Rep. Dee Avelar

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Establishes reimbursement rates for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for all group or individual policies of accident and health insurance or managed care plans that are amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 or for any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer. Requires a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 or any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer to cover certain medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. Provides that, if the Department of Insurance determines that an insurer or a contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer has violated a provision concerning mental health and substance use parity, the Department shall by order assess a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation. Excludes certain health care plans serving Medicaid populations who are enrolled under the Illinois Public Aid Code or under the Children's Health Insurance Program Act from provisions concerning mental health and substance use parity. Requires the Department to review the impact of the proposed mental health and substance abuse mandate on network adequacy for mental health and substance use disorder treatment and access to affordable mental health and substance use care. Permits the Department to examine out-of-network utilization and out-of-pocket costs for insureds for mental health and substance use treatment and services for all plans to compare with in-network utilization. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the School Code to require coverage under those provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, in Fiscal Year 2026 and thereafter, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant from the Local Tourism Fund that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 25% of the grant amount (currently, no less than 40% of the grant amount in Fiscal Year 2026 and no less than 50% of the grant amount in subsequent years). Amends the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the distribution of moneys under those Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation the third Friday of September in each year as POW/MIA Recognition Day (rather than the third Friday of September in each year is designated as POW/MIA Recognition Day) to be observed in honor and remembrance of the men and women who, as POWs, have suffered captivity in foreign countries while in active service with the United States armed forces or who, as MIAs, have been recognized as missing in action in a time of war or during a period of hostilities (rather than who were recognized as POWs or MIAs in a time of war or during a period of hostilities). Provides that the Governor shall request, in the Governor's annual designation by official proclamation, that some portion of the third Friday of September be used for solemn contemplation on the plight of members of the United States armed forces who have been held prisoners of war and members of the United States armed forces who have been missing in action and the resolve of families and friends who continue to seek the fullest possible accounting for missing loved ones. Effective immediately.

Urges President Donald Trump to stop the actions of the administration that are impacting or eliminating educational funding, educational supports, and educational services provided to English learner students, limited English proficient parents, and the educators that serve these students. Urges federal lawmakers to instead prioritize the maintenance and improvement of educational services for English learner students, maintain and provide for increases to ESSA Title III funding aligned with inflationary measures and other appropriate funding to support educational services for English learner students and the educators that serve them, maintain and provide for language access services for parents with limited English proficiency, and ensure the educational rights of all students guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

Calls upon the Trump administration to end the government shutdown and restore funding to SNAP and other critical federal government programs rather than continuing to put partisan politics before their obligation to the American people. That if an expedient end to the shutdown cannot or will not be achieved, then the Trump administration is urged to release the reserve funds held by the United States Department of Agriculture specifically for just this eventuality, thereby enabling SNAP beneficiaries to retain access to adequate nutrition while negotiations continue. States that using hunger as a weapon to obtain a desired political outcome is reprehensible and unequivocally condemns the Trump Administration's actions in this regard.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that the State Treasurer may establish and administer a non-profit investment pool and an electronic payment processing program to supplement and enhance investment opportunities and secure electronic payment options otherwise available to not-for-profit corporations in the State. Provides that the Treasurer may receive funds paid into the pool for the purpose of holding and investing those funds. Provides for surety bonds payable to not-for-profit corporations who participate in the pool. Provides that the Treasurer shall adopt rules for the efficient administration of the pool.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides, in the Articles governing employment, financial, and public accommodation discrimination, that the use of criteria or methods that have the effect of causing certain discrimination-related civil rights violations is unlawful, unless (i) the use of such criteria or methods is necessary to achieve a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest or (ii) the substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest cannot be served by another practice that has a less discriminatory effect.

Affirms the steadfast commitment to equal employment opportunity and economic equity for women and all Illinoisans. Affirms the commitment to continue to prioritize construction investments that transform the State's infrastructure and its workforce. Affirms that the State's ongoing and upcoming capital and infrastructure projects will rebuild roads, buildings, and lives by providing good jobs that create economic stability through family-sustaining wages and benefits. Affirms that Illinois contractors must uphold the State's values and workers' rights, reject workplace discrimination and harassment, and be held accountable to laws, including the Illinois Responsible Bidder Code, the Prevailing Wage Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act. Affirms that employers looking to contract with the State must adopt strong policies to protect workers from harassment and discrimination and must take action to create equal access to job opportunities and respectful, safe, and accountable work sites. Urges the use of all available tools to ensure that contractors doing business with the State are committed to creating access to high-road opportunities and respectful work sites.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that the State Treasurer may establish and administer a non-profit investment pool and an electronic payment processing program to supplement and enhance investment opportunities and secure electronic payment options otherwise available to not-for-profit corporations in the State. Provides that the Treasurer may receive funds paid into the pool for the purpose of holding and investing those funds. Provides for surety bonds payable to not-for-profit corporations who participate in the pool. Provides that the Treasurer shall adopt rules for the efficient administration of the pool.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that the amendatory provisions may be referred to as the Health Care Sanctity and Privacy Law. Requires hospitals to adopt and implement a policy regarding interactions with law enforcement agents. Sets forth minimum requirements for the policy, including designating a contact person or persons to be notified of all law enforcement presence or information requests and establishing the following procedures: procedures to respond to such requests; procedures to verify the identity and authority of any law enforcement agent involved in civil immigration activities at a hospital site; procedures for designating space for law enforcement agents to remain and wait at a hospital; procedures for patients to request an amendment to their medical records; and procedures concerning the release of information to law enforcement agents. Requires the policy to be submitted to the Department of Public Health. Establishes a fine for hospitals that fail to submit the policy. Sets forth provisions concerning complaints of noncompliance with the provisions; holding hospital personnel harmless from any civil, criminal, or other liability that may arise as a result of their reasonable compliance with the amendatory provisions; obligations as a mandated reporter; and conflicts with federal law. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act to require compliance with the provisions of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.