Rep. Suzanne Ness

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 shall provide coverage for access to home health services for the duration of medically necessary care. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

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 School Code. Requires the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services to jointly establish and administer the Community Career Connections Program beginning with the 2022-2023 school year and continuing for a period of 2 school years. Provides that the Community Career Connections Program shall provide high school credits to eligible applicants in a participating school that receives a direct service professional certification. Requires the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services to adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the Community Career Connections Program. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.192 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.195 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and continuing for not less than 2 years, to make available a model program of study that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional. Requires the State Board, by July 1, 2023, to submit recommendations developed in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations representing community-based providers serving children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and education practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers, administrators, special education directors, and regional superintendents of schools, to the Department of Human Services for the training that would be required in order to be complete the model program of study.

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.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that a purchase of service agency under contract with the Department of Children and Family Services to provide transportation services to children and families must comply with all applicable federal and State laws and regulations and Department rules and must certify in the signed purchased of service contract that: (i) the agency has trained all of its drivers on how to properly install and operate an approved child restraint system as defined in the Child Passenger Protection Act; (ii) all drivers possess a valid driver's license and have a driving record devoid of any convictions of traffic violations or evidence of committing an offense for which mandatory revocation would be required upon conviction; (iii) any motor vehicle operated by a driver during the transport of any child on behalf of the Department is insured and such insurance will be maintained throughout the period for which the motor vehicle is used to transport any child on behalf of the Department; and (iv) all vehicles used to transport children are properly maintained, clean, and smoke free with properly functioning heating and air conditioner systems that the driver has been instructed to utilize as appropriate for the weather conditions. Requires a purchase of service agency to provide a designated telephone number that drivers, parents, foster parents, and legal guardians can use to communicate with the agency at any point before or during a scheduled transport or family visit to notify the agency regarding a late pickup or arrival. Requires each agency driver to certify in a written statement that he or she will comply with all laws, regulations, and Department rules including requirements concerning child restraint systems, possession of a valid driver's license, completion of a fingerprint-based criminal history records check, and other matters. Requires the Department to conduct annual checks on purchase of service agencies and drivers to ensure compliance. Grants the Department rulemaking authority to implement the new provisions.

Amends the Electric Vehicle Act and the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Deletes language providing that "electric vehicle" does not include electric motorcycles. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 415 ILCS 120/27 In provisions amending the Electric Vehicle Act and the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act, provides that "electric vehicle" does not include electric mopeds or electric off-highway vehicles. Further amends the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Provides that only electric vehicles that are not an electric motorcycle qualify for specified rebates. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2022, each person shall be eligible to apply for a $1,500 rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle that is an electric motorcycle. Provides that purchasers applying for a rebate must continue to reside in Illinois (rather than a covered area) for a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately after the vehicle purchase date. Provides that rebates administered under the provisions shall be available for both new and used electric vehicles (rather than for new and used passenger electric vehicles). House Floor Amendment No. 2 In the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act, provides that beginning July 1, 2028, each person shall be eligible to apply for a $1,500 (rather than $1,000) rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle that is not an electric motorcycle.

Amends the General Obligation Bond Act. Authorizes an additional $1,000,000,000 of State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bonds. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Employees, State Universities, and Downstate Teachers Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Extends the option for a participant to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment in lieu of any pension benefit or for a reduction in the increases to his or her annual retirement annuity and survivor's annuity to June 30, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2024). Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows a child's individualized education program (IEP) team to determine whether the special education program of a school district is unable to meet the needs of a child with a disability. Provides that the financial responsibility and reimbursement of the resident district of a child with a disability applies to both nonpublic special education facilities that are approved by the State Board of Education and nonpublic special education facilities that are not approved by the State Board of Education. Requires that a nonpublic special education facility providing services to demonstrate proof to the State Board of Education of (i) appropriate certification of teachers for the student population, (ii) age-appropriate curriculum, (iii) enrollment and attendance data, and (iv) the ability to implement the child's IEP. Sets forth provisions concerning requests for approval by the State Board of Education of a nonpublic special education facility. Provides that the Community and Residential Service Authority has the power to make final determinations regarding the approval of nonpublic special education facilities. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/14-7.05 105 ILCS 5/14-15.01 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Allows a student's (instead of child's) individualized education program (IEP) team to determine whether the special education program of a school district is unable to meet the needs of a child with a disability. Provides that the financial responsibility and reimbursement of the resident district of a child with a disability applies to emergency placements in nonpublic special education facilities that are not approved by the State Board of Education. Provides that a school district may place a student in a nonpublic special education facility providing educational services within the facility, but not approved by the State Board of Education, under specified circumstances. Removes provisions that provide that a school district has no obligation to pay a residential facility unless and until specified proof is provided to the satisfaction of the State Board of Education. Removes provisions that provide that if the State Board of Education denies approval in writing or does not respond to a facility's or resident district's request for approval within 10 days after the request is submitted to the State Board of Education, the matter shall be referred to the Community and Residential Services Authority, which shall make the determination and notify the facility or resident district and the State Board of Education within 10 days after the Authority receives the referral. Provides that emergency placement in an approved facility may continue so long as (i) the student's IEP team determines annually that such placement continues to be appropriate to meet the student's needs and (ii) at least every 3 years following the student's placement, the IEP team reviews appropriate placements approved by the State Board of Education. Removes changes to provisions concerning placement in a residential facility and payment of educational costs and provisions concerning the Community and Residential Services Authority. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the superintendent of an employing school board to notify the State Superintendent of Education and applicable regional superintendent of schools if the superintendent has reasonable cause to believe that a license holder committed an act of sexual misconduct that resulted in the license holder's dismissal or resignation from the school district. Requires a public or nonpublic school or independent contractor to conduct an employment history review of certain applicants for employment. Requires the governing body of each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school to adopt a policy under which notice concerning an alleged act of sexual misconduct between an educator and a student is provided to the parent or guardian of that student. Sets forth the information that must be included in the notice. Amends the Personnel Record Review Act. Specifies that provisions requiring an employer to review and delete records concerning disciplinary actions that are more than 4 years old do not apply to a school district sharing information related to an incident or attempted incident of sexual misconduct. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/21B-75 105 ILCS 5/26A-30 Expands the provisions requiring the governing body of each school district, charter school, and nonpublic school to implement procedures for notice concerning an alleged act of sexual misconduct between an employee, agent, or contractor of the school and a student. Requires notice to be provided to the student prior to notification of the student's parents or guardian. In provisions concerning employment history review by a public or nonpublic school or contractor (instead of independent contractor) of certain applicants for employment, limits provisions to allegations or findings or sexual misconduct (rather than abuse or sexual misconduct). Requires an employer who has or had an employment relationship with an applicant to provide additional information about disclosed matters and records. Removes provision permitting a school or contractor from hiring an applicant on a provisional basis. Requires the State Board of Education to develop templates for employment history review. In provisions concerning confidentiality, permits disclosure to the parents or guardians of students of sexual misconduct between an employee, agent, or contractor of the school and the student. In provisions concerning suspension or revocation license, endorsement, or approval, adds sexual misconduct as grounds to initiate suspension or revocation. Changes the effective date to July 1, 2023 (rather than immediate). House Floor Amendment No. 3 Makes grammatical changes.