Rep. Dan Ugaste

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes existing medical fee schedules inoperative after August 31, 2024. Provides that the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission shall establish new medical fee schedules applicable on and after September 1, 2024 in accordance with specified criteria. Provides for 4 non-hospital fee schedules and 14 hospital fee schedules applicable to different geographic areas of the State. Sets forth a procedure for petitioning the Commission if a maximum fee causes a significant limitation on access to quality health care in either a specific field of health care services or a specific geographic limitation on access to health care. Effective immediately.

Encourages and supports action by the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision from the Social Security Act or to reduce the effects thereof.

Amends the Dissolution of Townships in McHenry County Article of the Township Code. Renames the Article and makes it applicable to all counties under township organization. Amends the Counties Code and the Motor Fuel Tax Law making conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Changes provisions requiring road districts in townships in Lake County and McHenry County to be abolished if the roads of the road district are less than 15 miles in length to require all townships to abolish such road districts. Repeals provisions making abolition permissive for townships with road districts that have roads of less than 15 miles in length. Effective immediately.

Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Changes the definitions of "biometric identifier" and "written release". Defines "biometric lock", "biometric time clock", "electronic signature", "in writing", and "security purpose". Provides that if the biometric identifier or biometric information is collected or captured for the same repeated process, the private entity is only required to inform the subject or receive consent during the initial collection. Waives certain requirements for collecting, capturing, or otherwise obtaining a person's or a customer's biometric identifier or biometric information under certain circumstances relating to security purposes. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to apply to information captured by a biometric time clock or biometric lock that converts a person's biometric identifier or biometric information to a mathematical representation. Requires the Department of Labor to provide information for employers regarding the requirements of the Act on its website. Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that nothing in the Act limits, prevents, or preempts a recovery by an employee under the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Bond Authorization Act. Provides that the authority of a public corporation to levy taxes in connection with the payment of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness ceases upon the maturity date of the bond or other evidence of indebtedness or upon the discharge of the debt, whichever comes first. Effective immediately.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall not charge a toll for a vehicle of the first division pulling a trailer with no more than 2 axles at a rate higher than an amount calculated by multiplying the toll charged to passenger vehicles using an I-PASS device by the total number of axles on the trailer. Provides that the toll rate applies to drivers who use an I-PASS device or use cash to pay a toll. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $80,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board for deposit into the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Fund to assist units of local government in Illinois with full compliance with the mandates of the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Contains provisions on legislative findings. Effective i mmediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any person convicted of a first offense of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer is guilty of a Class 2 felony (instead of a Class 4 felony). Provides that any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer is guilty of a Class 1 felony (instead of a Class 3 felony).

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title and definitions.

Creates the First Responders Behavioral Healthcare Bill of Rights Act. Provides that first responders have certain specified statutory rights in seeking behavioral health services and treatment. Provides that the rights guaranteed to first responders in these provisions are judicially enforceable. Provides that an aggrieved employee may, under the Civil Practice Law, bring an action for damages, attorney's fee, or injunctive relief against an employer for violating these rights. Defines various terms. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the right of full access to behavioral health services and treatment that are responsive to the needs of the individual are available to the profession of emergency medical technician (EMT). Deletes provision that the right of first responders includes the right to have behavioral health services and treatment in a manner that reduces stigma to those services and treatment.