Rep. Suzanne Ness

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as HEALTH-TECH, establishes a framework for implementing universal mental health screenings for students in Illinois public schools from kindergarten through grade 12. It requires the State Board of Education to submit a report with implementation recommendations by December 2023 and to release a strategy for measuring district readiness by October 2024, with a final plan due by April 2025. Additionally, the legislation repeals the previous Wellness Checks in Schools Program Act and strengthens protections for Medicaid enrollees by ensuring managed care organizations cover emergency services without requiring prior approval and by setting specific rules for post-stabilization care payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill, originally titled SB 951, authorizes the City of Marengo to use a legal process called "quick-take" to acquire specific private properties in McHenry County, Illinois. The quick-take mechanism allows the city to obtain land immediately while paying the owners compensation later, provided the acquisition is for extending water and sewer services along the Interstate 90-Illinois Route 23 Corridor. The legislation specifically targets five distinct parcels of land totaling approximately 2.3 acres within a defined geographic area. This change to the Eminent Domain Act enables the city to proceed with infrastructure improvements without waiting for the standard, often lengthy, condemnation process.

Creates the Increasing Representation of Women in Technology Task Force Act, and creates the Increasing Representation of Women in Technology Task Force. Includes provisions concerning Task Force membership, meetings, and duties. Provides that the State of Illinois Office of Equity shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2030. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Defines terms. Provides that a group policy of accident and health insurance that provides coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness on an expense-incurred basis and that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage, without imposing any cost-sharing requirement, for clinical genetic testing for an inherited gene mutation for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer that is recommended by a health care professional; and evidence-based cancer imaging for individuals with an increased risk of cancer as recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines. Provides that the requirements do not apply to coverage of genetic testing or evidence-based cancer imaging to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Large Event Recycling and Composting Law. Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2025, an owner or operator of an event facility that has a maximum legal capacity or occupancy of at least 3,000 persons and that receives funding from the State of Illinois shall participate in the recycling program established by the county in which the event facility is located and shall send recyclable materials to a recycling center. Defines "event facility".

Creates the Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force Act. Provides that it is the General Assembly's intent to require a coordinated, public health, and service-integrated response by various agencies within the State's health and child welfare systems to address the substance use treatment needs of infants born with prenatal substance exposure, as well as the treatment needs of their caregivers and families, by requiring the development, provision, and monitoring of family recovery plans. Creates the Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force within the Department of Human Services. Sets forth the duties of the Task Force, including reviewing models of family recovery plans that have been implemented in other states; and reviewing and developing recommendations to replace punitive policies with notification policies for health care professionals reporting a positive toxicology screen of a newborn. Contains provisions concerning Task Force membership, meetings, reporting requirements, and other matters. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to develop a standardized CAPTA notification form that is separate and distinct from the form for written confirmation reports of child abuse or neglect. Provides that a CAPTA notification shall not be treated as a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, shall not be recorded in the State Central Registry, and shall not be discoverable or admissible as evidence in any juvenile court or adoption proceeding unless the named party waives, in writing, his or her right to confidentiality. Repeals a provision requiring the Department to report to the State's Attorney every report of a newborn infant whose blood, urine, or meconium contains a prohibited controlled substance. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Removes newborn infants whose blood, urine, or meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance from the list of children presumed neglected or abused under the Act. Makes corresponding changes to a provision listing the types of evidence that constitute prima facie evidence of neglect and to relevant provisions under the Adoption Act. Effective immediately, except that some parts take effect January 1, 2025.

Amends the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may issue a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist, without the required examination, to an applicant who is currently registered, certified, or licensed to practice marriage and family therapy in another state, territory, or jurisdiction (rather than the requirements for licensure in another state or territory must be substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Act or the person must have possessed individual qualifications at the time of applying for licensure that were substantially equivalent to the requirements then in force in this State), submits an application on a form that is approved by the Department, and pays the application fee set by the Department. Provides that an individual applying for licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been licensed at the independent level in another United States jurisdiction without discipline (rather than 5 years without discipline) is not required to submit proof of completion of the education, professional experience, and supervision otherwise required. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a health plan shall limit the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for a covered prescription inhaler at an amount not to exceed $25 per 30-day supply and shall limit the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for all covered prescription inhalers at an amount not to exceed $50 in total per 30 days. Provides that coverage for prescription inhalers shall not be subject to any deductible. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents a health plan from reducing a covered person's cost sharing to an amount less than the cap. Authorizes rulemaking and enforcement by the Department of Insurance. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Subsidized Housing Joint Occupancy Act. Provides that an elderly parent with an adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex shall not be required to occupy subsidized housing with only one bedroom. Provides that exceptions to the largest permissible unit size for subsidized housing shall be made when the elderly parent and adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements.

Amends the Housing is Recovery Pilot Program Act. Provides that an individual is eligible to receive a Housing is Recovery bridge rental subsidy for purposes of stabilizing his or her mental illness or substance use disorder if: (1) the individual is at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization who is 18 (rather than 21) years of age or older, or is aging out of guardianship under the Department of Children and Family Services, and who is eligible to enroll in, or is enrolled in, Medicaid for purposes of receiving mental health treatment; or (2) an individual at high risk of overdose who is 18 (rather than 21) years of age or older, or is aging out of guardianship under the Department of Children and Family Services, and who is eligible to enroll in, or is enrolled in, Medicaid for purposes of receiving substance use treatment.