Rep. Ryan Spain

Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Provides that a 9-1-1 Authority in a county that: has a population of at least 250,000, has more than one Emergency Telephone System Board, Joint Emergency Telephone System Board, or qualified governmental entity, and is serving a population of less than 25,000 is exempt from consolidation requirements if the 9-1-1 Authority: (1) as of January 1, 2019, is the only remaining authority in the State that has not met the consolidation requirements; (2) serves a municipality with a population of less than 6,000 people; and (3) has received intergovernmental agreement rejections by 5 or more contiguous counties or 9-1-1 authorities to consolidate 9-1-1 services.

Creates the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Act. Provides that the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform shall consist of 18 voting members. Provides for the appointment of the members. Provides that the Commission shall undertake a review of executive branch State agencies and provide recommendations for improvement. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly. Creates the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Fund, which may receive gifts, grants, and donations from any lawful source. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Commission exclusively for public purposes. Provides that the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform shall operate as a 501(c)(4) entity under the federal Internal Revenue Code. Repeals the Act on October 1, 2022. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to annually include information about the Child Care Assistance Program and the federal dependent care allowance in the language that schools are required to provide to students eligible for Monetary Award Program grants. Specifies the information that must be included. Provides that an institution of higher learning that participates in the Monetary Award Program shall provide, at a minimum, the information to all students who are enrolled, or who are accepted for enrollment and are intending to enroll, and who have been identified by the Commission as Monetary Award Program-eligible at the institution. Provides that an institution of higher learning shall also provide the information to any student identified by the institution of higher learning as a student with dependents. Provides that an institution of higher learning may designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Requires the Commission to adopt rules to implement the provisions on or before October 1, 2020. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that every vehicle other than an antique vehicle displaying an antique plate or an expanded-use antique vehicle displaying antique vehicle plates operated in the State shall be equipped with the same number of stop lamps on the rear of the vehicle as originally installed by the manufacturer in conformance with the Code of Federal Regulations (rather than a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles, provides that the annual employer contribution shall include an amount sufficient to bring the total assets of the pension fund up to 80% (instead of 90%) of the total actuarial liabilities of the pension fund by the end of municipal fiscal year 2050 (instead of 2040). Makes a conforming change. In the General Provisions Article, requires the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to conduct a study on the costs and benefits of consolidating all downstate police and downstate firefighter pension funds into a single pension fund and to submit its report on its findings to the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2020. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer shall be allowed an income tax credit in an amount equal to 1.3% of the qualified research expenses made by the taxpayer in Illinois. Provides that the taxpayer is not required to have obtained a research and development credit with respect to his or her federal income taxes to qualify for the Illinois research and development credit.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides for registration under the Act of a person convicted of a battery if: (1) the State's Attorney filed a notice contemporaneous with or included in the summons, complaint, or other document charging the battery to seek sex offender registration under the provision as a sexually motivated battery; (2) the complaining witness is under 17 years of age; (3) the offender is 21 years of age or older; and (4) the court finds that the battery was "sexually motivated" as defined in the Sex Offender Management Board Act.

Creates the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides requirements concerning disclosure and review of prior authorization requirements, denial of claims or coverage by a utilization review program, and the implementation of prior authorization requirements or restrictions. Provides requirements concerning a utilization review program's obligations with respect to prior authorizations in nonurgent circumstances, urgent health care services, and emergency health care services. Provides that a utilization review program shall not require prior authorization under specified circumstances. Provides requirements concerning the length of prior authorizations. Provides that health care services are automatically deemed authorized if a utilization review program fails to comply with the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Director of Insurance may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $250,000 for violations of the Act. Defines terms. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act to provide that an insurer that provides prescription drug benefits must comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that if prior authorization for covered post-stabilization services is required by a health care plan, the plan shall comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide that all managed care organizations shall comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2021.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits a false personation if he or she knowingly and falsely represents himself or herself to be a census worker employed by the federal or State government, or their regional intermediary, grantee, subgrantee, or temporary volunteer for the purpose of effectuating identity theft or in furtherance of the commission of a felony. Provides that a violation of false personation of a census worker is a Class 4 felony.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who employ individuals working within the engineering sector who graduated from an accredited institution of higher learning with a Bachelor's degree or higher. Provides that the credit shall be equal to 10% of the compensation paid for the first through fifth years of employment in the engineering sector if the qualified employee graduated from an institution located in Illinois or 5% of the compensation paid for the first through fifth years of employment in the engineering sector if the qualified employee graduated from an institution not located in Illinois. Effective immediately.