Rep. Maura Hirschauer

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2023 that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall provide coverage for prenatal vitamins when prescribed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 (rather than January 1, 2023) that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall provide coverage for prenatal vitamins when prescribed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall provide coverage for prenatal vitamins when prescribed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act (rather than only a physician).

Amends the School Code. Provides that every school district shall include safe gun storage information in schools' student handbooks. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.83 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.78 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/27-17 from Ch. 122, par. 27-17 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the safety education that school boards and other boards may provide instruction in includes safe gun storage.

Creates the Equity and Representation in Health Care Act. Contains the findings of the General Assembly. Creates the Equity and Representation in Health Care Workforce Repayment Program and the Equity and Representation in Health Care Workforce Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Public Health. Provides that a health care professional, medical facility, or behavioral health provider may apply to the Department for loan repayment assistance under the Program. Provides that, in order to be eligible for loan repayment under the Act, the health care professional or behavioral health provider shall comply with specified requirements. Requires the Department to submit an annual report with specified requirements to the General Assembly and the Governor. Contains provisions regarding the adoption of rules by the Department. Contains other provisions. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that loan repayment and scholarship program funds are subject to appropriation. Provides that an individual who is awarded a loan repayment authorized under the Act shall not receive concurrent loan repayments through any other Illinois or federal loan repayment program. Requires the Department of Public Health to share information about the application process for a scholarship or loan repayment under the Act prominently on the Department's website, as well as with specified Illinois-based health care training programs and institutions of higher education. Requires recipients who fail to meet their obligations to pay to the Department a sum of at least 1.5 times plus 7% interest annually (rather than a sum equal to) the amount of the received moneys. Contains provisions for waiver or deferment of a recipient's obligation under the Act. Provides that the Act is effective January 1, 2023. Makes other changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that a nurse is a "health care professional". Removes language providing that a certified nurse midwife is a "health care professional". Defines "nurse" as a person who is licensed as a licensed practical nurse or as a registered nurse under the Nurse Practice Act.

Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Requires all early intervention services to be initiated as soon as possible but not later than 30 calendar days after the consent of the parent or guardian has been obtained for the child's individualized family service plan. Provides that services may be initiated later than 30 calendar days after the consent of the parent or guardian has been obtained if the multidisciplinary team determines that a later initiation date is necessary to meet the individual needs of the child and family, the child's parent or guardian provides informed written consent for the later initiation date, and the reasons for the later initiation date are documented by the multidisciplinary team. Provides that the parent or guardian must be informed in writing, which may be done electronically if the parent or guardian prefers, that services shall be initiated no later than 30 calendar days after the individualized family service plan has been developed or on a later initiation date as determined by the multidisciplinary team with the informed consent of the parent or guardian. Provides that if services are not initiated within 30 calendar days after the consent of the parent or guardian has been obtained for the individualized family service plan or on a later initiation date as determined by the multidisciplinary team with the informed consent of the parent or guardian, the parent or guardian must be informed by the family's Child and Family Connections service coordinator in writing, which may be done electronically if the parent or guardian prefers, of the family's legal rights and alternative service options available to the family until an early intervention provider is identified, including, but not limited to, providers not currently early intervention credentialed or enrolled in the early intervention program. Effective July 1, 2022. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Provides that all early intervention services shall be initiated as soon as possible but not later than 30 calendar days after the consent of the parent or guardian has been obtained for the individualized family service plan, in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Human Services. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish by rule guidelines for required continuing education of all employees who inspect, survey, or evaluate a facility and to offer continuing education opportunities at least quarterly. Provides that the Department shall notify a facility and complainant of its findings regarding a complainant's complaint within 5 calendar days (rather than 10 days) of the determination. Provides that employees of a State or unit of local government agency charged with inspecting, surveying, or evaluating facilities are required to complete at least 10 hours of continuing education annually. Provides that if a facility is found to have violated any provision of the Act or rule adopted under the Act, the facility shall develop a plan of correction to address deficiencies indicated in a statement of deficiency. Requires the Department to approve or deny the plan of correction within 72 hours after receiving the plan of correction. Provides that the Department shall conduct an annual review of all survey activity from the preceding calendar year (rather than conduct an annual review) and make a report including specified information concerning the complaint and survey process. Contains other provisions. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes language requiring specified actions to be taken within 7 (rather than 30) days or 5 (rather than 10) days after specified events. Removes language providing that, if a facility is found to have violated any provision of the Act or rule adopted under the Act, the facility shall develop a plan of correction to address deficiencies indicated in a statement of deficiency. Requires the Department of Public Health's annual report to include the total number of times the Department recommended a discretionary denial of payment for new Medicare or Medicaid admissions with a specified effective date and the number of instances in which employees not fully vaccinated against or who tested positive for COVID-19 entered a long-term care facility. Makes other changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Requires the 10 hours of continuing education to include specified topics that support the survey process. Provides that the continuing education is separate from any continuing education required for any license that the employee holds. Requires the Department of Public Health's report to include (i) the breakdown of 24-hour, 7-day, and 30-day complaints, (ii) the average length of tenure for nurse surveyors employed by the Department at the time the report is created, and (iii) the total number of times the Department recommended a discretionary denial of payment for new Medicare or Medicaid admissions and how much time existed between the start of that denial and when the facility was notified. Removes language requiring all of the listed reporting criteria and additional complaint information requested by the Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Board, the Illinois Long-Term Care Council, or the General Assembly to be provided in aggregate and broken down by Office of Health Care Regulation region. Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that at least 5 of the 10 required hours of continuing education shall be separate and distinct from any continuing education hours required for any license that the employee holds. Allows any continuing education hours provided by the Department in addition to the required 10 hours of continuing education to count towards continuing education hours required for any license that the employee holds. Makes changes in the list of items to be included in the Department's annual report. Deletes a provision requiring employees of local agencies that inspect facilities to complete continuing education. Removes language requiring all of the listed reporting criteria and additional complaint information requested by the Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Board, the Illinois Long-Term Care Council, or the General Assembly to be provided in aggregate and broken down by Office of Health Care Regulation region. Makes other changes.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Renames the School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program to School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Expands the Program to require the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to, each year, receive and consider applications from eligible social workers working for an Illinois municipality who do not report directly to a police department (now the Program only accepts applications from social workers who are employed by a public elementary or secondary school in this State) to encourage a grant recipient to use the financial assistance for the repayment of educational loans.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to offer a program to prepare students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 for a career and technical education pathway by introducing students to career exploration opportunities that allow students to explore a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand career fields. Sets forth what a school district shall provide in its career and technical education pathway program. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.67 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.83 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.78 new 110 ILCS 148/15 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Requires a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 6 through 12 to adopt and implement a postsecondary and career expectations framework; sets forth requirements concerning the framework. Provides that a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 9 through 12 shall become an eligible school district and award College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act and pursuant to a specified schedule. Allows a school board of a school district to opt out of implementation of all or any part of these provisions through a finding that the board has in place alternative systems for college and career readiness and that such systems are more likely to successfully prepare students for college and career expectations. Authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt rules. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Requires the State Board of Education, Illinois Community College Board, Board of Higher Education, and Illinois Student Assistance Commission to, by July 1, 2023 and in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, jointly adopt and publicize an update to the model postsecondary and career expectations that extends the expectations to grade 6 and includes such other revisions and updates as the agencies deem appropriate. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 2 with the following changes. Provides that by July 1, 2024 (rather than July 1, 2025) a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 6 through 12 shall adopt and commence implementation of career exploration and career development activities in accordance with (rather than shall adopt and implement) a postsecondary and career expectations framework for each of grades 6 through 12 served by the district that substantially aligns to the model framework adopted by State agencies. Makes conforming changes. Provides that the career exploration and career development activities offered in alignment with the postsecondary and career expectations framework shall prepare students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 to make informed plans and decisions about their future education and career goals, including possible participation in a career and technical education pathway, by providing students with opportunities to explore a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand career fields. Allows a school board of a school district to opt out of implementation if the board adopts a specified set of findings (rather than through a finding that the board has in place alternative systems for college and career readiness and that such systems are more likely to successfully prepare students for college and career expectation). Removes the immediate effective date. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Specifies that by July 1, 2025, a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 9 through 12 shall either elect to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements or opt out of implementation. Provides that a school district may elect to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements either by submitting the necessary application materials to the State Board of Education or by the school board of the district adopting a timeline for implementation. Adds to the enumerated findings that a school board of a school district must adopt in order to opt out of implementation the willingness of institutions of higher education to partner with the school district for successful implementation of the pathway and whether the district has sought and established a partnership agreement with a community college district incorporating the provisions of the Model Partnership Agreement under the Dual Credit Quality Act. Provides that a school district electing to opt out of implementation may reverse its decision in whole or in part at any time. Requires the State Board of Education to publish and maintain on its website an inventory of resources available to support school districts in implementing College and Career Pathway Endorsements. Makes other changes.

