Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Provides that a hospital shall screen each uninsured patient for eligibility in State and federal health insurance programs, financial assistance offered by the hospital, and other public programs that may assist with health care costs and provide information about those programs. For an insured patient, requires the hospital to screen the patient for discounted care in specified circumstances. Provides that the screenings and all follow-up assistance must be culturally competent, in the patient's primary language, in plain language, and in an accessible format. Requires a hospital to implement an operational plan and trainings relating to screenings. Prohibits hospitals from pursuing collection actions against uninsured patients if they have not completed the screening requirements. Includes a prohibition on the sale of medical debt, limitations on collection actions, penalties for violating the Act's provisions, and defenses against collection actions pursued in violation of the provisions. Makes other changes. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that a patient declining to apply for a public health insurance program on the basis of concern for immigration-related consequences shall not be grounds for denying financial assistance under a hospital's financial assistance policy.
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Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago may implement an electronic reporting system that will allow notices, orders, and other documents to be sent directly by email to persons or entities registered with the sanitary district and, in the discretion of the District, to allow those persons or entities registered with the District to view, modify, or submit documents using the electronic reporting system. Allows for email service of documents usually required to be served by U.S. first-class mail, U.S. certified mail, or personal service for persons or entities registered with the electronic reporting system. Provides that the District shall adopt rules, as approved by ordinance, to ensure service of process by email is properly effectuated upon the registered persons and entities. Effective immediately.
Creates the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act. Provides that all records and documents are presumed to be accessible by the court and the clerk of the court. Requires a clerk of the court to limit access to case information and documents that are not identified as public to the clerk of the court or limited supervisory staff through the use of access codes restricting access. Provides that access to court records and documents remotely over the Internet shall be as authorized by the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy. Provides definitions for case information and documents that are identified as public, impounded, confidential, sealed, and expunged. Requires the Supreme Court to establish a process for access to court files that are limited by statute or court rule, and to create a statewide standardized form to request access to documents in a court file that is restricted in any manner. Provides that the Act applies to all court records and documents related to any civil or criminal proceeding brought before any court in the State that are created and maintained by a State court. Makes conforming changes in the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Privacy of Child Victims of Criminal Sexual Offenses Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, the Communicable Disease Report Act, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, and the Probate Act of 1975.
Amends the Vital Records Act. In provisions concerning searches by the State Registrar of Vital Records, provides that no fee may be assessed against a victim of domestic violence as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that, to qualify for the waiver of a fee, the person seeking the vital record must provide a certification letter. Provides the form for a certification letter.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county with a population of less than 1,000,000 may establish minimum requirements for new building design and construction to lessen the risks caused by new building design and construction to wildlife and sensitive habitats. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that any entity may make contributions to an ABLE account. Makes changes concerning privacy of ABLE account information. Provides that the ABLE Account Program may also be referred to as the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding school report cards, provides that the number and the percentage of all students in grades kindergarten through 8, disaggregated by the students demographics who have (i) been assessed for placement in a gifted education program or accelerated placement, (ii) been enrolled in a gifted education program or in accelerated placement, and (iii) received direct instruction from a teacher who holds a gifted education endorsement, and the number and percentage of students in grades 9 through 12, disaggregated by the student demographics who have been enrolled in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment courses or any course designated as enriched or honors shall also be reported (instead of the number and percentage of all students who have been assessed for placement in a gifted education or advanced academic program and, of those students: (i) the racial and ethnic breakdown, (ii) the percentage who are classified as low-income, and (iii) the number and percentage of students who received direct instruction from a teacher who holds a gifted education endorsement and, of those students, the percentage who are classified as low-income). Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that the required plan shall include specified evidence-based practices. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish a competitive grant program to support the development or enhancement of computer science programs in the K-12 schools. Provides that eligible entities are regional offices of education, intermediate service centers, State higher education institutions, schools designated as laboratory schools, and school districts. Provides that approved entities shall be responsible for ensuring appropriate facilities are available and educators are appropriately trained on the use of any technologies or devices acquired for the purposes of the grant. Sets forth requirements to use the grant, renewal provisions, and rulemaking.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if the county jail located in the county where the committed person was residing immediately before his or her conviction for the offense for which he or she is serving sentence in the Department of Corrections has a reentry program for committed persons, the Department may transfer the custody of the committed person to the sheriff of the county where the reentry program is located for up to 12 months before the committed person's release date for participation in the reentry program.
Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the term "non-compliant identification card" to "standard identification card". Changes the definition of "limited term REAL ID compliant identification card" to include cards that have been issued to an individual who has an approved application for asylum in the United States or has entered the United States in refugee status. Allows the Secretary of State to accept, as proof of date of birth and written signature of an applicant for a standard identification card, any passport from the applicant's country of citizenship or a consular identification document validly issued to an applicant. Prohibits the Secretary from releasing highly restricted personal information or personally identifying information or disclosing documents to any immigration agent unless it is necessary to comply with a lawful court order, judicial warrant, or subpoena for individual records that specifically requires production of such information or documents. Prohibits the Secretary from entering into or maintaining any agreement regarding the sharing of such information or documents. Provides that no temporary visitor's driver's licenses shall be issued after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that every driver's license application shall state the social security number of the applicant; except if the applicant is applying for a standard driver's license and is ineligible for a social security number, then if the applicant has documentation authorizing the applicant's presence in the country, the applicant shall provide such documentation instead of a social security number. Provides that if the applicant does not have documentation authorizing the applicant's presence in the country, the applicant must submit documentation establishing that the applicant has resided in the State for a period in excess of one year and a passport validly issued to the applicant from the applicant's country of citizenship. Makes conforming changes in those Acts and the Consular Identification Document Act and the Election Code. Effective January 1, 2024.