Rep. Bill Hauter

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and administer a program to award property tax relief grants to school districts in this State. Provides that, in exchange for receiving a grant, a school district's maximum aggregate property tax extension for the taxable year that begins on January 1 of the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded may not exceed an adjusted maximum aggregate property tax extension for that taxable year. Creates the Education Property Tax Relief Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of awarding grants. Sets forth provisions concerning the Education Property Tax Relief Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that all witness slips filed in either house of the General Assembly concerning proposed legislation during the General Assembly committee hearing process shall track along with the legislation for which it was filed should such legislation be removed on to another bill, by amendment, for purposes of legislative action. Provides that the General Assembly, in consultation with the Legislative Information System, shall provide for such witness slip tracking on the Illinois General Assembly website. Amends the Legislative Information System Act. Provides that the Legislative Information System shall provide for electronic tracking of all witness slips to track along with the legislation for which it was filed should such legislation be removed on to another bill.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. In the statutes prohibiting child sex offenders and sexual predators from being present or loitering in public parks, provides that "public park" includes an indoor or outdoor facility, building, or sports field used for recreational purposes under the jurisdiction of the State or a unit of local government.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that for any bill submitted to arbitration, the health insurance issuer shall pay the provider or facility at least the current Medicare reimbursement rate pending the resolution of the arbitration.

Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall determine whether the network plan at each in-network hospital and facility has a sufficient number of hospital-based medical specialists to ensure that covered persons have reasonable and timely access to such in-network physicians and the services they direct or supervise. Defines "hospital-based medical specialists".

Creates the Task Force on Prescribing Psychologist Licensing and Oversight Act. Provides that the Task Force is created within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides for membership, appointment, vacancy, and meeting support of the Task Force. Provides that the subject matter of the Task Force shall include, but not be limited to, the following inquiries: (1) will allowing prescribing psychologists to expand the prescribing psychologists' scope to include children and seniors help increase access to treatment for underserved areas and populations, including rural patients and patients on Medicaid; and (2) do prescribing psychologists receive sufficient regulatory oversight, medical supervision, and disciplinary enforcement to fully protect patient safety. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare an annual report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its deliberations. Provides that the Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. Provides that the Task Force shall submit the first report one year after the first meeting of the Task Force.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the photograph of each minor for whom the Department of Children and Family Services is responsible under the Abused, Dependent, or Neglected Minors Article of the Act shall be transmitted to the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the minor resides for placement in the court file. Provides that the photograph shall be taken within 6 months before transmission and shall be accessible by the judge who is to decide the placement, custody, or other disposition concerning the minor.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2024, no taxing district, other than a home rule unit, may levy a tax on any parcel of real property that is more than 105% of the base amount unless (i) the increase is attributable to substantial improvements to the property, (ii) the taxing district did not levy a tax against the property in the previous taxable year, or (iii) the increase is attributable to a special service area. Provides that "base amount" means the tax levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year, except that, if the property received a homestead exemption in the immediately preceding taxable year and is not eligible for that exemption in the current taxable year, then the base amount shall be the tax that would have been levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year if the homestead exemption had not been applied. Provides that a taxing district may elect to be exempt from those provisions for one or more taxable years if the exemption is approved by referendum. Effective immediately.

Creates the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program Act. Makes findings. Provides that the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program is created for a 2-year degree pathway by which paraprofessional educators may enroll to achieve the education requirements to attain a professional educator license in this State, which shall comply with the standards of the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year or, if funds are not appropriated for the Program that academic year, beginning with the academic year in which funds are appropriated for the Program, the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall coordinate with each other to assign a qualified individual to serve as a Program director to develop the curriculum for the Program. Provides that one public elementary or public secondary school and one public university in this State shall be chosen to develop a program for transitioning paraprofessionals to teachers. Includes the core components of the Program. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education must submit a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the impact of the Program and then the Program is dissolved and the Act is repealed. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that when the Director of Public Health or the Director's designee does not stay an immediate suspension order, the Director or the Director's designee shall identify if the suspension shall immediately apply to statewide participation. Effective immediately.