Rep. Joyce Mason

Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 10 ILCS 5/9-45 30 ILCS 500/1-10 35 ILCS 5/201 from Ch. 120, par. 2-201 35 ILCS 105/3-10 35 ILCS 110/3-10 from Ch. 120, par. 439.33-10 35 ILCS 115/3-10 from Ch. 120, par. 439.103-10 35 ILCS 120/2-10 105 ILCS 5/22-33 225 ILCS 60/22 from Ch. 111, par. 4400-22 410 ILCS 130/7 410 ILCS 130/10 410 ILCS 130/30 410 ILCS 130/35 410 ILCS 130/36 410 ILCS 130/55 410 ILCS 130/57 410 ILCS 130/62 410 ILCS 130/75 410 ILCS 130/130 410 ILCS 130/195 410 ILCS 130/200 410 ILCS 130/135 rep. 410 ILCS 130/220 rep. 625 ILCS 5/2-118.2 625 ILCS 5/6-206.1 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-206.1 625 ILCS 5/11-501 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-501 625 ILCS 5/11-501.9 720 ILCS 550/5.3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Removes the word "Pilot" from the Act's short title and the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. Makes conforming changes throughout the Act and statutes. Provides that autism, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, osteoarthritis, anorexia nervosa, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Neuro-Behcet's Autoimmune Disease, neuropathy, polycystic kidney disease, superior canal dehiscence syndrome, and medical conditions or symptoms for which a person may benefit from the use of medical cannabis are debilitating medical conditions. Provides that possessing cannabis in a vehicle not open to the public unless the medical cannabis is in a reasonably secured, sealed, container (rather than a tamper-evident container) and reasonably inaccessible while the vehicle is moving is not permitted. Removes language providing that a physician may not accept, solicit, or offer any form of remuneration from or to a qualifying patient, primary caregiver, cultivation center, or dispensing organization other than accepting payment from a patient for the fee associated with a required examination. Provides that a qualifying patient under the age of 18 shall not be prohibited from having up to 3 (instead of 2) designated caregivers. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish procedures to permit qualified veterans to participate in the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program. Provides that any Department of Public Health-approved quantity waiver process must be made available to qualified veterans. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall provide for immediate changes to a registered qualifying patient's designated registered dispensing organization. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall adopt rules permitting returns, and potential refunds, for damaged or inadequate products. Repeals a provision concerning changing a designated dispensing organization. Repeals a provision repealing the Act on July 1, 2020.

Declares October 13, 2019 as "Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day" in the State of Illinois and urges citizens of Illinois to become informed and aware of metastatic breast cancer, and to support funding for programs to reduce barriers to breast cancer screening, detection, and treatment for underserved women.

Declares August 2019 as "Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois.

Designates the section of road on Interstate 94 from mile marker 16.50 to mile marker 17 as the "Trooper Gerald W. Ellis Memorial Highway".

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who is a family caregiver is eligible to receive a nonrefundable income tax credit in an amount equal to 100% of the eligible expenditures incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year related to the care of an eligible family member, but not exceed $1,500 for the same eligible family member. Provides that the term "eligible family member" means a person who: (1) is at least 18 years of age during a taxable year; (2) requires assistance with at least one activity of daily living; (3) is a resident of the State; and (4) is related to the family caregiver. Effective immediately. Correctional Note (Dept of Corrections) There is no fiscal or population impact on the department. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 2974 amends the Illinois Income Tax Act in a way that does impact any pension system. Judicial Note (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) This legislation would neither increase nor decrease the number of judges needed in the State of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) This bill would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in this bill; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to this bill, as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Revenue) The fiscal impact of HB 2974 would be a reduction in income tax revenue by an estimated $870 million to $1.74 Billion per year depending on the assumed claim rate. This estimate is based on data from the AARP "Caregiving in the US" 2015 report. From there we estimate that there are 1.36 Million caregivers caring for an adult in Illinois. Following the bill's language, we reduce that number to account only for those caring for an eligible family member. Based on the same data source we arrive to 1.16 Million caregivers that may qualify for this tax credit. When we apply the credit amount of $1,500 per qualified taxpayers to this latest figure, the result is $1.74 Billion in cost to the state - the upper limit of our estimate. The lower limit of the estimate accounts for the fact that in approximately 33% of the cases there is not a sole caregiver (based on the same data source). It also assumes that only 3 out of every 4 qualified taxpayers will claim the credit. For these two reasons in the lower limit we reduce the cost estimate to $870 Million per year, which is 50% of the upper limit. The definition of eligible expenditures is very broad, including costs associated with improvements or alterations to the family residence to permit an eligible family member to remain mobile, safe, and independent; the cost to purchase or lease equipment necessary to assist an eligible family member in carrying on one or more activities of daily living; and the cost of other goods and services that assist in providing care, including personal care attendants, transportation, and legal and financial services. For this reason, we believe that it is reasonable to expect that taxpayers may easily reach to the full credit amount of $1,500 that the bill establishes. For comparison purposes, consider that there are almost 1.6 million returns clarifying retirement income in the state (according to the latest available return data, FY16). This group of taxpayers would likely be the main beneficiary of this bill proposal. This fact reinforces our findings. Furthermore, data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid off ice indicates that the home health care cost in Illinois is around $4.2 Billion annually. This additional fact further strengthens our estimated cost range.

