Rep. Dee Avelar

Amends the School Code. Prohibits the State Board of Education from developing, purchasing, or requiring a school district to administer, develop, or purchase a standardized assessment for students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2, other than for diagnostic purposes. Prohibits the State Board of Education from providing funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Changes the term "diagnostic purposes" to "diagnostic and screening purposes". Includes in the definition of diagnostic and screening purposes the determination of eligibility for special education, early intervention, bilingual education, dyslexia services, or other related educational services. Removes "child find" from the definition of diagnostic and screening purposes. Permits the State Board of Education to provide funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2 for diagnostic and screening purposes.

Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a licensed optometrist may independently administer the influenza vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine, or the shingles vaccine upon completion of the required training. Provides that vaccinations for influenza and COVID-19 shall be limited to patients 5 years of age and older. Provides that the shingles vaccine shall be administered to patients pursuant to guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provides that vaccines must be administered by the optometrist and cannot be delegated to an assistant. Provides that vaccination shall be documented in the patient's record and shall include: the vaccine administered; the site of injection; the name, dose, manufacturer, lot number, and beyond-use date of the vaccine; the name and address of the patient's primary health care provider named by the patient; a notation that the patient was presented with the appropriate vaccine information statement prior to administration of each vaccine; and any adverse events that followed the vaccination. Requires that the optometrist must complete the necessary training and certification unless the optometrist has completed the training required under a proclamation issued by the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation on March 24, 2021. Provides that an optometrist administering immunizations may also initiate and administer epinephrine or diphenhydramine by injection or the treatment of a severe allergic reaction to an immunization. Provides that vaccines ordered and administered in accordance with the amendatory Act shall be covered and reimbursed at no less than the rate the vaccine is reimbursed when ordered and administered by a physician. Allows the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to adopt any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill and makes the following changes. Provides that a licensed optometrist may independently administer the COVID-19 vaccine upon completion of the required training (instead of the shingles, influenza, and COVID-19 vaccine). Provides that vaccinations for COVID-19 shall be limited to patients 17 (instead of 5) years of age and older. Makes corresponding changes.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, for license renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2023, Emergency Medical Services personnel must complete at least one one-hour course of training on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias per license renewal period. Contains training requirements. Provides that completion of the course may count toward meeting minimum credit hours required for relicensure requirements. Provides that specified training may count toward the continuing education required under the amendatory provisions. Provides that the Department of Public Health may adopt rules for the implementation of the amendatory provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or third-party payer and a covered entity under Section 340B of the federal Public Health Service Act shall not contain specified provisions. Provides that a violation by a pharmacy benefit manager constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance, and that a provision that violates the prohibition on certain provisions in a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or a third-party payer and a 340B covered entity that is entered into, amended, or renewed after July 1, 2022 shall be void and unenforceable. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning pharmacy payments, provides that no later than January 1, 2023, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement a mechanism for entities participating in the federal drug pricing program and their contracted pharmacies to submit quarterly retrospective utilization files containing the minimum fields necessary to accurately identify the drugs to the Department or its contractor for processing Medicaid drug rebate requests to Medicaid beneficiaries or Medicaid managed care organization enrollees. Provides that the Department or its contractor shall use the utilization files to remove 340B claims from the Department's Medicaid drug rebate requests and that the Department shall not require the entities or their contracted pharmacies to use any other method or billing code to identify 340B drugs billed to Medicaid or Medicaid managed care organizations. In provisions concerning pharmacy benefits, provides that a Medicaid managed care organization or pharmacy benefit manager administering or managing benefits on behalf of a Medicaid managed organization shall not include specified provisions in a contract with a covered entity or with any pharmacy owned by or contracted with the covered entity. Provides that a violation by a Medicaid managed care organization or its pharmacy benefit manager constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance, and that a provision that violates the prohibition on certain provisions in a contract between a Medicaid managed care organization or its pharmacy benefit manager and a 340B covered entity entered into, amended, or renewed after July 1, 2022 shall be void and unenforceable. Effective July 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or third-party payer and a 340B entity or 340B pharmacy shall not contain specified provisions. Provides that a violation by a pharmacy benefit manager constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance, and that a provision that violates the prohibition on certain provisions in a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or a third-party payer and a 340B entity that is entered into, amended, or renewed after July 1, 2022 shall be void and unenforceable. In provisions concerning pharmacy benefit managers, provides that the provisions apply to contracts entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2022 (rather than July 1, 2020). Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning pharmacy benefits, provides that a Medicaid managed care organization or pharmacy benefit manager administering or managing benefits on behalf of a Medicaid managed organization shall not include specified provisions in a contract with a 340B entity or 340B pharmacy. Provides that a provision that violates the prohibition on certain provisions in a contract between a Medicaid managed care organization or its pharmacy benefit manager and a 340B entity entered into, amended, or renewed after July 1, 2022 shall be void and unenforceable. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Electric Vehicle Act and the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Deletes language providing that "electric vehicle" does not include electric motorcycles. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 415 ILCS 120/27 In provisions amending the Electric Vehicle Act and the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act, provides that "electric vehicle" does not include electric mopeds or electric off-highway vehicles. Further amends the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Provides that only electric vehicles that are not an electric motorcycle qualify for specified rebates. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2022, each person shall be eligible to apply for a $1,500 rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle that is an electric motorcycle. Provides that purchasers applying for a rebate must continue to reside in Illinois (rather than a covered area) for a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately after the vehicle purchase date. Provides that rebates administered under the provisions shall be available for both new and used electric vehicles (rather than for new and used passenger electric vehicles). House Floor Amendment No. 2 In the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act, provides that beginning July 1, 2028, each person shall be eligible to apply for a $1,500 (rather than $1,000) rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle that is not an electric motorcycle.

Creates the Right to Counsel in Immigration Proceedings Act. Establishes the Task Force on Counsel in Immigration Proceedings. Provides for members, compensation, and support staff. Provides that the Task Force shall investigate the implementation of universal representation for covered individuals in immigration removal proceedings. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings in the investigation and its recommendations for how to fully provide legal representation for covered individuals facing immigration proceedings no later than July 1, 2023. Repeals the Act July 1, 2024. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to annually include information about the Child Care Assistance Program and the federal dependent care allowance in the language that schools are required to provide to students eligible for Monetary Award Program grants. Specifies the information that must be included. Provides that an institution of higher learning that participates in the Monetary Award Program shall provide, at a minimum, the information to all students who are enrolled, or who are accepted for enrollment and are intending to enroll, and who have been identified by the Commission as Monetary Award Program-eligible at the institution. Provides that an institution of higher learning shall also provide the information to any student identified by the institution of higher learning as a student with dependents. Provides that an institution of higher learning may designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Requires the Commission to adopt rules to implement the provisions on or before October 1, 2022. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Creates the Municipal Water and Wastewater Funding Study Committee. Provides that the Committee shall study and make recommendations concerning any needed modifications to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations and policies as they relate to municipal water and wastewater funding to ensure that the State's revolving loan fund programs account for and prioritize the following, to the fullest extent allowed by federal law: (1) a community shall not be deemed ineligible for disadvantaged community status based on size or service area of any size, with regard to special rates, loan terms, and eligibility for loan or grant funds; (2) in determining whether a community is disadvantaged, consideration should be given to impacts of funding on water and wastewater expenses for low-income populations; (3) in determining whether a community is eligible for funds and special rates or loan terms, environmental justice concepts should be considered; (4) in determining how funding is allocated, a community facing water supply shortages should be considered a high priority based on urgency of need; (5) the funding programs should promote formation and implementation of regional water partnerships; and (6) targeted funding should be provided for addressing emerging contaminants, including PFAS. Includes provisions concerning Committee membership and a report of the Committee's findings due no later than January 31, 2023. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2024. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Changes the membership of the Committee. Removes a sentence requiring the members to elect from their number a chair and such other officers as they may choose. Adds that the Committee's studies and recommendations concerning any needed modifications to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations and policies as they relate to municipal water and wastewater funding to ensure that the State's revolving loan fund programs also accounts for and prioritize the following principles: (i) the role that the State revolving fund programs play for small communities in determining eligibility for assistance; and (ii) changes to the programs must be fully consistent with federal law and must not adversely affect any community's eligibility for loans under federal law. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school counseling services may include the promotion of career and technical education by assisting each student to determine an appropriate postsecondary plan based upon the student's skills, strengths, and goals and assisting the student to implement the best practices that improve career or workforce readiness after high school. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the school counseling services of developing individual career plans with students and assisting all students with a college or postsecondary education plan includes planning for postsecondary education, as appropriate, and engaging in related and relevant career and technical education coursework in high school.

Amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2023, the minimum widow's annuity shall be no less than 150% (rather than 125%) of the Federal Poverty Level for all persons receiving widow's annuities on or after that date, without regard to whether the deceased policeman or fireman is in service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.