Creates the Right of Conscience Act. Defines terms. Provides that no person or qualifying entity shall be coerced to act or engage in speech or held liable for refusing to engage in speech or refusing to act if such refusal was to exercise a right of conscience. Provides that for any action or administrative proceeding brought against a person or qualifying entity that seeks to enjoin or seeks damages for a refusal to engage in speech or an act by the person or qualifying entity, and the person or qualifying entity refused to engage in the speech or refused to act, the person or qualifying entity may assert a counterclaim in the action that the speech or act sought by the plaintiff violates or otherwise infringes upon the person's or qualifying entity's right of conscience. Provides that the remedies under the Act shall be in addition to any other remedy. Provides that if a person or qualifying entity prevails in a counterclaim, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the person or qualifying entity.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that if a Medicaid enrollee of a managed care organization selects a plan based on the in-network status of (i) an existing primary care provider or (ii) up to 2 existing specialty care providers for an existing condition that is under active treatment, the managed care organization may not change the Medicaid enrollee's selected provider in (i) or (ii) for the remainder of the 12-month period following enrollment in the managed care health plan without permission by the Medicaid enrollee. Permits the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt any rules necessary to administer the amendatory Act. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to prohibit a Medicaid enrollee from changing his or her primary care provider as authorized by Department rules.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes.
Amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. Provides that no mayor or alderman (rather than no alderman) of any city, or president or member (rather than no member) of the board of trustees of any village, during the term of office for which he or she is elected, may accept, be appointed to, or hold any office or position of compensated employment (rather than only hold any office) by the appointment of the mayor or president of the board of trustees, unless the alderman or board member is granted a leave of absence from the office, unless he or she first resigns from the office of mayor, president, alderman, or member of the board of trustees, or unless the holding of another office is authorized by law.
Creates the State Ethics Task Force to address corruption within Illinois government.
Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Modifies the content of the statement of economic interests required to be filed by members of the General Assembly and candidates for nomination or election to the General Assembly. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the House Rules. Adds Rule 18.5.
Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides fines for legislators who engage in specified restricted activities and for violations of legislator rules of conduct. Provides that any person who willfully files a false or incomplete statement of economic interests under the Act may be subject to a fine not to exceed, for each offense, $150,000. Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides fines for intentional failure to complete ethics training and sexual harassment training. Modifies a Section concerning penalties under the Act to provide fines for specified violations. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that any person who, in the course of business, fraudulently obtains public moneys reserved for, or allocated or available to, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, or veteran-owned small businesses may be subject to a fine not to exceed, for each offense, $115,000. Provides that a fine of up to $1,000,000 may be imposed for bribery. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Congratulates Nick Pancione on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
Declares November 2019 as Food Pantry Donation Month to raise a greater awareness of food insecurity and the impact food insecurity has on the residents of Illinois.