Rep. Dan Swanson

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the law in recognition of service provided, a health care facility or health care practitioner shall provide without charge one complete copy of a patient's records if: (1) the patient is an indigent homeless veteran; and (2) the records are being requested by the patient or a person, entity, or organization presenting a valid authorization for the release of records signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative, for the purpose of supporting a claim for federal veterans' disability benefits.

Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Provides that all moneys received from the transfer or exchange of any realty under the control of the Department of Military Affairs pursuant to authority contained in specified provisions, and all funds received from the federal government under terms of the federal Master Cooperative Agreement related to constructing and maintaining real property between the Department of Military Affairs and the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Illinois shall be deposited (rather than covered) into the Illinois National Guard Construction Fund. Provides that the moneys in the Fund shall be used exclusively by the Adjutant General for purposes including rehabilitating existing facilities and making other capital improvements. Provides that the distributions from the Illinois National Guard Construction Fund provided for in these provisions shall constitute an irrevocable and continuing appropriation. Provides that the Treasurer and Comptroller are authorized and directed to make distributions from the Fund. Removes language providing that expenditures from the Fund shall be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and written release by the Governor. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act. Provides that, for purposes of issuing an identification card with a veteran designation under the Act, the acceptable forms of proof an applicant may provide includes a Department of Defense form DD-2 (Retired), an identification card issued under the federal Veterans Identification Card Act of 2015, or a United States Department of Veterans Affairs summary of benefits letter. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes conforming changes in regards to a driver's license with a veteran designation.

Amends the Executive Reorganization Implementation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires long-term care providers to submit all changes in resident status, including, but not limited to, death, discharge, changes in patient credit, third party liability, and Medicare coverage to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange System, the Recipient Eligibility Verification System, or the Electronic Data Interchange System under a specified schedule. Requires the Department and other agencies to establish an expedited long-term care eligibility determination and enrollment system. Requires the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, in coordination with the Secretary of Human Services and the Director of Aging, to hold meetings for provider associations representing facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act and certified as supportive living programs. Provides that the meetings shall be held every 6 weeks until all backlogged cases have been adjudicated and the application process has been reduced to the federal timeframe. Contains provisions concerning a 45-day extension of the federal eligibility application processing deadline in suspected cases of fraud; the identification of applicants who had full Medicaid benefits in the community for 6 months or more immediately before entering the long-term care facility; reporting requirements; public-private partnerships aimed at redeploying caseworkers to targeted high-Medicaid facilities for the purpose of expediting initial Medicaid and long-term care benefits applications; the establishment of a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant database; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act. Provides that the definition of "high-risk missing person" includes a person who is a veteran or active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces who is believed to have a physical or mental health condition that is related to his or her service.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that law enforcement officers, in an effort to assist the Department of Children and Family Services in child protective investigations in its response to reports of child abuse or neglect, must, upon request of a child protection investigator, accompany the child protection investigator. Provides that it is the responsibility of the accompanying officer to accompany the child protection investigator to any other police jurisdiction that is outside the accompanying officer's primary jurisdiction. Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Counties Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code making conforming changes.

Amends the Design-Build Procurement Act. Provides that the Act is repealed on July 1, 2021 (currently, July 1, 2019). Effective immediately.

Congratulates the Village of Cambridge on its 175th anniversary.

Congratulates the Oxford American Legion Post #1197 on its rededication to be held on April 14, 2018.