Rep. Terra Costa Howard

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning rules. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 115 ILCS 5/9 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 110/3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act to require the instruction on mental health and illness to evaluate the multiple dimensions of health by reviewing the relationship between physical and mental health so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors that promote health, well-being, and human dignity.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the textbook block grant program, provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must include the roles and contributions of all people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act and must be non-discriminatory as to any of the characteristics under the Act. Provides that textbooks purchased with grant funds must be non-discriminatory. Provides that in public schools only, the teaching of history of the United States shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State. Effective July 1, 2020. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 246, as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Correctional Note (Dept of Corrections) There is no fiscal or population impact on the Department of Corrections. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in House Bill 246; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) This bill would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Judicial Note (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) This bill would neither increase nor decrease the number of judges needed in the State of Illinois. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) This bill does not impact any public pension fund or retirement system in Illinois. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. Fiscal Note (IL State Board of Education) This bill will not have a fiscal impact on the State Board of Education.

Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning judicial notice. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 70 ILCS 805/3 Adds reference to: 70 ILCS 805/6 from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6309 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Expands the authority of a forest preserve district to grant licenses, easements, and rights-of-way for construction, operation, and maintenance upon, under, or across any property of the district to include facilities for renewable energy.

Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Provides that all restrooms that are open and accessible to the public in a public building shall be equipped with baby changing facilities that are physically safe, sanitary, and usable for that purpose. Provides that the requirement is in addition to any accommodations that may be made for individuals in accordance with any local, State, or federal laws regarding access for persons with disabilities and to existing fire, health, and safety codes or standards. Defines "public building". Makes a conforming change. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 410 ILCS 35/20 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Requires every public building with restrooms open and accessible to the public to have at least one safe, sanitary, convenient, and publicly accessible baby diaper changing station that is accessible to women entering a restroom provided for use by women and one that is accessible to men entering a restroom provided for use by men, or at least one such baby diaper changing station that is accessible to both men and women. Provides exceptions to the requirement for: industrial buildings, nightclubs, or bars that do not permit anyone who is under 18 years of age to enter the premises; restrooms located in a health facility, if the restroom is intended for the use of one patient or resident at a time; and renovations, if a local building permitting entity or building inspector determines that the installation of a baby diaper changing station is not feasible or would result in a failure to comply with applicable building standards governing the right of access for persons with disabilities. Requires a public restroom that is open and accessible to the public and includes a baby diaper changing station to include signage at or near the entrance to the baby changing station indicating the location of the baby diaper changing station. Provides that the requirements are not enforceable by a private right of action.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that, for the 2020-2021 academic year and for each academic year thereafter, a university or community college district must make available to its students information on all mental health and suicide prevention resources available at the university or community college.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who has incurred at least $20,000 in undergraduate student loan debt and has at least $5,000 in outstanding undergraduate student loan debt at the time of the application is entitled to a credit as awarded by the Department of Revenue. Provides that Department of Revenue that the amount of the credit shall not exceed $ 5,000 per taxpayer. Provides that the total amount of credits approved by the Department of Revenue under the provisions of the amendatory Act may not exceed $5,000,000 in any taxable year. Contains recapture provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Director of Public Health, if a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois, shall establish a standing order complete with the issuance of a prescription for a hormonal contraceptive in accordance with the requirements of the provisions. Provides that if the Director is not a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois, the Medical Director of the Department of Public Health shall establish the standing order. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan to provide coverage for patient care services provided by a pharmacist. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the School Code. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that the definition of "practice of pharmacy" includes the dispensing of hormonal contraceptives pursuant to the standing order under provisions of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the medical assistance program to cover patient care services provided by a pharmacist for hormonal contraceptives assessment and consultation. Effective January 1, 2020. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Public Health) HB 1442 would require staff time to complete the standing order. However, the fiscal impact would be nominal.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that minimum in-service training requirements, which a police officer must satisfactorily complete every 3 years, shall include mental health awareness and response as reflected in the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 50 ILCS 705/10.23 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the curriculum for police officer training schools shall include recognizing signs and symptoms of work-related cumulative stress, issues that may lead to suicide, and solutions for intervention with peer support resources. Provides that the minimum in-service training requirements, which a police officer must satisfactorily complete every 3 years, shall include officer wellness. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall create, develop, or approve an in-service course addressing issues of officer wellness and suicide prevention. Provides that the course shall include instruction on job-related stress management techniques, skills for recognizing signs and symptoms of work-related cumulative stress, recognition of other issues that may lead to officer suicide, solutions for intervention, and a presentation on available peer support resources.

Creates the Home Birth Maternity Care Crisis Study Committee to provide the General Assembly a consumer-focused, evidence-based solution to the Illinois Home Birth Maternity Care Crisis. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Changes the date that the final report is due.

Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Provides that a kennel operator shall install in the kennel a fire alarm monitoring system that triggers notification to local emergency responders when activated. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall deny the initial licensure or license renewal of a kennel operator for the failure to comply with this provision. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 605/3.9 new Adds reference to: 225 ILCS 605/18.2 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Provides that a kennel operator that maintains dogs and cats for boarding that is not staffed at all times shall be equipped with at least one fire alarm system or fire sprinkler system in operating condition in every building of the kennel operator that is used for the housing of animals. Provides that an applicable federal, State, or local law, rule, or building code requiring the installation or maintenance of fire alarm monitoring systems in a manner different from, but providing a level of safety for occupants that is equal to or greater than that provided by the amendatory Act, shall be deemed to comply with the amendatory Act and the requirements of the more stringent law shall govern. Provides that the State Fire Marshal shall inspect, or shall direct a local fire marshal to inspect, a kennel operator that maintains dogs and cats for boarding when a resident makes a credible complaint alleging that the kennel operator is not in compliance with the amendatory Act. Provides that local fire inspectors shall determine whether a kennel operator is in compliance with the amendatory Act during the course of routine building and fire inspections of the kennel operator. Provides that local fire officials and the State Fire Marshal shall immediately notify the Department of Agriculture upon discovery that a kennel operator is not in compliance with the amendatory Act. Provides that the Department shall deny issuing a license under the Act to a kennel operator that is not in compliance with the amendatory Act. Provides that a kennel operator that is already licensed under the Act and found by the Department not to be in compliance with amendatory Act shall be liable for $500 for the first violation, $1,500 for the second violation, and $2,500 and the loss of the license for the third violation. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes: Provides that a kennel operator that maintains dogs or cats for boarding and that is not staffed at all times shall be equipped with at least one fire alarm system or fire sprinkler system in operating condition in every building of the kennel operator that is used for the housing of animals. Requires the kennel operator to certify in its license application and annually certify in its license renewal that either: (1) its facility has a fire alarm system or a fire sprinkler system, and shall include with the application or license renewal an attached description and picture of the make and model of the system used; or (2) the kennel is staffed at all times dogs or cats are on the premises, and shall include with the application or license renewal an attached staffing plan. Requires the Department of Agriculture to include the certification on each application for license or license renewal. Provides that a qualified fire inspector may inspect a kennel operator that maintains dogs and cats for boarding during the course of performing routine fire inspections. Allows the inspector to inform the Department if, during a routine inspection, the fire inspector determines that the kennel operator does not have a fire alarm system or fire sprinkler system. Provides that, for the purposes of the amendatory Act's provisions, veterinary hospitals, practices, or offices are not kennel operators. Effective January 1, 2020.