Rep. Jeff Keicher

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is the public policy of the State to prevent discrimination based on the specific status or term of status that accompanies a legal work authorization. Defines "work authorization status" as the status of being a person born outside of the United States, and not a U.S. citizen, who is authorized by the federal government to work in the United States. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for: (1) any employer to refuse to hire, to segregate, to engage in harassment, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of work authorization status; (2) any employment agency to fail or refuse to classify properly, accept applications and register for employment referral or apprenticeship referral, refer for employment, or refer for apprenticeship on the basis of work authorization status; (3) any labor organization to limit, segregate, or classify its membership, or to limit employment opportunities, selection and training for apprenticeship in any trade or craft, or otherwise to take or fail to take, any action which affects adversely any person's status as an employee or as an applicant for employment or as an apprentice, or as an applicant for apprenticeships, or wages, tenure, hours of employment, or apprenticeship conditions on the basis of work authorization status; and (4) any employer to refuse to honor work authorization based upon the specific status or term of status that accompanies the authorization to work. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for a person, or for 2 or more persons, to conspire to retaliate against a person because he or she has opposed that which he or she reasonably and in good faith believes to be discrimination based on work authorization status. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 775 ILCS 5/2-104 from Ch. 68, par. 2-104 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following change: Provides that nothing contained in the Act shall require an employer to sponsor any applicant or employee to obtain or modify work authorization status, unless otherwise required by federal law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to provide that an individual or group health care service plan contract that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2022 shall not require prior authorization for biomarker testing for an insured with advanced or metastatic stage 3 or 4 cancer, nor shall prior authorization be required for biomarker testing of cancer progression or recurrence in the insured with advanced or metastatic stage 3 or 4 cancer. Defines "biomarker testing". House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 375/6.11 55 ILCS 5/5-1069.3 65 ILCS 5/10-4-2.3 105 ILCS 5/10-22.3f 215 ILCS 125/5-3 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1411.2 215 ILCS 130/4003 from Ch. 73, par. 1504-3 215 ILCS 165/10 from Ch. 32, par. 604 305 ILCS 5/5-16.8 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2022 shall include coverage for biomarker testing. Provides that biomarker testing shall be covered and conducted in an efficient manner to provide the most complete range of results to the patient's health care provider without requiring multiple biopsies, biospecimen samples, or other delays or disruptions in patient care. Provides that biomarker testing must be covered for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of an enrollee's disease or condition when the test is supported by medical and scientific evidence. Provides that when coverage of biomarker testing for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, or ongoing monitoring of any medical condition is restricted for use by health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, or health maintenance organizations, the patient and prescribing practitioner shall have access to a clear, readily accessible, and convenient processes to request an exception, and the process shall be made readily accessible on the insurer's website. Defines "biomarker" and "biomarker testing". 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 Illinois Public Aid Code.

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that if the estate of a ward consists only of money, the court may order, among other dispositions, the money deposited in a qualified tuition program.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse epilepsy specialists, as defined by the Department by rule, who are authorized by Illinois law to provide epilepsy treatment services to persons with epilepsy or related disorders via telehealth. Provides that the Department shall establish, by rule, a method to reimburse providers for epilepsy treatment services provided by telehealth. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that each public institution of higher education shall study and issue a report on the cost-saving methods and practices utilized by the public institution for improving students' timely access to required course materials and the affordability of required course materials. Sets forth the required areas of study that must be included in the report. Provides that the report from each public institution must be submitted to the Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community College Board no later than August 1, 2022. Provides that no later than February 1, 2023, the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall submit a joint report to the Governor and General Assembly that summarizes the findings from the reports submitted by public institutions. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to post each institution's report and the joint report on their respective websites. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 205/9.40 new Adds reference to: New Act Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the College Course Materials Affordability and Equitable Access Collaborative Study Act. Provides that the College Course Materials Affordability and Equitable Access Task Force is created within the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Sets forth the membership of the task force. Provides that the duties of the task force are to (i) conduct a collaborative college course materials affordability and equitable access study, (ii) examine the cost-saving methods and practices utilized by public and private institutions of higher learning in this State and throughout the United States for improving students' equitable first-day-of-class access to required course materials and conduct an affordability comparison of providing students' course materials, including digital learning tools, and (iii) submit a report of its findings to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Contains provisions concerning meetings, expenses, Commission assistance, collaboration, and reporting. Dissolves the task force on March 31, 2024, and repeals the Act on March 31, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that if, at the time of enrollment, a dependent of United States military personnel is housed in temporary housing located outside of a school district, but will be living within the district within 6 months (instead of within 60 days), the dependent must be allowed to enroll and must not be charged tuition. Provides that United States military personnel shall provide proof within 6 months (instead of within 60 days) after the time of enrollment that the dependent will be living within the district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that payment by credit card during the period during which merchandising credit may be extended shall be considered payment. Provides that a retailer may use a credit card to make purchases from a distributor, and the distributor may charge to the retailer any fees associated with that credit card transaction. Provides that manufacturers, non-resident dealers, foreign importers, distributors, or importing distributors may make certain donations related to COVID-19. Provides that retail license holders may accept those donations. Repeals provisions related to the receipt of items of value on January 1, 2024. Authorizes the delivery and carry out of a single serving of wine if specified conditions are met. Provides that the provision concerning delivery and carry out of mixed drinks is repealed on January 1, 2024 (instead of June 2, 2021). Makes other changes. Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, with respect to certain eating and drinking establishments, the obligation to make quarter monthly payments shall be suspended, and the taxpayer shall, instead, make monthly payments as otherwise provided by law. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 235 ILCS 5/6-6.65 new Removes provisions from the introduced bill allowing manufacturers, non-resident dealers, foreign importers, distributors, or importing distributors to make certain donations related to COVID-19. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 35 ILCS 105/9 35 ILCS 120/3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. In the Liquor Control Act of 1934, adds to the definition of "original container" a container that is filled and labeled by the manufacturer and secured by the manufacturer's original unbroken seal. Provides that "sealed container" includes a manufacturer's original container. Provides that a manufacturer's original container shall be affixed with a label or tag that contains the name, license number, and address of the retail licensee that sold the product. Provides for repeal of provisions concerning delivery and carry out of mixed drinks on January 1, 2025 (rather than January 1, 2024). Removes provisions amending the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 235 ILCS 5/6-37 new Provides for repeal of provisions concerning delivery and carry out of mixed drinks on January 3, 2024 (rather than January 1, 2025). Further amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that, from June 10, 2021 through July 10, 2021, a retail licensee may offer a single drink of alcoholic liquor at no cost to a customer as part of a publicly advertised promotion to encourage participation in any COVID-19 vaccination program if the customer provides proof of COVID-19 vaccination received at any time. Provides that drinks may be provided only from 6 p.m. through 10 p.m. Provides that a retail licensee's participation in providing a single drink of alcoholic liquor is voluntary. Allows the retail licensee to determine or restrict which single drink of alcoholic liquor it will provide at no cost but provides that under no circumstances may a single drink of alcoholic liquor exceed 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer. Allows a local liquor control commissioner or local liquor control commission to prohibit retail licensees within its jurisdiction from providing a single drink of alcoholic liquor at no charge by promulgating a rule or policy preempting this Section. Provides that, after receiving a single drink of alcoholic liquor at no charge, no customer shall receive a subsequent drink from the retail licensee providing the drink at no charge or from another retail licensee on the same day or any subsequent day. Requires the retail licensee to develop procedures to verify the identity of the vaccinated customer by comparing the vaccination card to a form of valid federal or State identification. Provides that the retail licensee shall develop procedures to ensure that a customer does not obtain more than a single drink at no charge and the retail licensee shall be subject to penalties imposed by the State Commission if the retail licensee provides more than a single drink to a particular customer at no charge. Provides that the Illinois Liquor Control Commission may publish further guidelines on the implementation of this Section not inconsistent with this Section and shall post them on the State Commission's website. Provides for repeal of the provisions on July 11, 2021. Makes other changes.

Declares the month of April 2021 as AMBUCS Appreciation Month in the State of Illinois.

Calls upon the Illinois Department of Employment Security to make an immediate public commitment to reopen their public-access public employment offices to provide face-to-face help to Illinois residents who urgently need assistance. Calls upon all of the other departments of the State of Illinois to provide the Department of Employment Security with advice, technical assistance, and guidance on how to safely reopen public-access office spaces under current conditions. Expresses support for the working people of Illinois and recognizes the stressful circumstances of operating a publicly accessible office in a time of pandemic.

Congratulates the Stage Coach Players on the organization's 75th anniversary.