Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Deletes, from a provision concerning breast cancer-related educational materials that are to be prepared by the Department of Public Health, language recommending clinical breast exams as a method for detecting breast cancer. Amends the Radiation Protect Act of 1990. Requires mammography patients to receive the educational materials developed by the Department of Public Health. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 581, titled REGULATION-TECH, is a technical amendment to the Community Benefits Act that updates the short title of a specific section within the law. This procedural change does not alter the underlying policies or create new obligations for any individuals or organizations. The bill was passed by both legislative houses and signed into law by the Governor, becoming effective on August 7, 2024. Its primary function is to correct the official name of a section rather than to introduce substantive new regulations.

Amends the Information Technology Accessibility Act. Provides that the Department of Innovation and Technology (currently, the Department of Human Services) shall review certain accessibility standards. Removes a specific reference to the Department of Central Management Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision requiring a long term care facility to permit the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman to examine and copy a resident's clinical and other records, includes access to facility incident reports. In the definition of "access", changes "express written consent" to "express consent".

Amends the County Department of Corrections Law. In provisions about pregnant prisoners, modifies the definitions of "post-partum" and "correctional institution", including that "correctional institution" includes institutions in all counties (rather than only in counties more than 3,000,000 inhabitants). Modifies and removes provisions relating to security restraints on a prisoner who is pregnant or in postpartum recovery. Adds provisions relating to annual reports by sheriffs documenting the number of pregnant prisoners in custody each year and the number of people who deliver or miscarry while in custody, relating to county department of corrections providing informational materials concerning the laws pertaining to pregnant prisoners to any pregnant or postpartum prisoner, and relating to supplemental nutrition for prisoners who are pregnant or lactating. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the County Jail Act making similar changes. In the Unified Code of Corrections, also adds language relating to restraints of committed persons who are pregnant. Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. In provisions relating to pregnant prisoners, removes a limitation on the provisions to pregnant prisoners in the custody of the Cook County. Provides that restraint of a pregnant prisoner shall comply with specified provisions of the Counties Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the County Jail Act (rather than only the Counties Code provisions).

Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act must provide coverage for wigs or other scalp prostheses worn for hair loss caused by alopecia, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions. Makes a conforming change in the Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that insurers shall cover all services for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care that are rendered by perinatal doulas or licensed certified professional midwives, including home births, home visits, and support during labor, abortion, or miscarriage. Provides that the required coverage includes the necessary equipment and medical supplies for a home birth. Provides that coverage for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care shall include home visits by lactation consultants and the purchase of breast pumps and breast pump supplies, including such breast pumps, breast pump supplies, breastfeeding supplies, and feeding aids as recommended by the lactation consultant. Provides that coverage for postpartum services shall apply for at least one year after birth. Provides that certain pregnancy and postpartum coverage shall be provided without cost-sharing requirements. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that post-parturition care benefits shall not be subject to any cost-sharing requirement. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover home visits for lactation counseling and support services. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover counselor-recommended or provider-recommended breast pumps as well as breast pump supplies, breastfeeding supplies, and feeding aids. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall limit the number of lactation encounters, visits, or services; breast pumps; breast pump supplies; breastfeeding supplies; or feeding aids a beneficiary is entitled to receive under the program. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act. Provides that participating employers may (rather than shall) designate an open enrollment period during which employees who previously opted out of the Secure Choice Savings Program may enroll in the Program. Provides that an employer shall retain the option at all times to set up a qualified retirement plan (rather than any type of employer-sponsored retirement plan). Removes offering an automatic enrollment payroll deduction IRA from a list of qualified retirement plans. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Adds definitions. Provides that the minimum ratio for each provider type shall be no less than any such ratio established for qualified health plans in Federally-Facilitated Exchanges by federal law or by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Provides that the maximum travel time and distance standards and appointment wait time standards shall be no greater than any such standards established for qualified health plans in Federally-Facilitated Exchanges by federal law or by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Makes changes to provisions concerning network adequacy, notice of nonrenewal or termination, transition of services, network transparency, administration and enforcement, provider requirements, and provider directory information. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning notice of nonrenewal or termination and transition of services. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize the Department of Insurance to adopt emergency rules implementing federal standards for provider ratios, time and distance, or appointment wait times when such standards apply to health insurance coverage regulated by the Department of Insurance and are more stringent than the State standards extant at the time the final federal standards are published. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Declares September 10, 2024 as Teens Voter Registration Day in the State of Illinois. Urges all citizens, educators, and community leaders to support and encourage the civic engagement of the State's youth in order to foster a generation of informed and empowered voters.