Rep. Sonya Harper

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that the publication requirement in a petition for change of name shall be waived if: (i) the petitioner is 18 years of age or older; (ii) concurrent with the petition, the petitioner files with the court a statement, verified under oath, attesting that the petitioner is or has been a person protected under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, the stalking provisions of the Criminal Code of 2012, or a similar provision of a law in another state or jurisdiction; (iii) the petitioner attaches to the statement any supporting documents, including relevant court orders; and (iv) the circuit court, after reviewing the statement and supporting documents, enters an order waiving publication. Provides that, under certain circumstances, the petitioner's address may be omitted from court documents and the petitioner may designate an alternative address for service. Provides that court administrators may allow domestic abuse advocates to assist petitioners in the preparation of certain name change petitions. Provides that if publication requirements have been waived, the circuit court shall enter an order providing that any system operated by the judiciary that is designed to provide public case information electronically shall not make the petition publicly available.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2020, the definition for "eligible individual" for provisions concerning human papillomavirus vaccinations includes male children under the age of 18 that meet specified conditions. Amends the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health must provide all students (currently, all female students) who are entering sixth grade and their parents or legal guardians written information about the link between human papillomavirus and specified kinds of cancer, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation for children to be vaccinated with the HPV vaccine (currently, written information about the link between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer and the availability of the HPV vaccine). Provides that the Department shall adopt emergency rules to the extent necessary to administer the Department's responsibilities under the amendatory Act no later than July 1, 2019.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the self-administration and self-carry of asthma medication, provides that a school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school may authorize a school nurse or trained personnel to (i) provide undesignated asthma medication to a student for self-administration only or to any personnel authorized under a student's Individual Health Care Action Plan or asthma action plan, plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or individualized education program plan to administer to the student that meets the student's prescription on file, (ii) administer an undesignated asthma medication that meets the prescription on file to any student who has an Individual Health Care Action Plan or asthma action plan, plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or individualized education program plan that authorizes the use of asthma medication; and (iii) administer an undesignated asthma medication to any person that the school nurse or trained personnel believes in good faith is having respiratory distress; defines "undesignated asthma medication" and "respiratory distress". Changes the definition of "asthma medication" to mean quick-relief asthma medication that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of respiratory distress. Provides that a school nurse or trained personnel may administer undesignated asthma medication to any person whom the school nurse or trained personnel in good faith believes to be experiencing respiratory distress (i) while in school, (ii) while at a school-sponsored activity, (iii) while under the supervision of school personnel, or (iv) before or after normal school activities. Provides that a school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school may maintain a supply of an asthma medication in any secure location where a person is most at risk. Provides that a training curriculum to recognize and respond to respiratory distress may be conducted online or in person. Specifies training requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires long-term care providers to submit all changes in resident status, including, but not limited to, death, discharge, changes in patient credit, third party liability, and Medicare coverage to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange System, the Recipient Eligibility Verification System, or the Electronic Data Interchange System under a specified schedule. Requires the Department and other agencies to establish an expedited long-term care eligibility determination and enrollment system. Requires the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, in coordination with the Secretary of Human Services and the Director of Aging, to hold meetings for provider associations representing facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act and certified as supportive living programs. Provides that the meetings shall be held every 6 weeks until all backlogged cases have been adjudicated and the application process has been reduced to the federal timeframe. Contains provisions concerning a 45-day extension of the federal eligibility application processing deadline in suspected cases of fraud; the identification of applicants who had full Medicaid benefits in the community for 6 months or more immediately before entering the long-term care facility; reporting requirements; public-private partnerships aimed at redeploying caseworkers to targeted high-Medicaid facilities for the purpose of expediting initial Medicaid and long-term care benefits applications; the establishment of a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant database; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wind Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Provides that the Act may be cited as the Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Changes references in the Act from "commercial wind energy facility" to "commercial renewable energy facility". Provides that "commercial renewable energy facility" means a commercial wind energy facility or commercial solar energy facility. Defines "commercial solar energy facility". Provides that for commercial renewable energy facility owners of a commercial solar energy facility, the agricultural impact mitigation agreement shall be entered into prior to the commercial renewable energy facility owner making contact with a landowner seeking an underlying agreement for the development of a commercial solar energy facility. Makes conforming changes in the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Effective immediately.

Urges the U.S. Department of Education to actively sustain the school discipline guidance released by the Departments of Education and Justice in 2014, and the State of Illinois and Illinois State Board of Education to uphold the original school discipline guidance released by the Department of Education and Justice in 2014, regardless of the decision made by the U.S. Department of Education.

Provides for the ratification of the proposed equal rights amendment to the United States Constitution.

Urges the Illinois Department of Corrections to strengthen its commitment to PREA and eradicate sexual harassment and abuse in correctional facilities in Illinois.

Declares February 28, 2018 as Rare Disease Day in Illinois.

Urges the State of Illinois to make school climate and culture a priority.