Rep. Bill Hauter

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, by no later than June 30, 2024, the State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Central Management Services, the Department of Insurance, and the Illinois Community College Board, shall establish a system providing liability insurance to cover (i) public high school students and community college students participating in a career development experience or apprenticeship program and (ii) public school teachers and community college faculty participating in an externship program. Provides that the liability insurance program shall be implemented by fiscal year 2025. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with those other agencies, may direct the program to cover specific occupational areas.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Community-Law Enforcement and Other First Responder Partnership for Deflection and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Changes the Act name to the Community Partnership for Deflection and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Modifies and adds definitions. Provides that A law enforcement agency, other first responder entity, or local government agency (rather than only a law enforcement agency or other first responder entity) may establish a deflection program in partnership with one or more licensed providers of substance use disorder treatment services and one or more community members or organizations. Provides that a deflection program may involve a pre-arrest diversion response and proactive identification of persons thought likely to have an untreated or undiagnosed mental illness. Provides that a local deflection program shall also include case management and restorative justice aspects. Provides that a deflection program may accept, receive, and disburse, in furtherance of its duties and functions, any funds, grants, and services made available by the State and its agencies, the federal government and its agencies, units of local government, and private or civic sources. Provides that activities eligible for funding under the Act include naloxone and related harm reduction supplies (rather than related supplies) necessary for carrying out overdose prevention and reversal (rather than overdose reversal) for purposes of distribution to program participants or for use by law enforcement, other first responders, or local governmental agencies and wraparound participant funds to be used to incentivize participation and meet participant needs. Provides that the Legislative Reference Bureau shall reassign the Act in the Illinois Compiled Statutes (to reflect the addition of local government agencies to the Act).

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if the county jail located in the county where the committed person was residing immediately before his or her conviction for the offense for which he or she is serving sentence in the Department of Corrections has a reentry program for committed persons, the Department may transfer the custody of the committed person to the sheriff of the county where the reentry program is located for up to 12 months before the committed person's release date for participation in the reentry program.

Amends the State Property Control Act. Includes qualified veteran-owned small businesses in the list of entities that may receive preference in the disposition of transferable property. Effective immediately.

Urges the Illinois State Medical Society delegation to the American Medical Association to submit a resolution to the American Medical Association requesting that Policy H-275.970, Licensure Confidentiality, be amended.

Amends the Casualty Insurance, Fidelity Bonds, and Surety Contracts Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer that is licensed and authorized to do business in the State of Illinois shall consider an applicant's or insured's compliance with the amendatory Act when providing commercial liability insurance to a music venue. Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that if a licensee operates as a music venue, the licensee shall ensure that, during its hours of operation as a music venue, it or the music venue operator has opioid antagonists available at the premises and that there is a staff member on the premises who has been sufficiently trained on how to properly administer an opioid antagonist. Provides that a licensee or music venue operator and a person who is sufficiently trained and in good faith administers or provides an opioid antagonist in accordance with the provisions, shall not, as a result of the person's acts or omissions, except willful or wanton misconduct on the part of the person, in administering or providing the opioid antagonist, be liable for civil damages. Defines "music venue". Effective June 1, 2024.

Amends the Homeless Family Placement Act. In a provision listing certain factors a referring agency must consider prior to referring a homeless family with school age children to a shelter, requires the referring agency to also consider the military status of any member of the family to determine the family's eligibility for State or federal benefits and other supportive services for homeless veterans and their families, including, but not limited to, housing or rental assistance, job training, and employment opportunities.

Creates the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force Act. Creates the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall develop a statewide plan to connect existing local projects and new projects to create a cohesive statewide history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois while creating new educational and tourism opportunities for the State. Establishes the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative and technical support to the Task Force. Provides that all members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the Task Force shall review available research, existing infrastructure and projects, best practices, and effective interventions to formulate recommendations. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report detailing the Task Force's findings and recommendations and needed resources. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before July 1, 2024. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2025.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that the General Assembly may determine by statute the limit of liability for all damages and losses other than economic damages of a provider of medical or health care with respect to treatment, lack of treatment, or other claimed departure from an accepted standard of medical or health care or safety that is or is claimed to be a cause of or that contributes or is claimed to contribute to the disease, injury, or death of a person. Requires a majority vote of all the members elected to each house to pass legislation to limit liability on non-economic damages. Effective upon being declared adopted.