Amends the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Adds student loan borrowers to the definition of "consumer". Adds to the definition of "debt settlement provider" any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, or any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of such person or entity engaging in or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of student loan debt relief services in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a consumer. Excludes institutions of higher education from the definition of "debt settlement provider". Defines other terms. Requires a specified notice and disclosure to student loan borrowers to be included in advertising and marketing communications concerning student loan debt relief services. Requires providers of student loan debt relief services to provide a specified notice and disclosure before a student loan borrower signs a contract. Provides that any fees charged to a student loan borrower in exchange for student loan debt relief shall comply with a provision concerning fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the credit for student-assistance contributions sunsets on December 31, 2030 (currently, December 30, 2020). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall each appoint a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Compliance Officer to assist with the responsibilities of enforcing the requirements of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that group accident and health policies providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness on an expense-incurred basis shall provide specified coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Provides criteria and standards for the types of treatment that constitute medically necessary treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Provides that an insurer shall not limit benefits or coverage for chronic or pervasive mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions to short-term treatment or to alleviating current symptoms. Provides that insurers shall perform specified actions to ensure the proper use of medical necessity criteria. Provides that if medically necessary services for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions are not available in-network within the geography and timeliness standards, the insurer must cover out-of-network services. Provides that if the Department of Insurance determines that an insurer has failed to meet the requirements of the amendatory Act, it shall impose a penalty per product line with respect to each beneficiary. Makes other changes.
Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking. Effective immediately.
Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Creates a second set of incentive periods beginning on July 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2026. Provides that the credit shall not exceed $5,000 per employee hired. Provides that the maximum amount of credits allowed is $75,000,000. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that a drug is misbranded if it contains gluten but does not provide a warning on its label stating that it contains gluten.
Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that the office of the State's Attorney shall: (1) consult with the crime victim regarding the State's Attorney's decision to charge or not charge an offense, and the victim has the right to have an attorney, advocate, and other support person of the victim's choice attend this consultation with them; and (2) give the crime victim timely notice of any decision not to pursue charges and provide the notice in a way that does not put the victim's safety at risk. Crime victims' rights shall be asserted in the court in which a defendant is being prosecuted for the crime. Provides that if no prosecution has been commenced, a complaint for mandamus, injunctive, or declaratory relief may be filed in the circuit court in the jurisdiction in which the crime occurred. Provides that filing fees that would otherwise be owed by the victim shall be waived for any court filing with the main purpose of enforcing crime victims' rights. Provides that the Act grants a victim a private civil cause of action for injunctive relief and compensatory damages for lost wages, attorney's fees, and costs directly related to enforcing a crime victim's rights when officials willfully or wantonly violate a victim's right or rights and the officials do not correct their actions and afford the right or rights to the victim when given written notice and reasonable time to comply.
Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Provides that the finance charge for a payday loan shall not exceed an annual percentage rate of 39%.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In a Section concerning the angel investment credit, provides that: (1) the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may charge an application fee of $500; (2) increases the maximum credit amount that may be awarded from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000; (3) provides that, of the maximum credit amount that may be awarded, $10,000,000 shall be reserved for priority industries; (4) provides that the term "priority industry" means an industry determined by the Department to have high potential for growth; (5) provides that a person may be considered a "related member" if the person has at least a 33% ownership interest in the qualified new business venture (currently, 50%); and (6) provides that an investment that is part of a refinancing of a prior investment in a qualified new business venture is not eligible for the credit; and (7) provides that, if the investment is made in a disenfranchised community business, the amount of the credit shall be equal to 40% (currently, 25%) of the claimant's investment.
Creates the Pangolin Protection Act. Prohibits the possession, sale, trade, and distribution of pangolin products. Establishes an exemption for organizations engaged in pangolin research or conservation. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor.