Rep. Dave Vella

Creates the Dental Loss Ratio Act. Sets forth provisions concerning dental loss ratio reporting. Provides that a health insurer or dental plan carrier that issues, sells, renews, or offers a specialized health insurance policy covering dental services shall, beginning July 1, 2023, annually submit to the Department of Insurance a dental loss ratio filing. Provides a formula for calculating minimum dental loss ratios. Sets forth provisions concerning minimum dental loss ratio requirements. Provides that the Department may adopt rules to implement the Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to an insurance policy issued, sold, renewed, or offered for health care services or coverage provided as a function of the State of Illinois Medicaid coverage for children or adults or disability insurance for covered benefits in the single specialized area of dental-only health care that pays benefits on a fixed benefit, cash payment-only basis. Defines terms. Amends the Dental Service Plan Act. Provides that a dental service plan corporation shall not disburse during any one year (rather than shall not disburse during any one year, except upon the approval of the Director of Insurance) a sum greater than 20% of payments received from subscribers during that year as administrative expenses. Effective immediately.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Makes changes to the probationary periods pertaining to attaining contractual continued service. For the first probationary period, requires the teacher to be employed for 3 (rather than 4) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher receives overall annual evaluation ratings of at least "Proficient" in the second and third school terms (rather than overall annual evaluation ratings of at least "Proficient" in the last school term and at least "Proficient" in either the second or third school term). For the second probationary period, requires the teacher to serve for 2 (rather than 3) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher receives 2 (rather than 3) overall annual evaluations of "Excellent". Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that the Division of Probation Services shall reimburse the county or counties for 100% of the salary for all probation officer and supervisor positions approved for reimbursement by the division to meet pretrial services programs and specialty court programs. Provides that for the remaining probation officer positions engaged in basic services and new or expanded services approved of the total statewide number as of July 1, 2021, beginning on July 1, 2024, 20% of that number shall be transferred to those requiring 100% salary reimbursement. Each subsequent July 1, another 20% of the July 1, 2021 population shall also be transferred under described circumstances.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Specifies that, for purposes of a provision in the Act concerning the resolution of disputes involving security employees, that the term "units of security employees of a public employer" includes units of county correction or detention officers, units of probation officers, and units of telecommunicators who are critical to public safety.

Amends the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board Act. Provides that, by December 31, 2024, the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board must publish a report to identify strategies to address transportation access barriers that current secondary and community college students encounter when trying to access career development experiences and apprenticeship opportunities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of "pedestrian" to include a person operating a skateboard. Defines "skateboard" as any non-pedestrian device consisting of a deck with one or more wheels or rollers mounted thereon and upon which the operator stands, sits, or lies during use.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create a Youth Sports Referee Program to provide improved compensation and protections to referees employed by youth sports leagues. Provides that the Program shall: (1) develop standards that protect referees by authorizing them to eject disruptive spectators, including parents, from the premises of a sporting event held by a youth sports league; and (2) provide grants to youth sports leagues that adopt the standards to compensate referees at least $50 per game officiated. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to administer the program.

Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Labor shall establish a Preferred Worker Program to assist workers whose on-the-job injuries result in a disability that may be a substantial obstacle to employment by providing assistance to eligible injured workers. Provides that the Department shall award grants to eligible injured workers and employers of eligible injured workers to cover specified expenses relating to their employment. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to administer the program.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the requirements for appointing a highway commissioner who is a non-resident or who has not resided in the district for one year also apply to the appointment of a district clerk. Removes the requirement that a township have a population of less than 500 residents for a board of trustees to appoint a non-resident or a person who has not resided in the district for one year.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who employ a veteran with a service connected disability for a period of at least 12 continuous months immediately before the end of the taxable year. Provides that the credit is in an amount equal to the percentage of disability suffered by the veteran multiplied by the employee's wage base. Provides that the veteran's wage base is the first $5,000 dollars in wages or compensation actually paid to the employee by the employer during the taxable year.