Rep. Dan Didech

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In a provision requiring policies of group accident and health insurance to provide coverage for certain examination and testing services provided to a victim of specified criminal offenses, prohibits the policy from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided, except to the extent that the coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account under the Internal Revenue Code. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, for construction contracts procured by the Department of Transportation, a requirement that a contract, a contract renewal, an order against a master contract, or an amendment to an existing contract requires the signature of the chief executive officer of the agency, the chief legal counsel of the agency, and the chief fiscal officer of the agency applies only if the contract is in the amount of $750,000 or more or is increased to or by $750,000 or more in a fiscal year. Provides that the Department of Transportation may, by rule, adjust that applicable monetary threshold on a yearly basis to reflect inflationary costs in highway construction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Creates emergency rulemaking procedures for the student teaching stipend program. Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes a person to establish optional credit for periods of service as a student teacher under a specified provision of the Board of Higher Education Act. In provisions requiring an additional employer contribution for certain salary increases greater than 6%, provides that the System shall exclude any stipends paid to an eligible cooperating teacher under the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Creates the student teaching stipend program. Defines terms. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of Higher Education of all eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend program. Creates requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating teacher who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report in collaboration with the State Board of Education evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.

Calls for the release of all files related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged accomplices with redactions limited solely to shielding the identities of survivors as outlined in the Epstein Transparency Act. Further calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor independent of the Trump Administration's influence to review prosecution decisions stemming from the Epstein investigation to investigate whether the Trump Administration illegally redacted or withheld documents to shield individuals for political purposes.

Opposes Illinois Senate Bill 3572 (SB3572). Opposes any effort to punish women for accessing reproductive healthcare, efforts to subject survivors of rape and incest to more severe punishments than a rapist, and efforts to restrict access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other forms of assisted reproductive technology.

Condemns President Donald J. Trump's racist social media post and his attempts to erase history. Expresses that members will continue to honor the 100th recognition of Black History Month in the State of Illinois by committing to learn from history rather than hiding from it.

Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Secretary of State for a recurring, permanent grant program for Illinois academic libraries. These grants shall be applied toward Open Education Resources. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act. Provides that the Act applies to any building with a shared roof if (1) a solar energy system is located entirely within that portion of the shared roof owned and maintained by the property owner or (2) all property owners sharing the shared roof agree to install a solar energy system. Provides that the governing entity of a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association may adopt for those buildings with a shared roof that are under its control and that are subject to the Act bylaws or other requirements that set standards regarding the installation, maintenance, and use of solar energy systems, including, but not limited to, regulations that require the governing entity to approve the vendor that will supply, install, or maintain the solar energy system and regulations that grant vendors exclusive rights to perform those functions. Provides that, when exercising powers over properties with shared roofs, a governing entity must act solely in the collective interest of the members of the association; must cooperate with property owners interested in installing, maintaining, or using a solar energy system on property under their ownership or control; and must not delay any request for a decision involving the installation, maintenance, or use of a solar energy system by an association member for more than 60 days. Provides that the failure of a governing entity to comply with these provisions renders voidable any bylaw or other requirement adopted by the governing authority pursuant to the provisions of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as matters in which discrimination is prohibited under the Educational Article.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Creates a process for one parent to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of the other parent in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, declaration of invalidity of marriage, or any proceeding in which parental responsibilities are allocated under the Act or in a proceeding under the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015. Provides that a court may terminate parental rights if the petitioning parent proves by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent parent has abandoned the child; or engaged in a prolonged failure, without good cause, to provide reasonable financial support for or to maintain meaningful contact or visitation with the child, although able to do so. Provides defenses if the court finds that the failure to support or maintain contact or visitation was due to interference or obstruction by the petitioning parent; a court-ordered limitation, restriction, or suspension of parenting time; or other good cause beyond the respondent parent's control. Provides that an order of termination does not extinguish any child support arrearages accrued before termination unless expressly ordered by the court.