Rep. Marty McLaughlin

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall require a school to have present at the school during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity at least one automated external defibrillator and one or more trained AED users. Provides that an automated external defibrillator installed and maintained in accordance with the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall maintain and operate, or contract for (instead of being empowered to establish, maintain, and operate or contract for) the operation of a permanent statewide residential education facility (instead of statewide service center), known as the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Provides that the State Board of Education shall include a line item in its budget to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Limits the specified services provided by the Philip J. Rock Center and School to eligible deaf-blind persons of all ages to being subject to appropriated funding for those specified services. Makes changes concerning provided services. Provides that for the purposes of employment, the Philip J. Rock Center and School shall be considered its own employer. Provides that the State Board of Education shall appoint a Chief Administrator of the Philip J. Rock Center and School who shall be employed by the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Specifies the duties of the Chief Administrator. Sets forth provisions concerning a student with an individualized education program at the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes changes concerning the Advisory Board for the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the school report card, provides that a school district's expenditure of Base Funding Minimum and Evidence-Based Funding received from the State in the level of specificity required by the annual spending plans required by the Evidence-Based Funding provisions. In provisions concerning Evidence-Based funding, provides that Organizational Units shall also indicate in their submission of annual spending plans which stakeholder groups the Organizational Unit engaged with to inform annual spending plans. Provides that annual spending plans shall be integrated in annual school district budgets completed pursuant to specified provisions.

Maddy summaryThis Illinois law authorizes the Secretary of State to issue specialty license plates specifically for motorcycles. The legislation also expands these options to include autocycles, which are three-wheeled vehicles designed for riders with disabilities. By amending the state's vehicle code in multiple sections, the bill ensures that both motorcycles and autocycles can display these special plates under the same rules. The changes took effect on January 1, 2025, allowing eligible vehicle owners to apply for these plates starting that date.

Creates the Job Training and Workforce Development Transparency Act. Provides that, within 6 months after the effective date of the Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in coordination with relevant State agencies, shall compile a report concerning all State-funded job training and workforce development programs in the State. Provides that the report shall identify each State-funded job training and workforce development program in the State and provide specified information about each program. Provides that the Department shall collaborate with relevant State agencies to ensure the timely and accurate collection of information required for the report. Provides that the Department shall submit the report to the General Assembly and make the report accessible to the public on the Department's website no later than 6 months after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality or county, including a home rule municipality or county, is a self-insurer for purposes of providing health insurance coverage for its employees, the insurance coverage shall include mental health counseling for any employee who is a first responder, including police and corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel, without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided. Specifies that this requirement does not apply to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. Limits home rule powers by providing that the requirement that mental health counseling be included in health insurance coverage is an exclusive power and function of the State.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. In provisions concerning deceptive practices targeting veterans and military members, changes the definition of "veteran or military benefits services" to any services offered or provided to a veteran, military member, or family member who is entitled to receive benefits under federal, State, or local law, policy, or practice as a result of, at least in part, qualifying military service. Adds a veterans services disclosure to be made by any person providing veteran or military benefits services. Makes it an unlawful practice for any person providing veteran or military benefits services to fail at the outset of the business relationship to clearly provide, both orally and in writing, veterans services disclosures when veteran or military benefits services are provided in exchange for any financial compensation, benefit, or thing of value. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that, in addition to required professional development leadership training, every voting member of a school board of a school district elected or appointed for a term beginning after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall complete a minimum of 3 hours of training every 2 years on continuous improvement planning and leveraging instruction, funding, and support to improve student outcomes. Provides that this training must be completed within one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act or the first year of a school board member's term and must be completed at least every 2 years thereafter. Provides that, subject to the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, school board members may take this training together. Provides that the training may be provided by an association established under the Code for the purpose of training school board members or by other qualified providers approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with an association so established.

Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Changes the definition of "emergency services" to provide that for the purposes of the provisions, emergency services are not required to be provided in the emergency department of a hospital. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a health insurance issuer or a contracted utilization review organization may not require prior authorization or approval by the health plan for emergency services.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as Navy Club license plates to residents of this State. Creates the Navy Club Fund. Provides that moneys in the Navy Club Fund shall be paid, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and distribution by the Secretary, as grants to each Navy Club located in this State. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.