Rep. Suzanne Ness

Amends the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide all newborns with screening tests for the presence of metachromatic leukodystrophy. Requires the testing to begin within 6 months following the occurrence of specified milestones. Allows the Department to require payment of an additional fee for the provision of metachromatic leukodystrophy screening tests. Contains other provisions.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the definition of "public works" includes power washing projects in which steam or pressurized water, with or without added abrasives or chemicals, is used to remove paint or other coatings, oils or grease, corrosion, or debris from a surface or to prepare a surface for a coating.

Amends the Community-Law Enforcement and Other First Responder Partnership for Deflection and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Changes the Act name to the Community Partnership for Deflection and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Modifies and adds definitions. Provides that A law enforcement agency, other first responder entity, or local government agency (rather than only a law enforcement agency or other first responder entity) may establish a deflection program in partnership with one or more licensed providers of substance use disorder treatment services and one or more community members or organizations. Provides that a deflection program may involve a pre-arrest diversion response and proactive identification of persons thought likely to have an untreated or undiagnosed mental illness. Provides that a local deflection program shall also include case management and restorative justice aspects. Provides that a deflection program may accept, receive, and disburse, in furtherance of its duties and functions, any funds, grants, and services made available by the State and its agencies, the federal government and its agencies, units of local government, and private or civic sources. Provides that activities eligible for funding under the Act include naloxone and related harm reduction supplies (rather than related supplies) necessary for carrying out overdose prevention and reversal (rather than overdose reversal) for purposes of distribution to program participants or for use by law enforcement, other first responders, or local governmental agencies and wraparound participant funds to be used to incentivize participation and meet participant needs. Provides that the Legislative Reference Bureau shall reassign the Act in the Illinois Compiled Statutes (to reflect the addition of local government agencies to the Act).

Creates the Pharmaceutical and Health Affordability: Restrictions on Manufacturers' Amoral Behavior through Reasonable Oversight Act. Provides that a manufacturer or wholesale drug distributor shall not engage in price gouging in the sale of an essential off-patent or generic drug. Provides that the Director of Healthcare and Family Services or Director of Central Management Services may notify the Attorney General of any increase in the price of any essential off-patent or generic drug under the State’s Medical Assistance Program or a State health plan, respectively, that amounts to price gouging. Provides that whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe that a manufacturer or wholesale drug distributor of an essential off-patent or generic drug has violated the Act, the Attorney General shall send a notice to the manufacturer or wholesale drug distributor requesting a specified statement. Provides that within 45 days after receipt of the request, the manufacturer or wholesale drug distributor shall submit the statement to the Attorney General. Provides that to accomplish the objectives and carry out the duties prescribed in the Act, the Attorney General may issue subpoenas or examine under oath any person to determine whether a manufacturer or wholesale drug distributor has violated the Act. Provides that upon petition of the Attorney General, a circuit court may issue specified orders against violations of the Act. Contains provisions concerning the disclosure of financial information provided by a manufacturer or wholesale drug distributor to the Attorney General. Effective January 1, 2024.

Creates the Drug Education and Youth Overdose Prevention Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall collaborate with the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Division of the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, and the Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council to develop improved K-12 health education standards. Provides that the improved K-12 health education standards shall be comprehensive, reality-based, safety-focused, and evidence-based standards that reduce substance use risk factors and promote protective factors. Provides that the State Board of Education shall update state-mandated K-12 health education standards. Sets forth other requirements for the updated standards.

Amends the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Defines "electronic smoking device". Changes the definition of "retail tobacco store" to include references to "electronic smoking devices". Provides that "smoke" or "smoking" includes the use of an electronic smoking device.

Creates the Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act. Prohibits a limited services pregnancy center from using or employing any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation, or the concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact, with the intent that others rely upon the concealment, suppression or omission of such material fact: to interfere with an individual seeking to gain entry or access to a provider of abortion or emergency contraception; to induce an individual to enter or access the limited services pregnancy center; in advertising, soliciting, or otherwise offering pregnancy-related services; or in conducting, providing, or performing pregnancy-related services. Allows the Attorney General to enforce the Act when: it appears to the Attorney General that a limited services pregnancy center has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any practice declared to be unlawful by the Act; the Attorney General receives a written complaint of the commission of a practice declared to be unlawful under the Act; or the Attorney General believes it to be in the public interest that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether a limited services pregnancy center has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any practice declared to be unlawful by the Act. Establishes the remedies available under the Act for violation of the Act, including preliminary or permanent injunction and a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000. Allows any party aggrieved by a violation of the Act to bring an action against any limited services pregnancy center that has committed such a violation, in which the court may award actual damages and any other relief the court deems proper. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness. Provides that the State Homelessness Chief established in Executive Order 2021-21 shall chair the Task Force, co-chair the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness established within the Task Force, and lead the State's comprehensive efforts to decrease homelessness and unnecessary institutionalization in Illinois, improve health and human services outcomes for people who experience homelessness, and strengthen the safety nets that contribute to housing stability. Provides that the State Homelessness Chief shall serve as a policymaker and spokesperson on homelessness prevention, including coordinating the multi-agency effort through legislation, rules, and budgets and communicating with the General Assembly and federal and local leaders on this critical issue. Provides that the purpose of the Task Force is to (i) plan, develop, and implement a State Plan to address homelessness and unnecessary institutionalization; (ii) recommend policy, regulatory, and resource changes necessary to accomplish goals and objectives laid out in the State Plan; (iii) provide leadership for and collaborate with those developing and implementing local plans to end homelessness in Illinois; and other matters. Contains provisions on the composition of the Task Force; meetings; and other matters. Creates the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness within the Task Force to make recommendations to the Task Force regarding homelessness prevention. Contains provisions on the composition of the Advisory Council; meetings; and other matters. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to contravene any federal or State law or regulation. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall affect or alter the existing statutory powers of any State agency or be construed as a reassignment or reorganization of any State agency. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospice Program Licensing Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health's standards for hospices owning or operating hospice residences shall address the number of persons who may be served in a hospice residence, which shall not exceed 24 (rather than 20) persons per location. Provides that the number of licensed hospice residences shall not exceed 16 (rather than 5) located in counties meeting specified population requirements.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Life Care Facilities Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the MC/DD Act, and the ID/DD Community Care Act. Provides that establishments or facilities licensed under the Acts shall post on the home page of the licensed establishment's or facility's website specified information about the Department on Aging's Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. Provides that an establishment or facility may comply with the provisions by posting the required information on the website of its parent company if the establishment does not maintain a unique website and is not required to comply with the provisions if the establishment or facility and any parent company do not maintain a website. Contains other provisions. Effective January 1, 2024.