Rep. Jackie Haas

Creates the Essential Support Person Act. Provides that a resident or the resident's representative may designate a primary essential support person and a secondary essential support person who may visit the resident despite general visitation restrictions imposed on other visitors, provided that the primary essential support person or secondary essential support person complies with any rules adopted by the Department of Public Health to protect the health, safety, and well-being of residents. Tasks the Department with establishing a statewide policy for visitation with a resident. Requires the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman to perform specified duties. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that Constitution Day (September 17) shall also be a commemorative holiday. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a member may establish optional credit for up to 2 years of service as a teacher or administrator employed by a private school recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education, provided that the teacher (i) was certified under the law governing the certification of teachers at the time the service was rendered, (ii) applies in writing on or before June 30, 2028 (instead of June 30, 2023), (iii) supplies satisfactory evidence of the employment, (iv) completes at least 10 years of contributing service as a teacher, and (v) pays the required contribution. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the fee for a coroner's or medical examiner's permit to cremate a human body is $100 (rather than $50). Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires every driver who applies for employment with a transportation provider under contract with the Department of Children and Family Services to have his or her fingerprints submitted to the Illinois State Police in an electronic format that complies with the form and manner for requesting and furnishing criminal history record information as prescribed by the Illinois State Police. Provides that such fingerprints shall be transmitted through a live scan fingerprint vendor licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and shall be checked against the fingerprint records filed in the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records databases, including, but not limited to, civil, criminal, and latent fingerprint databases. Requires the Illinois State Police to charge a fee for conducting the criminal history records check that does not exceed the actual cost of the records check. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall furnish, pursuant to positive identification, records of Illinois convictions and shall forward the national criminal history record information to the Department of Children and Family Services. Requires every driver to submit, as a condition of employment, a signed written statement certifying that he or she has consented to and completed a fingerprint-based criminal history records check in accordance with the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Local Government Travel Expense Control Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the following amounts shall be deposited into the Local Government Distributive Fund as the revenue is realized from the specified taxes: (i) 8% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed under the Act upon individuals, trusts, and estates; (ii) 8% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed by the Act upon electing pass-through entities; and (iii) 9.11% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed by the Act upon corporations. Amends the State Revenue Sharing Act to provide that amounts paid into the Local Government Distributive Fund are appropriated on a continuing basis. Effective July 1, 2023.

Recognizes the Momence Fire Protection District's naming of its firehouse in honor of the late former Fire Chief James "Jim" LaMotte, a dedication to a true community leader of Kankakee County and the State of Illinois who gave his gifts and his time to the people and communities he loved.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Department on Aging to establish and administer a statewide 5-year pilot program to provide grant awards to counties and municipalities interested in maintaining a local recovery program for individuals who wander due to a medical condition such as Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, autism, or other specified disorders. Provides that under a county's or municipality's local recovery program, persons with a history of wandering shall receive a fitted electronic bracelet that emits a unique radio signal 24 hours a day that can be identified and tracked by a designated search team of volunteers, lead by local law enforcement, when alerted through a 911 emergency call about a missing person who has a history of wandering. Provides that any grant amounts provided to a county or municipality under the pilot program must be used to cover the costs associated with purchasing the electronic bracelets, training a designated team of volunteer search personnel, conducting community outreach activities to inform local residents and eligible families about the local recovery program, and any other costs required to implement the local recovery program. Provides that all funding for the pilot program shall come from private donations to the Department. Requires all donated moneys received by the Department for the pilot program to be deposited into the Local Recovery Programs for Persons Who Wander Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be expended to make grant awards under the pilot program and for no other purpose; and that all interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into the Fund. Requires the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the pilot program, including, but not limited to, rules on the application and eligibility requirements, grant amounts awarded under the pilot program, and equipment standards for the electronic bracelets. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Local Recovery Programs for Persons Who Wander Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for purposes of preventing a potential mental health diagnosis when mental health symptoms are present and to enable early treatment, Therapy and Counseling - Brief Intervention Services (Code H0004 TF TL) shall be covered under the medical assistance program for children under 21, and for adults ages 21 and older, who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance. Provides that completion of an Integrated Assessment and Treatment Planning service shall not be required (given the short duration of services). Provides that, at a minimum, up to 8 clinical sessions not to exceed 90 minutes per session shall be permitted. Provides that such services shall be permitted to be delivered by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts; or a qualified mental health professional or mental health professional under the direction of a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. Sets forth certain billing codes that must be used when billing for therapy and counseling services. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for federal approval if necessary. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.