Rep. Camille Lilly

Creates the Rural Hospital Task Force Act. Establishes the Rural Hospital Task Force within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of investigating the current state of rural hospitals and providing recommendations to prevent further closures of rural hospitals and to potentially expand rural hospital services. Provides that the Task Force shall convene to conduct business on at least 4 separate days. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires each agency and entity represented on the Task Force to share with the Task Force any data of the agency or entity necessary to achieve the purpose of the Task Force. Provides that all findings and recommendations made by the Task Force must be reported to the General Assembly before January 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2027

Amends the Vital Records Act. In provisions regarding information required on forms, provides that (i) the decision with respect to burial or cremation shall be made by the authorized person and shall be properly communicated to relevant persons within 7 days after a death, and (ii) the funeral director shall indicate the name of cemetery on the death certificate within 7 days before burial. In provisions regarding death certificates, provides that (i) the administrator of the nursing home, hospital, or hospice facility where the death occurred shall be responsible for creating the death registration file in the electronic reporting system for death registrations, and (ii) signatures may be electronic.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall convene a special task force to study and propose recommendations regarding ADA requirements in correctional institutions and facilities for aging committed persons with life sentences. Provides that the task force shall be composed of no more than 22 members appointed by the Director of Corrections. Provides that the Director of Corrections shall, in appointing the task force, attempt to ensure that the membership on the task force represents the geographic diversity of the State. Provides that members of the task force shall serve without compensation and may not receive reimbursement for any expenses incurred in performing their duties as members of the task force. Provides that the task force shall study and make recommendations regarding the following topics: (1) the number of individuals in correctional institutions and facilities who have disabilities, including sight, hearing, and mobility issues; (2) how the population in paragraph (1) are being accommodated; (3) how many committed persons are not having their needs met; and (4) what areas, as it relates to ADA accessibility, correctional institutions and facilities that are unable to provide adequate accommodations and care for aging committed persons with disabilities. Provides that the task force must submit its recommendations as to any changes in the ADA standards for correctional institutions and facilities to the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for disposable incontinence supplies for any person with a disability. Amends 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, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require coverage under those provisions.

Creates the Crossing of Electric Utility Property Act. Requires a public utility to provide an expedited review and grant of a crossing application and may not unreasonably withhold an allowance for a crossing, unless a public utility provides a reasonable justification that the crossing will impair or harm the right-of-way. Authorizes an occupant to commence use of a crossing within 90 days after meeting the following conditions: (i) notice is sent to the public utility that occupant owns or controls land on both sides of the public utility property and that a crossing is reasonably required to expand or maintain operations on the occupant's property or to benefit the public; (ii) provides to the public utility engineering specifications to demonstrate that the proposed crossing will not impair the public utility's occupancy and use of the right-of-way; (iii) affirms to the public utility that the occupant must maintain and repair the owner's own crossing and must bear responsibility for the owner's own acts and omissions concerning use of the crossing; and (iv) provides to the public utility a payment for establishment of the crossing and the first year of crossing fees. Prohibits a public from unreasonably denying a crossing and lists conditions that make a denial unreasonable. Requires that the occupant provide the public utility reasonable access to the crossing to inspect and monitor, and the occupant provide engineering studies that demonstrate that the crossing will not reasonably interrupt or impair the public utility's right-of-way.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for all medically necessary diagnostic testing and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments or medications prescribed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease or another related dementia, in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration label, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Provides that coverage of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments or medications prescribed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease or another related dementia shall not be subject to step therapy. Amends the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require coverage under those provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for emergency medical services delivered by an out-of-network provider on the same terms as coverage that would be provided for an in-network provider. Provides that this requirement does not apply if the services rendered are not covered for in-network providers. Amends 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 to require coverage under those provisions.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall permit every committed person to receive the original, physical copy of any mail addressed to the committed person that the committed person is entitled and allowed to receive. Provides that any exceptions to the requirements of this provision must be based on evidence that complying with the requirements of this provision present a clear and present danger to the health and safety of the correctional employees or committed persons in the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must include evidence of contraband being sent through the mail, data on the number of mail items containing contraband, test results of mail tested due to suspicion of mail containing drugs, data on where inside a correctional institution or facility contraband has been found, and the method of entry of contraband into the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must be made available to the public upon request. Provides that no committed person shall be denied, or have communications limited, with an outside support person, whether by phone, mail, video, or in person visitation, as a result of a disciplinary sanction or grade level of the infraction. Provides that committed persons may contact outside supports via phone, mail, or electronic message free of charge. Defines "original, physical copy".

Amends the Collective Bargaining Freedom Act. Provides that employers that are licensed under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act or the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act and labor organizations may, anywhere within the entire State of Illinois, execute and apply agreements requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that a formerly convicted person may petition the Department of Human Rights for a grant of protected class status. Provides that the Department may grant protected class status to a formerly convicted person who meets the following conditions: the person has complied with each term and condition of the person's parole, mandatory supervised release, probation, or conditional discharge; the person has obtained a high school diploma or received a high school equivalency certificate; the person is employed or actively seeking employment or is enrolled in or has successfully completed a vocational training or college educational program; the person has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor within the last 5 years; and the person has completed all sanctions imposed upon the person through due process of law. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules concerning what constitutes an intellectual or developmental disability that prevents the formerly convicted person from meeting some of the conditions and who is qualified to diagnose such a person. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions. Provides that protected class status previously granted to a formerly convicted person shall be revoked by the Department after notice and a hearing, if the formerly convicted person is subsequently convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. Provides that the revocation process shall be initiated by a petition that sets forth the date of the subsequent offense, description of the offense, date of conviction for the subsequent offense, and sentence imposed on the conviction. Provides that a copy of the petition and notice of the hearing date shall be served on the formerly convicted person.