Rep. Matt Hanson

Amends the Governmental Account Audit Act. Modifies the audit procedures for governmental units under the Act for the governmental units fiscal years 2028 and after, including: (1) modifying the definitions of "audit report" and "report", and adds a definition for "annual financial report"; (2) requiring the governing body of each governmental unit to conduct an audit every 2 years (rather than annually) of the accounts of the unit to be made by an auditor or auditors, and modifying the requirements of the audits; (3) allowing an exception for a governmental unit receiving revenue of less than $1,400,000 for any fiscal year, with the amount to increase or decrease by a percentage equal to the Consumer Price Index-U as reported on January 1 of each year, to provide a 4-year audit report and annual financial report or annual financial report under specified requirements (rather than a governmental unit receiving revenue of less than $850,000 for any fiscal year providing a 4-year audit report and annual financial report or annual financial report under specified requirements); and (4) modifying the requirements for signing, copying, and filing completed reports. Amends the Township Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to create the Hearing Care Plan Contracts Article. Provides that no hearing care organization that issues, delivers, amends, or renews a hearing care plan on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall issue a contract that requires a hearing instrument professional, as a condition of participation in the hearing care plan, to provide items or services to an enrollee at a fee set by the hearing care plan unless the items and services are covered items or covered services under the hearing care plan. Exempts de minimis reimbursements. Establishes notice and disclosure provisions for a hearing instrument professional who chooses not to accept as payment an amount set by a hearing care plan for items and services that are not covered and other hearing care plan contract requirements. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, to conduct business in the State, a hearing care organization must register with the Department of Insurance and submit the specified registration materials. Requires the registrant to report any specified change in information to the Department in writing within 60 days after the change occurs. Sets forth provisions concerning issuance and expiration of a registration certificate. Grants the Department of Insurance rulemaking authority over the registration provisions. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make it an unlawful practice under the meaning of the Act for any person to violate the Hearing Plan Contracts Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows the State Superintendent of Education to issue a short-term approval for a paraprofessional educator to an individual who does not meet the requirements necessary for issuance of an Educator License with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement. Provides that the short-term approval authorizes an individual to serve as a paraprofessional educator in a school district, including a charter school, or a State-operated program, with the short-term approval expiring on June 30 immediately following the third full fiscal year after the approval was issued without renewal. Provides that upon expiration of the short-term approval, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue an Educator License with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement to the individual if the individual meets specified requirements.

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that a law enforcement officer who arrests the owner of a companion animal for a violation of the owner's duties may lawfully take possession of some or all of the companion animals in the possession of the owner. Allows a State's Attorney 30 days (rather than 14 days) after seizure of a companion animal to file a petition for forfeiture prior to trial, asking for permanent forfeiture of the companion animals seized.

Maddy summaryHB 4442 extends the expiration date for the High Speed Rail Commission Act from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2030. This bill directly affects the High Speed Rail Commission by allowing it to continue operating for an additional three years. The key provision is a simple date adjustment in the statute, with no new requirements or changes to the Commission's responsibilities. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment, as specified in the bill text.

Amends the Sexual Assault Incident Procedure Act. Provides that a law enforcement officer shall inform a victim of sexual assault or sexual abuse of the right to request that any interview or statement be conducted in the presence of a law enforcement officer of a particular sex or gender, if one is reasonably available. Provides that if a law enforcement officer of the requested sex or gender is not reasonably available, the interview or statement shall proceed without unnecessary delay.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that county medical examiners and coroners are first responders for the purposes of provisions requiring a county to provide health insurance coverage for its employees who are first responders without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that, if a person provides a service to a consumer and the provision of the service requires entry to the consumer's dwelling or requires the consumer to be present at the consumer's property for the service to be provided, the service provider shall: (1) schedule an appointment with the consumer; and (2) provide the consumer with reasonable notice of an estimated time or range of times during which the service provider will arrive to provide the service. Provides that, if the service provider fails satisfy those requirements or arrive within 30 minutes of the stated time, the service provider shall not charge the consumer any fee or additional charge if the consumer is not present when the service provider arrives. Provides that a violation of the provision constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the School Code. Requires each school district to include in its handbook for grades kindergarten through 12 railroad safety messaging. Allows a school to opt-out of the messaging requirement if the school district votes that the inclusion of such messaging is unnecessary.

Amends the Common Interest Community Association Act. Provides that an association may not prohibit a law enforcement officer or a firefighter who is a parcel owner, or who is a tenant, guest, or invitee of a parcel owner, from parking his or her assigned law enforcement vehicle or firefighter vehicle in an area where the parcel owner, or the tenant, guest, or invitee of the parcel owner, otherwise has a right to park.