during the specified fiscal years for the purpose of facilitating hospital and health care transformation. Provides that funding agreements made in accordance with the transformation program shall be considered purchases of care under the Illinois Procurement Code and funds shall be expended by the Department in a manner that maximizes federal funding to expend the entire allocated amount. Contains provisions concerning the criteria for transformation proposals; entities eligible for funding under the transformation program; the process for submitting transformation projects; the Department's process for evaluating and approving transformation proposals; and other matters. In a provision concerning Prospective Payment System rates for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), provides that one method to increase such rates is to use an alternative payment method acceptable to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the FQHCs, including an across the board percentage increase to existing rates. Creates the COVID-19 Medically Necessary Diagnostic Testing Act. Provides that a health plan shall not impose utilization management requirements on COVID-19 diagnostic tests for nursing home employees. Provides that medically necessary COVID-19 testing is urgent care, and health plans shall not extend the applicable wait time for a COVID-19 testing appointment, even if such an extension would otherwise be permitted. Requires a health plan to reimburse the testing provider for medically necessary COVID-19 testing at the contracted rate if the health plan has a contract with the testing provider. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to accept on-the-job experience in lieu of clinical training from any individual who participated in the temporary nursing assistant program during the COVID-19 pandemic before the end date of the temporary nursing assistant program and left the program in good standing. Requires the Department of Public Health to notify all approved certified nurse assistant training programs in the State of this requirement. Defines "temporary nursing assistant program". Provides that an individual employed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a nursing assistant in accordance with any Executive Orders, emergency rules, or policy memoranda related to COVID-19 shall be assumed to meet competency standards and may continue to be employed as a certified nurse assistant when the pandemic ends and the Executive Orders or emergency rules lapse. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that whenever a public health emergency has resulted in pre-admission screenings to be waived in lieu of screenings post admission to a nursing home and the case coordination unit, upon being timely notified of the need to complete the post-admission screen, fails to complete the screen within the allotted time, the nursing facility shall not be penalized and shall be reimbursed for care from the date of admission. Effective immediately.
Amends the Foreign Banking Office Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 205 ILCS 645/1 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/355 from Ch. 73, par. 967 215 ILCS 125/4-12 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1409.5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Provides that all individual and small group accident and health policies written in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act must file rates for approval. Provides that rate increases not found to be reasonable in relation to benefits under the policy provided will be disapproved. Requires the Department of Insurance to provide a report to the General Assembly after January 1, 2021, regarding both on and off exchange individual and small group rates in the Illinois market. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 205 ILCS 645/1 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/355 from Ch. 73, par. 967 215 ILCS 125/4-12 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1409.5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Provides that all individual and small group accident and health policies written in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act must file rates with the Department of Insurance for approval. Provides that rate increases found to be unreasonable rate increases in relation to benefits under the policy provided shall be disapproved. Requires the Department to provide a report to the General Assembly after January 1, 2021, regarding both on and off exchange individual and small group rates in the Illinois market. Requires that the Department approve or deny rate increases within 60 calendar days after the rate increase is filed with the Department. Provides that a rate increase that is not approved or denied by the Department on the 61st calendar day shall be automatically approved on that day. Provides that no less than 30 days after the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has certified the plans described in this Section for the upcoming plan year, the Department shall publish on its website a report explaining the rates for the subsequent calendar year's certified policies. Defines "unreasonable rate increase". Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/355 from Ch. 73, par. 967 215 ILCS 125/4-12 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1409.5 Adds reference to: 805 ILCS 5/7.05 from Ch. 32, par. 7.05 805 ILCS 5/7.15 from Ch. 32, par. 7.15 805 ILCS 5/7.30 from Ch. 32, par. 7.30 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that if the board of directors is authorized to determine the place of a meeting of shareholders, the board of directors may determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication. Provides that a corporation may allow shareholders to participate in and act at any meeting of the shareholders through the use of remote connection; however, the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide the shareholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the shareholders. Provides that the corporation may implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and entitled to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a shareholder. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires a hospital organized or licensed under those Acts to provide a patient who is treated for opioid overdose at the hospital with one dose of or one prescription for an opioid antagonist upon discharge from the hospital, free of charge.
Amends the Election Code. Provides for the election of the Chicago Board of Education at the general primary election in 2020 only as a nonpartisan election on a separate ballot. Provides that a member of the Chicago Board of Education shall be elected at each consolidated election thereafter. Makes related changes. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that a person shall be a U.S. citizen and registered voter and shall have been a resident of the city and the electoral district for at least one year immediately preceding his or her election. Sets forth provisions concerning nominating petitions and ballots. Sets forth provisions providing that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 electoral districts by the General Assembly for seats on the Chicago Board of Education. Sets forth provisions providing that in the year following each decennial census, the General Assembly shall redistrict the electoral districts to reflect the results of each decennial census. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides for the election of the Chicago Board of Education for the 2023 and 2027 consolidated primary elections only (rather than beginning with the 2020 general primary election only as a nonpartisan election on a separate ballot and each consolidated election thereafter). Provides that no later than June 30, 2029, the General Assembly must review and revise the election of members of the Chicago Board of Education and if the General Assembly has not reauthorized the election of members of the Chicago Board of Education by June 30, 2029, then, on May 13, 2031, the terms of all members elected in 2027 shall end, and a new Chicago Board of Education consisting of 7 members shall be appointed by the Mayor. Makes conforming changes. Provides that, beginning on May 9, 2023 (rather than March 24, 2020) and until May 13, 2031, successors of the Inspector General for the Chicago school district shall be appointed by the school board instead of the Mayor. Effective immediately.