Urges the passage of the legislation before the 116th U.S. Congress that would eliminate co-pays for preventive procedures and medication for those treated through the Veterans Administration.
Urges the Illinois Congressional Delegation to co-sponsor H.R. 96 and support it in any manner possible to ensure that our veterans receive the proper and sufficient dental care that they deserve.
Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, provides that: (1) for taxable years prior to 2015, "surviving spouse" means the surviving spouse of a veteran who obtained the exemption prior to his or her death; (2) for taxable years 2015 through 2018, "surviving spouse" means (A) the surviving spouse of a veteran who obtained the exemption prior to his or her death and (B) the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year; and (3) for taxable year 2019 and thereafter, "surviving spouse" means (A) the surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified for the exemption prior to his or her death, (B) the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year, (C) the surviving spouse of a veteran who did not obtain the exemption before death, but who would have qualified for the exemption if he or she had survived, and (D) the surviving spouse of a veteran whose death was determined to be service-connected who is a current recipient of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Effective immediately.
Creates the Legislative Accessibility Act. Provides that the General Assembly shall make all efforts to increase public accessibility to the General Assembly, and specifies the efforts to be included. Provides that the Secretary of State shall make all efforts to increase public accessibility to all State buildings. Provides specified accessibility requirements for the State Capitol Building and the James R. Thompson Center.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, for State Fiscal Year 2020, the Department of Children and Family Services shall increase reimbursement rates payable to each private agency with a purchase of service contract or grant from the Department to an amount that equals the sum of all increases in general inflation during State Fiscal Years 2014 through 2018 as determined by the consumer price index-u published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, less any rate increases, previously provided by the Department. Sets forth the types of services eligible for the increased reimbursement rate, including, (i) residential services, (ii) specialized, adolescent, treatment, or other non-traditional or Home-of-Relative foster care services, and (iii) intact family services. Provides that beginning in State Fiscal Year 2020, and for every State fiscal year thereafter, the Department shall implement the rate reimbursement methodology outlined in a specified provision of the Illinois Administrative Code when calculating and determining the payment rates for private agencies that contract with the Department to provide specified services. Provides that, for State Fiscal Year 2021, and for every State fiscal year thereafter, foster parent rates and payment rates for other specified services shall be adjusted each year to an amount that equals any increase in general inflation as determined by the consumer price index-u. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to initiate a process whereby the Commission shall develop a forward-looking plan for strategically increasing transportation electrification in the State, that the process shall be open and transparent, and that the process shall conclude within 270 days of opening. Provides that the plan developed by the Commission shall incentivize transportation electrification through beneficial electrification programs, may include specific directives for public utilities in the State that enable transportation electrification or beneficial electrification, and should specifically address environmental justice interests and provide opportunities for residents and businesses in environmental justice communities to directly benefit from transportation electrification. Effective immediately.
Declares June 27, 2020 as "Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day". Declares June of 2020 as "Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month". Urges the Department of Public Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue working to educate victims of abuse, crime, and natural disasters, and service members, veterans and their families, and the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the rates and minimum mandated wage increases for homemaker services shall be, at a minimum, as of January 1, 2019, a rate of $19.96 per hour, for a minimum wage of $12 per hour, and as of July 1, 2019, a rate of $21.64 per hour for a minimum wage of $13 per hour. Provides that rates in future State fiscal years shall be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2019. Provides that in-home service provider agencies shall be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they are in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, any paid time off, payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation payment, shall not be reduced in relation to these rate increases. Effective immediately.
Creates the Illinois Disability Integration Act. Provides that no public entity or long-term service or support (LTSS) insurance provider shall deny an individual with an LTSS disability who is eligible for institutional placement community-based long-term services and supports that enable the individual to live in the community and lead an independent life. Sets forth specific acts of discrimination by a public entity or LTSS insurance provider that are prohibited under the Act, including: (i) imposition or application of eligibility criteria or another policy that prevents or tends to prevent an individual with an LTSS disability from receiving a community-based long-term service or support; (ii) failure to establish an adequate rate or other payment structure that is necessary to ensure the availability of a workforce sufficient to support an individual with an LTSS disability in living in the community and leading an independent life; and (iii) failure to ensure that each institutionalized individual with an LTSS disability is regularly notified of the alternative of community-based long-term services and supports and that those community-based long-term services and supports are provided if the individual with an LTSS disability selects such services and supports. Provides that the Act shall not be construed to: (1) prevent a public entity or LTSS insurance provider from providing community-based long-term services and supports at a level that is greater than the level that is required under the Act; or (2) prohibit a public entity or LTSS insurance provider from using managed care techniques, as long as the use of such techniques does not have the effect of discriminating against an individual as prohibited under the Act. Defines terms.
Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall not convene the House of Representatives in regular or perfunctory session after 4:00 p.m. on the day before Memorial Day or before 4:00 p.m. on Memorial Day. Provides that on a regular session day reasonably close to Memorial Day, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall include in the business on the Daily Calendar for the House of Representatives for that session a remembrance ceremony for Memorial Day.
