Rep. Bob Morgan

Creates the Worker Freedom of Speech Act. Provides that an employer or the employer's agent, representative, or designee may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, threaten to discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, or take any adverse employment action against an employee: (1) because the employee declines to attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting or declines to receive or listen to communications from the employer or the agent, representative, or designee of the employer if the meeting or communication is to communicate the opinion of the employer about religious or political matters; (2) as a means of inducing an employee to attend or participate in meetings or receive or listen to communications; or (3) because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, makes a good faith report, orally or in writing, of a violation or a suspected violation of the Act. Provides for a private right of action to enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth the duties and powers of the Department of Labor under the Act. Provides that, within 30 days after the effective date of the Act, an employer shall post and keep posted a notice of employee rights under the Act where employee notices are customarily placed. Provides for exceptions under the Act.

Creates the Child Labor Law of 2024. Reinserts provisions of the Child Labor Law. Sets forth additional provisions concerning definitions; exemptions; employer requirements; restrictions on employment of minors; employment certificates; civil penalties; and criminal penalties. Repeals the Child Labor Law. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2025, except provisions concerning minors featured in vlogs and trust funds are effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Provides that if a health care plan uses an automated process to make an initial adverse determination or relies on a utilization review organization's automated process for an initial adverse determination, the health care plan shall ensure that any appeal is processed as required by the provisions, including the restriction that only a clinical peer may review an appeal. Provides that an automated process of a health care plan or registered utilization review program may make an initial adverse determination for services not included under specified provisions. Provides that utilization review programs that use automated processes to render an adverse determination shall base all adverse determinations on objective, evidence-based criteria that have been accredited by the American Accreditation Healthcare Commission or by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and shall provide proof of such accreditation to the Department of Insurance with any required registration. Provides that the utilization review program shall include with its registration materials attachments that contain specified policies and procedures. Amends the Health Carrier External Review Act. Changes the definition of "adverse determination". Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that if a health insurance issuer imposes a penalty for the failure to obtain any form of prior authorization for any health care service, the penalty may not exceed the lesser of the actual cost of the health care service or $1,000 per occurrence in addition to the plan cost-sharing provisions. Provides that a health insurance issuer may not require both the enrollee and the health care professional or health care provider to obtain any form of prior authorization for the same instance of a health care service, nor otherwise require more than one prior authorization for the same instance of a health care service. Makes conforming changes in the Illinois Insurance Code and the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program (program), removes from the list of program services clearinghouse information provided by senior citizen home owners who want to rent rooms to or share living space with other senior citizens. In a provision requiring the Department on Aging to perform certain actions to increase the effectiveness of the program, removes a requirement that the Department ensure the determination of need tool is accurate in determining program participants' level of need. In a provision concerning pre-service certification for in-home workers who provide housekeeping or home aide services, requires employing agencies to pay wages to in-home workers for pre-service and in-service training. Provides that the Department may authorize (rather than shall delay) program services until an applicant is determined eligible for medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes a provision requiring the Department to implement co-payments under the program. Requires the Department to make annual (rather than quarterly) reports on care coordination unit performance and adherence to service guidelines. Removes expired rate levels. Requires the Department to pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees. Provides that all final administrative decisions of the Department are subject to judicial review. Makes other changes.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that a license under the Act shall be automatically granted to an individual who has graduated from an approved program of professional nursing education or an approved program of practical nursing education, as applicable to the license being granted; passed a criminal background check with the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation; and completed and passed an examination specific to State laws that regulate the nursing profession as an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or registered nurse. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to adopt rules.

Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act, and the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. Provides that an applicant for an original license to practice who meets the prima facie requirements for licensure may be issued a temporary license to practice while the application is pending. Provides that a person who notifies the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, in writing on forms prescribed by the Department, may place the person's license on inactive status and shall be excused from the payment of renewal fees until the person notifies the Department in writing of the intention to resume active practice. Provides that the Department shall immediately, upon application, restore the license of any individual whose license has expired or is on inactive status for 5 years or less if the individual does not have a history of disciplinary action taken against the person's license. Provides that the Department shall establish and maintain a resident endorsement schedule, which shall be a comprehensive list of jurisdictions whose licensing requirements for licensees are substantially equivalent to the requirements imposed on residents of this State. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that certain coverage requirements apply to an individual policy of accident and health insurance (currently, a policy of accident and health insurance). Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan must not require authorization or referral by the plan, issuer, or any person, including a primary care provider, for any covered individual who seeks coverage for certain obstetrical or gynecological care. Provides that if a policy, contract, or certificate requires or allows a covered individual to designate a primary care provider and provides coverage for any obstetrical or gynecological care, the insurer shall provide the notice required under specified federal regulations in all circumstances required under those regulations. Makes changes in provisions concerning post-parturition care. Changes the language required in the disclosure of a limited benefit. Increases the fee for filing a plan of division of a domestic stock company and for filing an insurance business transfer plan. Makes changes in provisions concerning fraud reporting; coverage for epinephrine injectors; blanket accident and health insurance; authorization of policies, agreements, or arrangements with incentives or limits on reimbursement; and refunds and penalties. Repeals a provision concerning the application of certain provisions. Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Changes references from "woman's principal health care provider" to "obstetrical and gynecological health care professional". Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to make conforming changes. Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Makes changes to the required disclosures. Provides that health maintenance organizations are subject to certain coverage requirements for pharmacy testing, screening, vaccinations, and treatment; for proton beam therapy; for children with neuromuscular, neurological, or cognitive impairment; and for no-cost mental health prevention and wellness visits. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions are effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Repeals the Electrologist Licensing Act on January 1, 2029 (rather than January 1, 2024). Amends the Electrologist Licensing Act. Provides that all applicants and licensees shall: (1) provide a valid physical address and email address to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which shall serve as the address of record and email address of record, respectively, at the time of applicant for licensure or renewal of a license; and (2) inform the Department of any change of address of record or email address of record within 14 days. Provides that the changes must be made either through the Department's website or by contacting the Department through the Department's licensure maintenance unit. Provides that every application for an original license under this Act shall include the applicant's social security number or individual taxpayer identification number. Provides that specified written notices may be served electronically to the licensee's email address of record. Provides that in any case involving the refusal to issue or renew a license, a copy of the hearing officer's report shall be served upon the respondent by the Secretary (rather than the Department). Makes corresponding changes. Provisions amending the Regulatory Sunset Act are effective immediately.

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.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that, in addition to the options of total car replacement or a cash settlement, an insurer that issues a policy of automobile insurance shall provide to the policyholder, after the policyholder has been deemed eligible for compensation following an automobile crash, the option to be compensated for the value of repairs to make the automobile safe to drive. Requires an insurer to provide a copy of a specified rule at the time an offer of compensation for total loss is made. Requires the Department of Insurance to amend a specified rule to include information about the right of policyholders to elect to be compensated for the value of repairs to make the automobile safe to drive.