Rep. Rita Mayfield

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Council on Aging, provides that at least 7 citizen members shall represent underrepresented communities, including, but no limited to: one member who is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer individual; one member who is a transgender or gender-expansive individual; one member who is an African-American or Black individual; and one member who is an Asian-American or Pacific Islander individual. Creates the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging to investigate, analyze, and study the health, housing, financial, psychosocial, home-and-community-based services, assisted living, and long-term care needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to improve access to benefits, services, and supports for LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers. Requires the Commission to: examine the impact of State and local laws, policies, and regulations on LGBTQ older adults and make recommendations to ensure equitable access, treatment, care and benefits, and overall quality of life; and examine strategies to increase provider awareness of the needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers and to improve the competence of and access to treatment, services, and ongoing care, including preventive care; and carry out other duties. Contains provisions concerning: members appointed to the Commission; Commission meetings and reports; an LGBTQ Older Adult Advocate to advocate for LGBTQ older adults and older adults living with HIV who experience barriers to accessing and utilizing services; an LGBTQ Older Adult Curriculum and Training Program; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the registration fee paid by any vehicle owner who is eligible under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act or who is the spouse of such a person shall be $10 instead of $24.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that requires an employer to make an additional contribution to the State Universities Retirement System for certain salary increases greater than 6%, provides that the System shall exclude any earnings increase paid in an academic year beginning on or after July 1, 2020 (instead of any earnings increase) resulting from overload work performed in an academic year subsequent to an academic year in which the employer was unable to offer or allow to be conducted overload work due to an emergency declaration limiting such activities. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health or its delegate agency shall (rather than may) conduct a follow-up inspection of any dwelling unit for which a mitigation notice was issued.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions requiring coverage for newborn infants, provides that coverage for congenital defects shall include treatment of cranial facial anomalies. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall cover charges incurred and services provided for outpatient and inpatient care in conjunction with services that are provided to a covered individual related to the diagnosis and treatment of a congenital anomaly or birth defect. Provides that the required coverage includes any services to functionally improve, repair, or restore a body part involving the cranial facial area that is medically necessary to achieve normal function or appearance. Provides that any coverage provided may be subject to coverage limits, such as pre-authorization or pre-certification, as required by the plan or issuer that are no more restrictive than the predominant treatment limitations applied to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by the plan. Provides that coverage for a congenital anomaly or birth defect shall include expenses for specified services and items up to the age of 19. Provides that coverage shall not be denied solely on the grounds that the treatment is for cosmetic purposes or is not for a functional defect or impairment. Provides that the coverage does not apply to a policy that covers only dental care. Defines "treatment". Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Effective January 1, 2024. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions requiring coverage for newborn infants, provides that coverage for congenital defects shall include the treatment of cleft lip and cleft palate. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for the medically necessary care and treatment of cleft lip and palate for children under the age of 19. Provides that coverage for cleft lip and palate care and treatment may impose the same deductible, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing limitation that is imposed on other related surgical benefits under the policy. Provides that the coverage does not apply to a policy that covers only dental care. Defines "medically necessary care and treatment". Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Provides that the Act does not prohibit a person, who is not a resident of the State, from performing social work via telehealth in the State for a non-resident of the State for not more than 5 days in any one month or more than 15 days in any one calendar year, had a previous established therapeutic relationship with the non-resident, and the person is authorized to perform such services under the laws of the state or country in which the person resides. Provides that the Act does not prohibit a person, who is not a resident of the State, from performing social work via telehealth in the State for a non-resident of the State currently attending an university or college in the State, had a previous established therapeutic relationship with the non-resident, and the person is authorized to perform such services under the laws of the state or country in which the person resides.

Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Removes language exempting from coverage under the Act an employee of an employer subject to the provisions of Title II of the federal Railway Labor Act. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Provides that the rights afforded under the Act serve as the minimum standard in a negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish a field office in each legislative district (rather than such field offices as it shall find necessary to enable it to perform its duties). House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3.01 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to sufficient appropriations, the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall contract for a market research analysis of field services in this State. Provides that the analysis shall include the availability of veterans assistance commissions, veterans service organizations, and Department staff to assist veterans as well as the availability of nontraditional methods to deliver services through technology-based approaches. Provides that the analysis may use census data, as well as questionnaires, surveys, and town hall meetings to solicit input from veterans, their families, and other stakeholders. Provides that, within 18 months after sufficient appropriations, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a recommended plan for the future delivery of services by the Department's Field Division, including the estimated cost of implementing the plan. Repeals the new provisions on December 31, 2023.

Amends the School Code. Defines "school fees" or "fees" to mean any monetary charge collected by a public school, public school district, or charter school from a student or the parents or guardian of a student as a prerequisite for the student's participation in any curricular or extracurricular program of the school or school district. Provides that homeless children and youth as defined in Section 11434A of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act also qualify for a waiver for fees and fines for the loss or destruction of school property (currently, fees). Provides that the school board may provide for waiver verification no more often than once every academic year (currently, once every 60 days). Provides that no discrimination or punishment of any kind, including, but not limited to, the lowering of grades, exclusion from classes, or withholding of student records, transcripts or diplomas, (currently, lowering of grades or exclusion from classes) may be exercised against a student whose because the student's parents or guardians are unable to purchase required textbooks or instructional materials. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill but removes the applicability of the fine waiver for the destruction of school property, removes the applicability for children living in households eligible for reduced lunch, and makes technical corrections.

Amends the Illinois Exotic Weed Act. Provides that a municipality may adopt an ordinance to eradicate common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), saw-toothed buckthorn (Rhamnus arguta), dahurian buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica), Japanese buckthorn (Rhamnus japonica), and Chinese buckthorn (Rhamnus utilis) on all public and private property within its geographic boundaries.