Rep. Camille Lilly

Amends the Chicago Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for school years beginning on or after July 1, 2023, an age and service or prior service annuity shall not be cancelled in the case of an employee who is re-employed by the Board of Education of the city as a paraprofessional or related service provider on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis so long as the person: (1) does not work for compensation on more than 120 days in a school year; or (2) does not accept gross compensation for the re-employment in a school year in excess of $30,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the month of September of each year is designated as Alopecia Awareness Month to be observed throughout the State to bring awareness to the disease of alopecia.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. In provisions allowing the filling or refilling of personal containers with bulk food, refers to restaurants and retailers (rather than just retailers). Allows restaurants and retailers to fill or refill a consumer-owned container with ready-made food. Allows clean consumer-owned containers provided or returned to a restaurant or retailer for filling or refilling to be filled or refilled and returned to the same consumer if the consumer-owned container is filled or refilled by either an employee of the restaurant or retailer or the owner of the consumer-owned container. Requires filled or refilled consumer-owned containers to be designed and constructed for reuse in accordance with specified federal requirements. Contains requirements for restaurants and retailers. Directs the Department of Public Health to produce materials for restaurants and retailers on or before January 1, 2024 indicating that consumer-owned containers are not prohibited for use under Illinois law and specifying best practices for food safety requirements for consumer-owned containers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Antitrust Act. Provides that documentary material, transcripts of oral testimony, or answers to interrogatories obtained in an investigation of a violation of the Act may be used by the Attorney General in any administrative or judicial action or proceeding. Provides that information voluntarily produced to the Attorney General for purposes of an investigation of a violation of the Act or information provided to the Attorney General under a notice requirement shall be treated as if produced pursuant to a subpoena for purposes of maintaining the confidentiality of such information. Provides that health care facilities that are party to a covered transaction shall provide notice of such transaction to the Attorney General no later than 60 days prior to the transaction closing or effective date of the transaction. Provides that any health care facility that fails to comply with the notice requirement is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 per day for each day during which the health care facility is in violation of the requirement. When the Attorney General has reason to believe that a health care facility has engaged in or is engaging in a covered transaction without complying with the notice requirement, allows the Attorney General to apply for and obtain a temporary restraining order or injunction prohibiting the health care facility from continuing its noncompliance or doing any act in furtherance thereof. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding the compulsory school age, provides that a student absent from a school in which the student is regularly enrolled shall be considered as being in attendance if the reason for such absence is to participate in scheduled Future Farmers of America Organization and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. Provides that the student and parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for obtaining assignments missed while the student was participating in such an activity from the student's teacher.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Board of Nursing shall review and make a recommendation for the approval or disapproval of a program by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation based on, among other criteria, a measurement of program effectiveness based on a passage rate of all graduates over the 3 most recent calendar years without reference to first-time test takers. Provides that a graduate who does not take an examination for licensure within the first 90 days after graduation and a graduate who has failed the exam will be required to return to the institution of higher education for remediation prior to repeating or taking the exam. Provides that a graduate may retake the exam only after the institution of higher education provides approval once remediation has been successfully completed. Provides that institutional approval to retake expires 6 months after issuance of the approval to retake. Provides that a graduate with an expired approval is required to repeat the remediation and reapproval process.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall not require criminal background information in instances where the Department has already stated that the criminal background information cannot be used against an applicant for licensure under the relevant licensing Act.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Mental Health Equity Access and Prevention Act. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Public Health shall undertake a public educational campaign to bring broad public awareness to communities across the State on the importance of mental health and wellness. 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, 2025 shall cover all medically necessary out-of-network mental health visits, treatment, and services provided by a mental health provider or facility. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for 2 annual mental health prevention and wellness visits for children and for adults. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall not require the diagnosis of a mental, emotional, or nervous disorder or condition to establish medical necessity for mental health care, services, or treatment. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall contract with an independent third party with expertise in analyzing commercial insurance premiums and costs to perform an independent analysis of the impact of the coverage of services pursuant to the provisions has had on insurance premiums. Provides that the Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions by no later than October 31, 2024. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Higher Education in Prison Act. Provides that on or before September 1 of the year following the effective date of the Act and each subsequent September 1, the Department of Corrections shall release a report, to be published on the Department of Corrections's Internet website, detailing certain information pertaining to higher education within Department institutions and facilities. Requires the report to be filed with the Governor and General Assembly. Provides that the data provided in the report shall include an aggregate chart at the Department level and individual reports by each correctional institution or facility of the Department of Corrections. Provides that on or before September 1 of the year following the effective date of the Act and each subsequent September 1, each college and university that provides academic programs for committed persons shall report to the Board of Higher Education on enrollment, retention, completion, and student demographics, including race, ethnicity, age, and gender of committed students. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall compile the information and, within 60 days after receipt of such information, issue a report reflecting the information for each institution required to report. Provides that the report must be filed with the Governor and General Assembly and made publicly available on the Board of Higher Education's Internet website.

Creates the Protein Innovation Commission Act. Creates the Protein Innovation Commission for the purposes of making an investigation and study relative to alternative proteins and to develop a master plan of recommendations for fostering the appropriate expansion of protein innovation and the alternative protein industry in the State. Provides specifications on what the Commission should examine. Provides for membership, appointment, and meetings of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall study and analyze the potential benefits of alternative proteins and shall address specified items in its report. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out those recommendations, not later than December 31, 2023. Effective immediately.