Rep. La Shawn Ford

Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act must provide coverage for wigs or other scalp prostheses worn for hair loss caused by alopecia, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions. Makes a conforming change in the Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Language Equity and Access Act. Requires the Governor's Office of New Americans, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, to: prepare a Language Needs Assessment Report that identifies the languages spoken throughout the State; assist State agencies in the creation of language access plans; provide oversight and central coordination to State agencies in the implementation of language access requirements under this Act; ensure that each State agency develops an internal complaint and review process specific to the provision of language assistance services in addressing complaints in a timely manner; and perform other duties. Requires the Office and Department to work with State agencies to compile available United States Census data on language used across the State to inform the Language Needs Assessment Report. Provides that the report shall be updated every 10 years in conjunction with the decennial federal census. Requires each State agency to prepare and submit a language access plan to the Governor's Office of New Americans.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates to a resident who was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. Makes other conforming changes.

Amends the Customized Employment for Individuals with Disabilities Act. Changes the name of the Customized Employment Pilot Program to the Customized Employment Demonstration Program. Provides that the program shall consist of components consistent with specified standards published by the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center and the Youth Technical Assistance Center under grants from the federal Department of Education. Provides that the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Human Services shall collect data concerning the successes and challenges of the program and shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on March 1st of each year beginning in 2026 until the program terminates. Defines "customized employment".

Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Adds definitions. Provides that the minimum ratio for each provider type shall be no less than any such ratio established for qualified health plans in Federally-Facilitated Exchanges by federal law or by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Provides that the maximum travel time and distance standards and appointment wait time standards shall be no greater than any such standards established for qualified health plans in Federally-Facilitated Exchanges by federal law or by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Makes changes to provisions concerning network adequacy, notice of nonrenewal or termination, transition of services, network transparency, administration and enforcement, provider requirements, and provider directory information. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning notice of nonrenewal or termination and transition of services. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize the Department of Insurance to adopt emergency rules implementing federal standards for provider ratios, time and distance, or appointment wait times when such standards apply to health insurance coverage regulated by the Department of Insurance and are more stringent than the State standards extant at the time the final federal standards are published. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. Removes provisions about the State Police Asset Forfeiture Section. Amends the State Finance Act. Changes the name of the State Police Revocation Enforcement Fund to the State Police Firearm Enforcement Fund (and makes conforming changes within the Act, the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act). Provides that the balance remaining in the State Police Training and Academy Fund shall be transferred to the State Police Law Enforcement Administration Fund, and dissolves the State Police Training and Academy Fund (amends the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Act and the Illinois Insurance Code to make conforming changes). Makes changes concerning the uses of the State Police Law Enforcement Administration Fund. Amends the School Code. Includes provisions relating to reporting of verified incidents involving a firearm or drugs to the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education reporting data by school district on its website, and local law enforcement reporting specified data from the previous year to the Illinois State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Makes changes regarding applying for licensure and Fingerprinting. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act. In provisions concerning non-judicial forfeiture, provides that the director or the director's designee (instead of just the director) shall dispose of property forfeited in accordance with law. Amends the Arsonist Registration Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Arsonist Registry Act. Eliminates registration of arsonists (makes conforming changes in the Criminal Identification Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Code of Civil Procedure). Provides that the Illinois State Police shall establish and maintain a Statewide Arsonist Database for the purpose of identifying arsonists and making that information available to law enforcement and the general public. Contains requirements for operation of the Database. Effective July 1, 2024.

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 before January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for medically necessary continuous glucose monitors for individuals who are diagnosed with any form of diabetes mellitus (instead of type 1 or type 2 diabetes) and require insulin for the management of their diabetes. 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 provide coverage for continuous glucose monitors, related supplies, and training in the use of continuous glucose monitors for any individual who is diagnosed with diabetes, who requires at least one daily injection or infusion of insulin, and who has been prescribed a continuous glucose monitor by a physician, a certified nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant. Provides that an individual who is diagnosed with diabetes and meets the specified requirements shall not be required to obtain prior authorization for coverage for a continuous glucose monitor, and coverage shall be continuous once the continuous glucose monitor is prescribed. 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 not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage required under the provisions. Effective July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new fund called the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Fund by allocating $1,000,000 from the state's General Revenue Fund. The money is intended to support initiatives that reduce hunger on college campuses, though the specific uses of the funds are not detailed in this text. The legislation became effective on July 1, 2023, and is currently being reviewed by the Rules Committee.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, expands the definition of "access" to mean the right to inspect and copy (rather than inspect) the clinical and other records of a participant or resident, regardless of age, with the express written consent of the participant or resident. In provisions concerning access and visitation rights, provides that a long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, and shared housing establishment must permit representatives of the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman, with the permission of the resident or other specified persons, to examine and copy the resident's clinical and other records.

Appropriates $3,100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for costs associated with the Crop Insurance Rebate Initiative to provide incentives for at least 500,000 acres of eligible land. Effective July 1, 2024.