Rep. Esther Golar

Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Telecommunications Article.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education and each school board to (1) ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in mainstream physical education programs and try out for and, if selected, participate in mainstream athletic programs; (2) ensure the provision of all reasonable accommodations necessary to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate, to the fullest extent possible, in mainstream physical education and mainstream athletic programs; and (3) ensure that adapted, allied, or unified physical education and athletic programs are available. Sets forth exceptions to these requirements. Contains provisions concerning a school board's duty; policies, procedures, and opportunities; compliance, technical assistance, and rulemaking.

Request that the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission summarize available information research on the best practices within the State and across the nation with respect to juvenile record confidentiality, law enforcement recordkeeping, and expungement and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly regarding effective policy and practice concerning juvenile record confidentiality and expungement.

Urges the Governor to seek to empower and engage individuals and communities where behavioral healthcare disparities exist through the establishment of Behavioral Healthcare Enterprise Zones, Behavioral Healthcare Loan Repayment Assistance initiatives, methods for establishing pilot programs for health homes, systems of care, and essential community behavioral healthcare providers, standardized data collection and analysis methods regarding the impact on racial, ethnic, and rural healthcare disparities, and a Illinois Behavioral Health Innovation Prize.

Amends the School Code. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board of Education to create a pilot program in which public elementary schools with 30% or greater mobility rates, as calculated by the State Board, may apply for and be awarded an annual grant to use the Direct Instruction teaching method. Defines "Direct Instruction" as the Direct Instructional System for Teaching Arithmetic and Reading (DISTAR) created in 1977 with a grant from the U.S. Office of Education. Sets forth reporting provisions.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall require prior approval of wheelchair repairs when the cost of any one part is greater than or equal to $500 per line item, when the sum of the parts is greater than or equal to a total of $1,500, or when 8 or more units of labor are to be billed (rather than shall require prior approval of wheelchair repairs regardless of the cost of repairs). Provides that the payment rate for custom manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, seating and positioning items, and related options and accessories shall be set at the current Medicare fee schedule minus 6%; and that for those items that do not have an established rate on the Medicare fee schedule, the payment rate shall be the manufacturer's suggested retail price minus 10%. Effective immediately.

Creates the Best Candidate for the Job Act. Provides that private and public employers shall properly consider for employment and licenses persons previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses. Prohibits discrimination against such persons unless there is a direct relationship between the offense and the specific license or employment sought. Establishes criteria for evaluating convictions. Exempts law enforcement agencies.

Creates the Complex Needs Patient Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide separate recognition within the State's Medicaid program for individually configured complex rehabilitation technology products and services for complex needs patients. Defines "complex needs patient" to mean an individual with a diagnosis or medical condition that results in significant physical or functional needs and capacities. Provides that the separate recognition for technology products and services for complex needs patients shall take into consideration the customized nature of complex rehabilitation technology and the broad range of services necessary to meet the unique medical and functional needs of people with complex medical needs. Provides that the Department shall require complex needs patients receiving complex rehabilitation technology to be evaluated by a qualified health care professional and a qualified complex rehabilitation technology professional. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall adopt the regulations and policies outlined in the Complex Needs Patient Act. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative. Effective July 1, 2013.