Rep. Maurice West

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that reduces the amount of the pension for a Tier 2 firefighter who retires with at least 10 years of creditable service before attaining age 55, provides that the pension of a Tier 2 firefighter who is retiring after attaining age 50 with 20 or more years of creditable service shall not be reduced. Makes a conforming change. Provides that each annual increase for Tier 2 firefighters shall be increased on the January 1 occurring either on or after the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) or the first anniversary of the pension start date, whichever is later, and shall be calculated at 3% of the originally granted pension (instead of calculated at the lesser of 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for a 12-month period ending in September preceding each November 1). Provides that the changes shall apply without regard to whether a Tier 2 firefighter is in active service under the Article on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for an amount equal to the amount included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income that is attributable to student loan repayment assistance received by the taxpayer during the taxable year from a qualified community foundation if the taxpayer is a qualified worker. Effective immediately.

Amends the Gender Violence Act. Provides that "gender-related violence" means, among other meanings, contact between a sexual organ from which a condom has been removed and the intimate part of another who did not verbally consent to the condom being removed and contact between an intimate part of the person and a sexual organ of another from which the person removed a condom without verbal consent.

Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Makes changes concerning high school and community college partnership agreements, the Dual Credit Committee, instructor and other standards for dual credit courses, and the data in reports made by institutions of higher learning. Provides that a Dual Credit Instructor Endorsement Framework shall be developed through a committee involving collaboration between the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Education by December 31, 2024. Sets forth the membership of the committee. Provides that the Framework shall establish criteria for evaluating instructors on the basis of academic credentials, progress toward academic credentials, equivalent experience, or some combination of these. Sets forth what the criteria shall include and what the Framework may do. Effective immediately.

Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Provides that a network plan shall, at least annually, audit (instead of audit periodically) at least 25% of its provider directories for accuracy, make any corrections necessary, and retain documentation of the audit. Provides that the network plan shall submit the audit to the Department of Insurance (instead of to the Director of Insurance upon request). Provides that the Department shall make the audit publicly available. Provides that a network plan shall include in the print format provider directory (i) a detailed description of the process to dispute charges for out-of-network providers or facilities that were incorrectly listed as in-network prior to the provision of care and (ii) a telephone number and email address to dispute those charges. Makes changes to the information that must be provided in a network plan's electronic and print directory. Requires the Director to conduct random audits of the accuracy of provider directories for at least 10% of plans each year. Provides that a consumer who incurs a cost for inappropriate out-of-network charges for a provider, facility, or hospital that was listed as in-network prior to the provision of services may file a verified complaint with the Department, and the Department shall conduct an investigation of the verified complaint and determine whether the complaint is sufficient. Provides that, upon a finding of sufficiency, the Director shall have the authority to levy a fine for not less than the cost incurred by the consumer for inappropriate out-of-network charges for a provider, facility, or hospital that was listed in-network. Provides that the fines collected by the Director shall be remitted to the consumer.

Amends the County Department of Corrections Division of the Counties Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the County Jail Act. Provides that, upon the release of a prisoner or committed person from a county correctional institution, county jail, or Department of Corrections correctional institution or facility, the sheriff, warden, or Department shall provide the prisoner or committed person with an opioid antagonist if the prisoner was incarcerated for drug-related charges or was identified as having a substance abuse disorder.

Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Removes an exception for skilled and intermediate long-term care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act from providing a Safety Net Impact Statement as part of its general review criteria. Includes nursing homes operated by a county in a list of safety net service providers. Provides that facilities operated by a county shall provide in the facility's Safety Net Impact Statement the number of the facility's Medicaid and Medicare certified beds for the 3 fiscal years prior to the application. Requires the State Board Staff Report to include a statement of findings regarding the project's safety net impact under specified circumstances, and that the State Board Staff's assessment shall be considered in determining whether the project fulfills the public interest requirements. Amends the County Homes Division of the Counties Code. Removes a requirement that two-thirds of the county board is required sell, dispose of, or lease for any term, any part of the home properties, and requires a referendum before selling any home (rather than requiring a referendum only for homes that were erected after referendum approval by the voters of the county). Adds referendum language for the selling, disposition of, or lease of a home.

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Directs the Secretary of State to grant a waiver of the lobbyist registration fee for any not-for-profit entity with an annual budget of less than $5,000,000 that is classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a waiver for any lobbyist that exclusively lobbies on behalf of such an entity.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require each school to notify students and the students' parents or guardians twice each year on how to access any mental health services offered in school or in the community where the school is located.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall provide stipends for teachers who participate in externships with a manufacturing company in the State.