Creates the Office of Language Equity and Access Act. Provides that the Office of Language Equity and Access is created in the Governor's Office of New Americans to ensure equitable and meaningful access to State information, services, programs, and activities for persons who have limited English proficiency. Provides that the Director of the Office shall work with State agencies and use available resources within the Office of New Americans and Office of Equity to ensure that, among other things, each State agency takes reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services, programs, and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. Provides that the Office shall have a full-time Director who is bilingual and has experience in serving immigrant populations. Describes the duties and responsibilities of the Director. Provides that there shall be a bilingual employment plan, which would require designations of positions as bilingual and result in the hiring of qualified personnel who are bilingual. Provides that the Director shall comply with specified requirements concerning the need for interpreters and translators. Provides that the Director shall develop a template and mechanism for collecting, storing, and analyzing language access plans.
Sponsored bills
Declares October 13, 2023 as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day and recognizes the METAvivor #LightUpMBC national campaign.
Recognizes and celebrates the birthdate of the late Gene "Coach Ping" Pingatore on October 25, 2023. Remembers the legacy he created and the many lives he touched during his lifetime.
Recognizes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October 2023 and supports and commends the efforts of those people and organizations who work tirelessly to help victims break free of the devastating effects of domestic abuse.
Recognizes Claire Maddie Eisenstadt for her work on promoting Jewish identity, combating anti-Semitism, and representing the Jewish community on a global stage. Wishes her continued success in her future endeavors.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district must allow a student to self-administer any over-the-counter lactose intolerant relief medication without requiring written permission from the student's parent or guardian or written authorization from the student's physician, physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a restaurant shall clearly and prominently disclose all fees outside of food costs and taxes that are added to a customer's bill, including administrative fees, at the beginning of the ordering process. Provides that a restaurant that violates the provisions commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.
Amends the Government Electronic Records Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Protect Health Data Privacy Act. Provides that a regulated entity shall disclose and maintain a health data privacy policy that, in plain language, clearly and conspicuously disclosures specified information. Provides that a regulated entity shall prominently publish its health data privacy policy on its website homepage. Provides that a regulated entity shall not collect, share, sell, or store categories of health data not disclosed in the health data privacy policy without first disclosing the categories of health data and obtaining the consumer's consent prior to the collection, sharing, selling, or storing of such data. Prohibits the collection, sharing, selling, or storing of health data. Describes the regulated entity's duty to obtain consent; the consumer's right to withdraw consent; prohibitions on discrimination; prohibitions on geofencing; a private right of action; enforcement by the Attorney General; and conflicts with other laws. Makes other changes.
Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding the compulsory school age, provides that a student absent from a school in which the student is regularly enrolled shall be considered as being in attendance if the reason for such absence is to participate in scheduled Future Farmers of America Organization and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. Provides that the student and parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for obtaining assignments missed while the student was participating in such an activity from the student's teacher.