Rep. Maurice West

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions prohibiting prior authorization mandates and utilization management controls under the fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs on specified FDA-approved prescription drugs for mental illness, provides that the prohibition shall apply if a preferred or non-preferred drug is prescribed to an adult patient to treat a serious mental illness and (i) during the preceding 60 days, the patient who experienced an inadequate response was prescribed and unsuccessfully treated with a 14-day treatment trial of a drug for the same clinical condition that is included on the preferred drug list and (ii) one of the statutory conditions apply.

Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Defines "veteran" to mean any person who: (i) served on active duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces and whose last discharge or release was under conditions other than dishonorable; (ii) served on active duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including active duty solely for training purposes, and was either awarded a service-connected disability or died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; (iii) served in the National Guard or as a reservist in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including active duty solely for training purposes; or (iv) is determined to be a veteran according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, that in any case, the service of such person was entered into or served in Illinois, or such person has resided in the State for at least one day, except for the purpose of determining the residential eligibility of a deceased veteran's dependents.

Amends the School Code. Requires each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 to provide contact information for the National Domestic Violence Hotline on the identification card. Requires the contact information to be included in the school's student handbook and the student planner, if applicable.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption, subject to certain limitations, for property that is located within a special flood hazard area as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Provides that the amount of the exemption shall be a reduction in the property's equalized assessed value of $5,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Provides that, in the calendar year 2 years before a regulatory agency or program is scheduled for termination (rather than annually), the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall study the performance of each regulatory agency and program scheduled for termination under the Act and report to the Governor the results of the study. Requires the Governor to review the report of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and, no later than December 1st of the year preceding the year of termination (rather than in each even-numbered year), make recommendations to the General Assembly on the termination, modification, or continuation of regulatory agencies and programs.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act or any other Illinois statute (rather than except as otherwise provided in the Act), a quorum of members of a public body must be physically present at the location of an open meeting or present by video or audio conference at the open meeting (now, members must be physically present at the meeting). Provides that a member is present by video or audio conference at an open meeting if the member can hear and be heard by all other members of the body who are participating in the meeting. Specifies that, if a member wishes to attend a meeting by video or audio conference, the member must notify the recording secretary or clerk of the public body before the meeting, unless providing that advance notice is impractical for the member. Repeals existing provisions concerning the participation of public body members in open meetings by video conference or other means.

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Requires the school boards of certain school districts to provide free transportation for pupils residing at a distance of 1/2 mile or more from the school to which they are assigned for attendance if the school is located completely or partially within or directly adjacent to an R3 zone, as designated by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, and is outside of a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more residents, except for those pupils for whom adequate transportation for the public is available.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In provisions concerning the Teen Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring, and Hope (Teen REACH) Grant Program, provides that any technical assistance provided to a statewide provider of services under the Teen REACH Grant Program shall be delivered directly by the Department of Human Services and shall not be delegated or outsourced to a third-party organization.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that within 6 months of learning that an adult with a developmental disability has lost a parental guardian while living with that parental guardian or independently, the Department of Human Services shall request a wellness check from the designated adult protective services agency or provider agency as defined in the Adult Protective Services Act to: (1) verify that the adult with a developmental disability is not experiencing or at imminent risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect; and (2) establish mandatory standards for the provision of emergent casework and follow-up services to mitigate the risk of harm or death to the adult with a developmental disability.

Amends the Alternative Learning Opportunities Law of the School Code. Provides that Regional Office of Education No. 4 shall establish a 3-year pilot program focused on serving students in grades kindergarten through 3. Provides that students in grades kindergarten through 3 who meet enrollment criteria established by a school district and who are at risk of academic failure are eligible to participate in the pilot program. Requires the pilot program to adhere to all other rules established for alternative learning opportunities programs. Requires Regional Office of Education No. 4 to provide a report to the General Assembly outlining the pilot program's methodology and student outcomes and setting forth a comprehensive impact report and a framework for future program models. Effective immediately.