Rep. Tony McCombie

Amends the Guardians For Adults with Disabilities Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that a petition for the appointment of a temporary guardian for an alleged person with a disability shall be filed at the time of or subsequent to the filing of a petition for adjudication of disability and appointment of a guardian. Provides that the petition for the appointment of a temporary guardian shall state specified facts. Provides that notice of the time and place of the hearing on a petition for the appointment of a temporary guardian or petition to revoke the appointment of a temporary guardian shall be given not less than 3 days before the hearing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that, subject to federal law and regulation, no provider of telephone, cellular telephone, television, Internet, energy, medical alert system, or water services shall impose a fee for termination or early cancellation of a service contract if the customer dies before the end of the contract. Provides that every violation is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Includes the delivery of covered health care services by way of telephone usage in the definition of "telehealth services". Provides that health care services that are covered under an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance must be covered when delivered via telehealth services when clinically appropriate, subject to specified conditions (rather than requiring an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance to comply with specified conditions if it provides coverage for telehealth services). Provides that patient cost-sharing may be no more than if the health care service were delivered in person. Provides that no excepted benefit policy may deny or reduce any benefit to a patient based on the use of clinically appropriate telehealth services in the course of satisfying the policy's benefit criteria. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning health care services that are covered under an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance that must be covered when delivered via telehealth services when clinically appropriate, provides that reimbursement to a health care provider for telehealth services for behavioral health services provided through an interactive telecommunications system shall be made on the same basis, in the same manner, and at the same rate as would be applied for the same services if they had been delivered in-person and shall include reasonable compensation to a facility that serves as the originating site at the time a telehealth service is rendered. Provides that with respect to telehealth benefits provided in an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance, insurers may not (rather than an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance may not) require patients to use a separate panel of health care providers to receive telehealth service coverage and reimbursement; create geographic or facility restrictions or requirements for telehealth services; require patients or health care providers to prove a hardship or access barrier before the approval of telehealth services for coverage or reimbursement; negotiate different contract rates for telehealth services and in-person services for behavioral health services; or impose upon telehealth services utilization review requirements that are unnecessary, duplicative, or unwarranted or impose any treatment limitations, prior authorization, documentation, or recordkeeping requirements that are more stringent than the requirements applicable to the same health care service when rendered in-person. Provides that health care providers shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to privacy laws. Defines terms. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new 225 ILCS 150/5 225 ILCS 150/15 325 ILCS 20/3 from Ch. 23, par. 4153 325 ILCS 20/3b new 325 ILCS 20/11 from Ch. 23, par. 4161 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that a health insurer shall reimburse a network provider for behavioral health services delivered through telehealth on at least the same basis and at the same rate as if delivered in-person. Provides that a health insurer may establish reasonable requirements and parameters for telehealth services. Further amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force to review and study the use of telehealth services in the State with respect to payment and reimbursement parity for health care providers providing such services. Sets forth provisions concerning election of a chairperson, compensation, and appointments of members of the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force. Provides that the task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2021. Provides that the task force is dissolved on January 1, 2023. Amends the Telehealth Act. In provisions concerning use of telehealth, provides that services provided by telehealth shall be consistent with all federal and State privacy, security, and confidentiality laws. Provides that health care professionals shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to specified privacy laws. Provides that health care professionals shall maintain documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Permits an early intervention provider to deliver via telehealth any type of early intervention services authorized under the Act to the extent of his or her scope of practice as established in his or her respective licensing Act consistent with the standards of care for in-person services. Requires parents to be informed of the availability of early intervention services provided through telehealth. Provides that parents shall make the final decision as to whether accepted early intervention services are delivered in person or via telehealth. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.8 new 225 ILCS 150/10 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall cover telehealth services, e-visits, and virtual check-ins rendered by a health care professional when clinically appropriate and medically necessary to insureds, enrollees, and members in the same manner as any other benefits covered under the policy. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance may provide reimbursement to a facility that serves as the originating site at the time a telehealth service is rendered. Sets forth provisions with which coverage for telehealth services shall comply. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance shall notify health care professionals and facilities of any instructions necessary to facilitate billing for telehealth services, e-visits, and virtual check-ins. Provides that the Department of Insurance and the Department of Public Health shall commission a report to the General Assembly and shall submit the report by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Department of Insurance may adopt rules to implement the provisions. Provides that specified provisions are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Removes provisions concerning the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force. Defines terms. Further amends the Telehealth Act. Changes a reference to "telehealth" to "telehealth services." Removes language that provides that health care professionals shall maintain documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning the calculation of retirement pensions and automatic annual increases for eligible firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund, removes language limiting application of the provision to Tier 1 retirement pension amounts and Tier 1 automatic annual increases. Provides that as a condition of being eligible for the benefits in a provision concerning firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund, a person who is hired to a position as a firefighter after December 31, 2010 must within 21 months after being hired or within 21 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, whichever is later, notify the new employer, all of his or her previous employers under the Article, and the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance of his or her intent to receive those benefits; and make the required contributions with applicable interest. Provides that a person who was hired to a position as a firefighter after December 31, 2010 and who, before the effective date of the amendatory Act, notified the new employer, all of his or her previous employers, and the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance of his or her intent to receive the benefits under a provision concerning firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund shall be deemed to have met the notice requirement. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act to the provision concerning firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund apply retroactively. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that as a condition of being eligible for the benefits in a provision concerning firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund, a person who first becomes a firefighter under the Article (instead of a person who is hired to a position as a firefighter) after December 31, 2010 must notify specified entities and make certain contributions. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as Hayli's Law. Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Public Health, the health department of a unit of local government, or a public health district may not regulate the sale of lemonade or nonalcoholic drinks or mixed beverages by a person under the age of 16. Effective January 1, 2022.

