States that Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program eligibility and funding should be broadened to further reduce barriers to breast screening, detection and treatment for underserved women to improve conditions for women to achieve optimal health, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or economic status.
Declares April 2, 2019 as Pay Equity Day.
Creates the Not-For-Profit Organization Minority Employee Assistance Act. Defines terms. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish and administer the Not-For-Profit Organization Minority Employee Loan Repayment Assistance Program for the primary purpose of providing loan repayment assistance to minority employees to encourage minorities to pursue careers with not-for-profit organizations; provides for the Program's eligibility requirements. Provides that the maximum amount of loan repayment assistance for each Program participant shall be $5,000 per year, up to a maximum of $25,000 during the participant's career; provides for the manner of fund distribution. Provides that if a Program participant becomes ineligible during the term of a loan, he or she must repay the outstanding amount of any loan received from the Commission. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Not-For-Profit Organization Minority Employee Loan Repayment Assistance Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Repeals a provision providing for the collection of an annual commercial distribution fee on vehicles of the second division weighing more than 8,000 pounds. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2020.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier and alternative gas supplier shall: make certain information available on its website; send a separate written notice or electronic mail informing the residential customer of the upcoming change in price or other charge; and not automatically renew a contract with a residential customer at a rate higher than the initial term of the contract or automatically change or renew a fixed contract to a variable rate contract. Provides that all marketing materials shall contain the Historical Price to Compare from the immediately preceding 12 months. Provides, with exceptions, that beginning 90 days after the effective date of the Act, no customer who has received specified financial assistance within the preceding 12 months shall be switched to an alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier. Provides that beginning January 1, 2021, an alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier may apply to the Illinois Commerce Commission to offer a savings guarantee plan. Provides that every alternative retail electric supplier and alternative gas supplier shall include specific information on bills issued to a residential customer. Provides that every electric utility or gas utility that provides delivery and supply services shall include specific information on each bill to a residential customer who obtains supply from an alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning electric service provider selection and alternative gas suppliers.
Creates the Hospital Patient Protection Act. Provides for minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and ambulatory surgical treatment centers. Sets forth essential functions of direct care registered professional nurses relating to hospital patient care. Sets forth certain rights of direct care registered professional nurses, including the rights to protected speech and patient advocacy. Prohibits a hospital, long-term acute care hospital, and ambulatory surgical treatment center from interfering with a nurse's exercise of those rights, and prohibits other retaliatory or discriminatory action by a hospital. Provides for monetary and equitable relief for violations of the Act, and provides for civil penalties. Requires a hospital, long-term acute care hospital, and ambulatory surgical treatment center to post certain provisions of the Act for review by the hospital's employees and patients and by the public. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act and the Nurse Practice Act to provide that in the case of a conflict between a provision of either of those Acts and a provision of the Hospital Patient Protection Act, the Hospital Patient Protection Act shall control. Effective January 1, 2020.
Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer or producer authorized to issue policies of insurance in the State may not make a distinction or otherwise discriminate between persons, reject an applicant, cancel a policy, or demand or require a higher rate of premium for reasons based solely upon the basis that an applicant or insured has been convicted of a felony.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the hospital credit applies for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2012 and ending on or before December 31, 2025 (currently, the credit sunsets on December 31, 2017 by operation of the Act's automatic sunset provision). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the imposition of term limits by referendum, ordinance, or otherwise must be prospective. Provides that elective office held prior to the effective date of any term limit imposed by a municipality shall not prohibit a person otherwise eligible from running for or holding elective office in that municipality. Provides that term limits imposed in a manner inconsistent with the applicable provisions are invalid. Provides that these provisions apply to all term limits imposed by a municipality located in a county with a population greater than 3,000,000 by referendum, ordinance, or otherwise passed on or after November 8, 2016. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.
