Rep. Dee Avelar

Expresses support for the Affordable Care Act and the Medicaid program.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for employers that provide reimbursement to employees for costs associated with commuting to and from a worksite in the State. Provides that the credit shall be equal to 50% of those costs, but not to exceed $100 per employee per month. Effective immediately.

Creates the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall enter into partnerships to increase competition, lower prices, and address shortages in the market for generic prescription drugs, to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for public and private purchasers, taxpayers, and consumers, and to increase patient access to affordable drugs. Requires the partnerships to result in the production or distribution of generic prescription drugs with the intent that these drugs be made widely available to public and private purchasers, providers and suppliers, and pharmacies. Provides that the Department shall comply with specified requirements when entering into partnerships or setting prices for generic prescription drugs. Requires the Department to submit separate reports to the General Assembly that (1) assess the feasibility of directly manufacturing generic prescription drugs and selling generic prescription drugs at a fair price; and (2) describe the status of all drugs targeted under the Act and analyze how the activities of the Department may impact competition, access to targeted drugs, the costs of those drugs, and the costs of generic prescription drugs to public and private purchasers. Contains other provisions. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt certain information under the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act from disclosure. Contains a severability provision. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2021, breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies, and breast pump kits are exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for its FY22 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2021.

Creates the Carpet Stewardship Act. Provides that within 60 days after the effective date of the Act, the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency shall appoint specified members to a clearinghouse to administer and implement a carpet stewardship program. Specifies the duties of the clearinghouse. Requires the clearinghouse to be incorporated as a nonprofit. Provides that for all carpet sold in this State, the clearinghouse shall implement, and producers shall finance, a statewide carpet stewardship program that manages the product by reducing the product's waste generation, promotes its carpet recovery and reutilization, and provides for negotiation and execution of agreements to collect, transport, process, and market the old carpet for end-of-life carpet recovery or carpet reutilization. Requires the clearinghouse to submit, by July 1, 2023 and by July 1 every 3 years thereafter, a 3-year plan to the Agency for approval. Specifies the requirements for the plan. Establishes requirements for review of the plan and requirements for producers, retailers, and distributors of carpet. Requires the clearinghouse to submit annual reports to the Agency and pay specified administrative fees. Includes enforcement provisions for the Act. Establishes requirements for State procurement of carpet in the future. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 4356 would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 4356, as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency shall (rather than shall attempt to) appoint members of the clearinghouse that reflect the racial and gender diversity of this State. Requires the clearinghouse to hold meetings that are open to the public with reasonable notice of the meeting made publicly available. Requires the clearinghouse's funding mechanism to: (i) be sufficient (rather than to be approved by the Agency as sufficient) to cover the annual costs of the clearinghouse program; and (ii) not charge specified fees to consumers. Provides that the clearinghouse shall remit to the Agency an annual fee of $250,000 to be used for administrative costs (rather than pay the Agency an annual administrative fee of not less than $200,000 and not more than $500,000). Adds a severability provision. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) HB 4356 does not pre-empt home rule authority. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) HB 4356 does not create a State Mandate. Fiscal Note (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) HB 4356 requires the clearinghouse to pay the Illinois EPA an annual administrative fee between $200,000 and $500,000 for expenses consistent with the Agency's responsibilities under the Act. Illinois EPA anticipates that this administrative fee would cover the resources needed by the Agency. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 4356, as amended by HA 1, will have no impact upon any public pension fund or retirement system in the State of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 4356, as amended by House Amendment 1, would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in House Bill 4356 House Amendment #1; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Housing Affordability Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Balanced Budget Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 4356, [as amended by House Amendment l] as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Judicial Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) Based on a review of the bill, the legislation will not increase or decrease the number of judges needed in the state of Illinois. Correctional Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept of Corrections) This amendment has no fiscal impact or population impact on the department. Home Rule Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate under the State Mandates Act Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) House Amendment #1 to HB 4356 (Gabel) requires the clearinghouse to remit to the Illinois EPA an annual fee of $250,000 to be used for administrative costs pursuant to the Carpet Stewardship Act. Illinois EPA anticipates that this administrative fee would cover the resources needed by the Agency to carry out its responsibilities under the Act.

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 on or after January 1, 2024 and that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall provide coverage for vaginal estrogen, and that coverage for vaginal estrogen shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. 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, 2024 and that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall include coverage for one or more therapeutic equivalent versions of vaginal estrogen in its formulary (rather than provide coverage for vaginal estrogen), and that a policy is not required to include all therapeutic equivalent versions of vaginal estrogen in its formulary so long as at least one is included and covered without cost sharing and in accordance with the provisions. Provides that if an individual's attending provider recommends a particular vaginal estrogen product or its therapeutic equivalent version approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration based on the provider's determination, the issuer must cover that service or item without cost sharing. Provides that coverage for vaginal estrogen shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided, except to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to specified federal law. Defines "therapeutic equivalent version".

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Reduces the trailer flat weight tax for maximum loads of 3,000 pounds and less from $118 to $18. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to provide that an insurer that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs pursuant to the terms of a health coverage plan the insurer offers shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a 30-day supply of covered prescription insulin drugs at an amount not to exceed $30 (rather than $100). Makes a conforming change in the Illinois Public Aid Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes the repeal date for provisions authorizing natural gas surcharges to provide for recovery of costs associated with investments in qualifying infrastructure plants from December 31, 2023 to January 1, 2022.