Creates the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act. Provides for licensure of professional music therapists and clinical music therapists by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Establishes the Music Therapy Advisory Committee. Establishes the powers and duties of the advisory committee, including advising the Department on all matters pertaining to licensure, education, and continuing education requirements for licensees. Establishes the powers and duties of the Department, including prescribing rules defining what constitutes an appropriate curriculum for music therapy, reviewing the qualifications of applicants for licenses, investigating alleged violations of the Act, conducting hearings on disciplinary and other matters, and establishing a schedule of fees for the administration and enforcement of the Act. Establishes qualifications for licensure as a professional music therapist and clinical music therapist. Establishes grounds for discipline of a license. Provides for civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Act. Creates provisions concerning formal hearings, including transcripts of proceedings, appointment of hearing officers, subpoenas and depositions, and rehearings. Provides for judicial review of all final administrative decisions of the Department. Preempts home rule. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Removes all references to licensed clinical music therapists. Changes references to the "Music Therapy Advisory Committee" and "Advisory Committee" to "Music Therapy Advisory Board" and "Advisory Board". Changes the definition of "music therapy". Adds provisions concerning applicants' and licensees' addresses of record and email addresses of record. Makes changes concerning composition and powers and duties of the Music Therapy Advisory Board. Makes changes in provisions concerning exemptions from the Act, collaboration with audiologists and speech-language pathologists, the practice of psychotherapy by licensed music therapists, the powers and duties of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, qualifications for licensure, license renewal, grounds for discipline, violations, investigations, hearings, and findings. Removes provisions concerning restrictions and limitations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 2 with the following changes. Provides that "music therapy intervention" as defined occurs during a therapist-client relationship and includes collaborating with and educating the client and the family, caregiver of the client, or any other appropriate person regarding the needs of the client that are being addressed in music therapy and the manner in which the music therapy treatment addresses those needs in compliance with state and federal law. Provides that the Music Therapy Advisory Board shall advise the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on all matters pertaining to disciplinary actions for practice of music therapy in the State. Removes a provision that provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to prohibit the practice of a person whose training and national certification attests to the individual's preparation and ability to practice the individual's certified profession or occupation. Provides that the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation shall issue a license to an applicant for a professional music therapist license if the applicant is of good moral character. Provides that in determining moral character under the provisions of qualifications for licensure, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant has engaged in conduct which would constitute grounds for discipline under the Act. Removes as a ground for discipline the failure to file a return, or to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as required by a tax Act administered by the Department of Revenue. Adds that whenever the Secretary believes substantial justice (rather than only justice) has not been done in the revocation, suspension, or refusal to issue or renew a license or the discipline of a licensee, the Secretary may order a rehearing. Removes provisions concerning: the suspension of a license for failure to pay restitution; the surrender of a license; and any conflict with the Act and any other law. Makes other and conforming changes. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 80/4.38 Repeals the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act on January 1, 2028.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning bond. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 1305/1-75 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the First Responders Child Care Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer an Off-Hours Child Care Grant Program to provide grants to licensed child care facilities to expand their program of services to include off hours, night, or sleep time child care for first responders and third shift workers who, on account of their work schedule, need child care outside of the hours when licensed child care facilities typically operate. Provides that services funded under the grant program must address the child care needs of first responders. Provides that grants provided under the program may also be used to cover any capital and operating expenses related to the provision of off-hours, night, or sleep time child care for first responders. Requires child care facilities seeking funding under the grant program to apply to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department. Requires the Department to implement the grant program by the date the Child Care Advisory Council submits its final report to the General Assembly as provided under Senate Resolution 862 of the 102nd General Assembly or by December 31, 2022, whichever is earlier. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program. Defines "first responders" to mean emergency medical services personnel as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and, as determined by the Department, any other workers who, on account of their work schedule, need child care outside of the hours when licensed child care facilities typically operate. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Off-Hours Child Care Grant Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 1305/1-75 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the First Responders Child Care Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer an Off-Hours Child Care Program to help first responders and other workers identify and access off-hours, night, or sleep time child care. Provides that services funded under the program must address the child care needs of first responders. Provides that funding provided under the program may also be used to cover any capital and operating expenses related to the provision of off-hours, night, or sleep time child care for first responders. Requires the Department to implement the program by July 1, 2023. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program. Defines "first responders" to mean emergency medical services personnel as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and, as determined by the Department, any other workers who, on account of their work schedule, need child care outside of the hours when licensed child care facilities typically operate. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Off-Hours Child Care Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Provides that that amendatory Act shall be referred to as the Off-Hours Child Care Act (rather than the First Responders Child Care Act). In a provision concerning legislative intent, provides that only 435 of the State's group day care homes (rather than group home care programs) provide night care.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision requiring the Department on Aging to make certain long term care consumer choice information available to the public on the Internet, removes a reference to the name of the hyperlink "Resident's Right to Know". House Committee Amendment No. 1 In a provision requiring the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman to make Consumer Choice Information Reports accessible to the public, removes a requirement that the reports be posted on the Internet by means of a hyperlink labeled "Resident's and Families' Right to Know".