Amends the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that at any time during the 6 months following the effective date of the amendatory Act, an active member of a downstate firefighters' pension fund may apply for transfer to that fund of up to 8 years of his or her creditable service accumulated in a police pension fund that is administered by another unit of local government if that active member was not subject to disciplinary action when he or she terminated employment with that police department. Makes conforming changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective January 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that at any time during the 6 months following the effective date of the amendatory Act, an active member of a downstate firefighters' pension fund may apply for transfer to that fund of up to 8 years of his or her creditable service accumulated in a police pension fund that is administered by a unit of local government (rather than another unit of local government) if that active member was not subject to disciplinary action when he or she terminated employment with that police department. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and administer the Child Welfare Education Stipend Pilot Program to provide financial assistance to students who commit to seek and maintain employment at an Illinois purchase of service agency that contracts with the Department following their graduation from a participating institution of higher education with a degree in social work. Sets forth provisions concerning an intergovernmental agreement, student eligibility and renewal, the stipend amount, the student's employment obligation, repayment of a stipend, Department and institution requirements, reporting, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2021. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Renames the program as the Pat McGuire Child Welfare Education Fellowship Pilot Program. Makes changes concerning the General Assembly's findings, definitions, the duration of the pilot program, the purpose of the program, the stipend amount, eligibility for a stipend, employment requirements, repayment, and reporting, among other changes. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the School Code. Relative to the financial audits made annually by the Auditor General of the financial statements of all accounts, funds, and other moneys in the care, custody, or control of a regional superintendent of schools or educational service region, provides that the regional office of education or educational service center may utilize a cash basis, modified cash basis, or generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements. Makes changes to require audit reports to be published on the Auditor General's website and distributed in accordance with the Illinois State Auditing Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code, Township Code, and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the governing body of a county, township, or municipality may waive any fees or costs associated with a permit, inspection, or certification of occupancy required by law for construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of a manufactured home, building, dwelling, or structure, either commercial or residential, damaged as a result of a disaster, emergency, weather event, or for any reason deemed warranted in the interests of public safety, welfare, and recovery of the community by the governing body of the county, township, or municipality. Defines "disaster". Effective immediately.

Calls upon the Illinois Department of Employment Security to make an immediate public commitment to reopen their public-access public employment offices to provide face-to-face help to Illinois residents who urgently need assistance. Calls upon all of the other departments of the State of Illinois to provide the Department of Employment Security with advice, technical assistance, and guidance on how to safely reopen public-access office spaces under current conditions. Expresses support for the working people of Illinois and recognizes the stressful circumstances of operating a publicly accessible office in a time of pandemic.