Amends the Downstate Teachers and State Universities Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires an employer to make an additional employer contribution for a participant whose earnings for any academic year used to determine the final rate of earnings exceed the amount of his or her earnings with the same employer for the previous academic year by more than 6% (instead of 3%). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to develop child opportunity zones as a means to deliver comprehensive and coordinated social services at or near schools in this State that are related to specific community needs and that will ultimately increase student performance in schools in the community; defines "child opportunity zone". Provides that a child opportunity zone must provide a means to integrate education, health, and social services into schools and link families to school and community resources. Provides that on or before August 1, 2020, and on or before each August 1 thereafter, the State Board must submit a report to the General Assembly on the number of children and families served by a child opportunity zone program and any other outcome data for each program. Requires the State Board to adopt rules. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Fiscal Note (State Board of Education) HB 2668 is estimated to have a fiscal impact of $15.1 million on the General Revenue Fund budget for the Illinois State Board of Education. This assumes approximately $80,000 to $100,000 in operational costs for one position to coordinate the child opportunity zone functions with school districts, community-based providers, other state agencies, local officials, community colleges, and other adult education and workforce training providers. The position would also complete required reporting. It also assumes $15 million in grant funds would be appropriated to the Illinois State Board of Education to make funding available to provide assistance and supports to the child opportunity zones. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Changes the definition of "child opportunity zone" to mean a coordinated system of early childhood education (rather than a site at or near a school that provides early childhood education). Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in cooperation with regional superintendents of schools, school districts, and other State and community agencies (rather than only the State Board), must develop child opportunity zones as a means to deliver comprehensive and coordinated social services in this State (rather than delivering them at or near schools in this State) that are related to specific community needs and that will ultimately increase student performance in schools in the community. Provides that in addition to funds appropriated by the General Assembly, the State Board may use funds appropriated by the General Assembly for other grant programs to implement child opportunity zone programs. Makes other changes.

Urges the Illinois Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives to create a joint legislative cancer caucus, to be known as the Illinois Legislative Cancer Caucus, to provide a forum for discussing and evaluating public policies affecting cancer research, treatment, education, and prevention efforts.

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that in addition to any other penalty, the court shall order that a person and persons dwelling in the same household may not own, harbor, or have custody or control of any other animal if the person has been convicted of 2 or more of the following offenses: (1) a violation of aggravated cruelty; (2) a violation of animals for entertainment; or (3) a violation of dog fighting.

Amends the Worker's Compensation Act and the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Provides that specified Sections limiting recovery do not apply to injuries or death resulting from an occupational disease as to which the recovery of compensation benefits under the Act would be precluded due to the operation of any period of repose or repose provision. Provides that, as to any such injury occupational disease, the employee, the employee's heirs, and any person having the standing under law to bring a civil action at law has the nonwaivable right to bring such an action against any employer or employers. Effective immediately. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 1596 would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 1596 amends the Worker's Compensation Act and the Worker's Occupational Diseases Act in a way that does not impact any State pension fund. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in Senate Bill 1596; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to this bill, as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Correctional Note (Dept of Corrections) There is no fiscal or population impact on the Department of Corrections. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Central Management Services) It is not possible to calculate an exact fiscal impact of this proposed legislation due to the case­specific nature of any claims that may arise pursuant to this legislation. However, based on the average cost of a workers' compensation claim and the percentage of claims that are denied for untimely filing, the Department of Central Management Services estimates the proposed legislation would result in a cost increase of approximately $250,000 annually.