Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that when a report involves a child with a developmental or cognitive disability or with a physical disability that impacts the child's ability to communicate, the Department of Children and Family Services' investigation team shall include a licensed clinical social worker and a speech-language pathologist who have experience, either in a clinical setting or as a therapist in an educational setting, in working with the child's specific disability to help assess the information received from the child. Provides that these persons shall be directly involved in preparing for the investigation by building awareness of the child's communication needs, including the use of assistive technology, and reading abilities, assessing whether a reduced number of or shortened interviews are warranted, and determining the appropriate environment for interviewing the child. Provides that if a forensic interview is to be conducted, the Department shall ensure that the interviewer is trained to interview individuals with disabilities or is accompanied by the Department's licensed clinical social worker and speech-language pathologist. Provides that the Department shall ensure that the interviewer has access to individualized information about the child's disability from personal records, family members or care providers, and others with relevant information prior to meeting the child. Effective immediately.
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Creates the Whistleblower Reward Program Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue is authorized to pay awards as it deems necessary for detecting underpayments of any tax administered by the Department.
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Requires the State Treasurer to establish an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program, pursuant to Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code, for the purpose of administering ABLE accounts established to encourage and assist individuals and families in saving private funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a corresponding deduction for contributions to an ABLE account. Provides for an addition modification in an amount equal to the contribution component of any nonqualified withdrawal or refund from an ABLE account that was previously deducted under the Act.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Code to the contrary, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' Inspector General shall report all suspected cases of provider fraud involving a vendor, a medical provider, or any other provider authorized to participate in the medical assistance program to the State's Attorney of the county where the alleged fraud occurred or, when appropriate, to the Office of the Attorney General or to the Offices of the several United States Attorneys in Illinois. Effective immediately.
Creates the Electronic Driver's License Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall develop a program to test the use of electronic driver's licenses and designate a group of volunteer employees within its office to conduct a test of the app. At the end of the pilot program period, the Secretary shall report all the findings to the General Assembly.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides various penalties for knowingly withholding information from a practitioner from whom a person seeks to obtain a controlled substance or a prescription for a controlled substance. Provides that a health care practitioner with the intent to provide a controlled substance or combination of controlled substances that are not medically necessary to his or her patient or an amount of controlled substances that is not medically necessary for his or her patient, may not provide a controlled substance or a prescription for a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, subterfuge, or concealment of a material fact. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 3 felony for each subsequent offense. The fine for the first offense shall be not more than $100,000. The fine for each subsequent offense shall not be more than $200,000.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment, provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall adjust the useful life expectancy of eligible orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment to 5 years. Requires the Department to require by rule all vendors of durable medical equipment to be accredited by an accreditation organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and recognized by the Department. Provides that no later than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department shall file proposed rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement this requirement. Provides that no later than 15 months after the effective date of the rule, all vendors must meet the accreditation requirement. Provides that the Department may contract with a third-party vendor to audit eligible durable medical equipment suppliers.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "care and custody".
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.