Rep. Bob Morgan

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes language providing that Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2018 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2018. Provides that the Medicaid rates for supportive living services on and after July 1, 2019 must be equal to 60% of the average total nursing facility services per diem for the geographic areas defined by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that for supportive living facilities specializing in dementia care, the rate must be 72% instead of 60%. Requires the Medicaid rates for supportive living services to be updated whenever the total nursing facility service per diems are updated. Requires the Department to delink the per diem rate paid for supportive living facility services from the per diem rate paid for nursing facility services, effective for services provided on or after May 1, 2011 through June 30, 2019 (rather than effective for services provided on or after May 1, 2011). Effective immediately.

Declares March 1, 2019 as "Highland Park Sesquicentennial Day" in the State of Illinois.

Declares March 29, 2019 as "Glencoe Sesquicentennial Day" in the State of Illinois.

Declares September 7, 2019 as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day in Illinois.

Urges policy decisions enacted by the Illinois State Legislature to acknowledge and take into account the principles of early childhood brain development. Declares May 15, 2019 as Trauma-Informed Awareness Day in Illinois.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Defines "servicemember" and "veteran". Provides that a person commits aggravated assault or aggravated battery when he or she commits an assault or a battery against a servicemember or veteran. Provides that an aggravated assault committed against a servicemember or veteran is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that an aggravated battery committed against a servicemember or veteran is a Class 3 felony. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Reorganizes and makes technical changes to provisions concerning aggravated assault or aggravated battery against a servicemember or veteran.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a chairman of a county board who is chosen by the board may be removed, with or without cause, upon a motion adopted by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of the board. Provides that upon adoption of a motion to remove the chairman: (i) the chairman position becomes vacant the and former chairman's compensation shall be prorated to the date the motion was approved; (ii) the vice-chairman immediately assumes the duties of chairman without chairman compensation; and (iii) a new chairman shall be elected at the next regularly scheduled county board meeting. Further provides that a chairman removed maintains his or her status as a member of the county board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a veteran with a surviving spouse was in the process of review to receive the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, but the veteran died before the exemption was approved, then the application process shall continue and any subsequent approval granted to the veteran shall carry over to the spouse as long as the spouse meets the requirements for carry over.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning noise.

Amends the Public Defender and Appointed Counsel Division of the Counties Code. Creates the Public Defender Quality Defense Task Force. Provides that the Task Force is established to: (i) examine the current caseload and determine the optimal caseload for public defenders in the State; (ii) examine the quality of legal services being offered to defendants by public defenders of the State; and (iii) make recommendations to improve the caseload of public defenders and quality of legal services offered by public defenders. Provides that the Task Force shall hold a minimum of 2 public hearings and at other times of its choosing. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study to the General Assembly and Governor no later than December 31, 2020. Repeals the provisions on December 31, 2021. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Office of the State Appellate Defender) If the only responsibility to the Agency would be to provide space for meetings, the cost would be minimal because meetings could be held in our Chicago or Springfield office. If the Agency was responsible for administrative costs, travel reimbursement for board members, preparation of meeting materials or research and analysis, the cost could be significantly more. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Removes a requirement that the Governor appoint at least one Task Force member from the Legal Resources Division of the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. Provides that the Governor shall appoint 5 (rather than 3) public defenders or assistant public defenders to the Task Force from 5 (rather than 3) counties other than Cook County.