Rep. Jenn Ladisch-Douglass

Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that a health insurance issuer may not require prior authorization for a prescription drug prescribed to a patient by a health care professional for 6 or more consecutive months, regardless of whether the prescription drug is a non-preferred medication pursuant to the patient's health insurance coverage; or for specified prescription drugs, including insulin, human immunodeficiency virus prevention medication; human immunodeficiency virus treatment medication; viral hepatitis medication; estrogen; and progesterone.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires insurance policies to be written in language easily readable and understandable by a person of average intelligence and education. Provides the factors the Director of Insurance shall consider in making the determination that the policy is easily readable and understandable by a person of average intelligence and education.

Amends the School Boards and Chicago School District Articles of the School Code. Provides that school boards shall allow all educators to have daily continuous uninterrupted individual classroom planning time. Provides that the planning period shall be equal to one class period but no less than 45 minutes in duration. Provides that this time requirement applies to educators who are in contact with students for 50% or more of their contracted workday. Provides that, during this planning period, educators may not be forced to substitute in other areas of the building or district when another educator is absent or a vacancy exists and may not be forced to attend meetings, trainings, or conferences of any kind. Provides that if an educator chooses to substitute or attend a meeting, training, or conference during their guaranteed planning period of their own free will, the educator shall be compensated at a rate of pay that is negotiated between the local Board of Education and local association of a state teacher association.

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 Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Human Service' Division of Mental Health to implement a direct support professional credential pilot program, delays the pilot program's start date to Fiscal Year 2025 (rather than Fiscal Year 2024). Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year (rather than the 2025-2026 school year) and continuing for not less than 2 years, the State Board of Education shall make available a model program of study that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional. Provides that by July 1, 2025 (rather than by July 1, 2023) the Department of Human Service must submit recommendations to the State Board of Education for the training that would be required in order to complete the model program of study. Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that by July 1, 2026 (rather than by July 1, 2025), the Illinois Community College Board shall submit recommendations for a model program of study, for credit, that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional to the Department of Human Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Requires a landlord to disclose all nonoptional fees in the lease agreement. Requires that the sum total of rent and all nonoptional fees must be described as the Total Monthly Payment and be listed on the first page of the lease. Requires that a unit advertised for a residential tenancy must disclose the nonoptional fees included with the total amount for rent in any advertisement or posting. Requires that the landlord disclose whether utilities are included in the rent in a lease agreement disclosure or unit advertisement. Provides that a landlord who violates this Section is liable to the residential tenant for treble damages, and the court may award the tenant reasonable attorney's fees.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall administer no more than one assessment (instead of 3 assessments), per student, of English language arts and mathematics for students in a secondary education program. Removes a provision that specifies that students who do not take the State's final accountability assessment or its approved alternate assessment may not receive a regular high school diploma unless otherwise exempted. Provides that the State Board of Education may not assess students in any manner beyond that required for compliance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Provides that the State Board shall also explore any flexibility afforded to states through waivers under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Sexually Transmissible Disease Control Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Illinois Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Act. Changes references to "sexually transmissible diseases" to "sexually transmitted infections". Makes conforming changes throughout the statutes. Provides that, in determining which infections are to be designated sexually transmitted infections, the Department of Public Health shall consider human papillomavirus (HPV) and mpox. Effective immediately.

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Provides that for licensure as a managing broker, the person must personally take and pass a written examination on Illinois specific real estate brokerage laws authorized by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that approved pre-license education for licensure as a managing broker, broker, or residential leasing agent shall be valid for 2 years after the date of satisfactory completion of all required pre-license education. Provides that a nonresident broker who meets certain requirements may also operate a virtual office in the State. On January 1, 2026, repeals a provision concerning reciprocity for managing brokers and brokers licensed in another state. Provides that on and after January 1, 2026, applications for licensure based upon reciprocal agreements shall not be accepted. Provides that licenses granted under reciprocal agreements prior to January 1, 2026 shall remain in force and may be renewed in the same manner as provided for a broker or managing broker license under the Act. Requires fair housing training as part of the continuing education requirements. Sets forth provisions concerning licensure of managing brokers and brokers licensed under the laws of another state or jurisdiction of the United States and authorizing virtual offices. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; exemptions from licensure; continuing education; disclosure of compensation; employment agreements; agency relationship disclosure; grounds for discipline; citations; illegal discrimination; fines and penalties; a scholarship program; funds; and licensing of education provider instructors. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Effective January 1, 2025, except that certain provisions are effective immediately.

Creates the Department of Early Childhood Act. Creates the Department of Early Childhood to begin operation on July 1, 2024 and transfers to it certain rights, powers, duties, and functions currently exercised by various agencies of State Government. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 the Department of Early Childhood shall be the lead State agency for administering and providing early childhood education and care programs and services to children and families including: home-visiting services; early intervention services; preschool services; child care services; licensing for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes; and other early childhood education and care programs and administrative functions historically managed by the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services. Makes conforming changes to various Acts including the Department of Human Services Act, the Illinois Early Learning Council Act, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Early Intervention Services System Act and the Children and Family Services Act. Effective immediately.