Rep. Sharon Chung

Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. Makes changes to defined terms. In provisions concerning workplace safety, provides that a health care worker may not be discouraged from contacting law enforcement or the Department of Public Health regarding workplace violence, and a health care provider may not maintain a policy that limits such contact. Adds additional requirements to the workplace violence prevention program, including reporting requirements and identifying the need for additional security and alarms, adequate exit routes, monitoring systems, barrier protections, lighting, entry procedures, and systems to identify and flag persons who have previously committed violent acts in the health care provider space. Sets forth provisions concerning violent incident investigations, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements for health care providers regarding violent incidents. Establishes penalties for failure to comply with the Act. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from public disclosure workplace violence records maintained by health care providers as required under a specified provision of the Health Care Violence Prevention Act.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to, on or before January 1, 2027, submit a report to the General Assembly regarding the status and availability of agricultural education programs in the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall develop a policy to foster the reverse transfer of credit for any student who has accumulated at least 30 (rather than 15) hours of academic credit at a community college and a sufficient number of hours of academic credit at a State university in the prescribed courses necessary to meet a community college's requirements to be awarded an associate degree. Provides that each State university shall automatically notify any transfer student accepted to the State university with at least 30 hours of academic credit at a community college of the option for the reverse transfer of credit within the student's first term of enrollment. Provides that a community college shall provide notification to a student wishing to reverse transfer earned academic credit with instructions on application for conferral of an associate degree. Provides that a community college or State university may not charge an application, transfer evaluation, or graduation fee or any other fee associated with conferral of an associate degree through reverse transfer. Provides that a community college shall include each student awarded an associate degree through reverse transfer within its student information system. Effective immediately.

Creates the Limitations on Facility Fees Act. Provides that no health care provider shall charge, bill, or collect a facility fee, except for: (i) services provided on a hospital's campus; (ii) services provided at a facility that includes a licensed hospital emergency department; or (iii) emergency services provided at a freestanding emergency center. Provides that, except as specified, no health care provider shall charge, bill, or collect a facility fee for: (i) outpatient evaluation and management services; or (ii) any other outpatient, diagnostic, or imaging services identified by the Department of Public Health. Requires the Department to annually identify services subject to the limitations on specified facility fees that may reliably be provided safely and effectively in settings other than hospitals. Sets forth provisions concerning reporting, rulemaking, and enforcement of the Act. Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act to make a conforming change. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who violates the Limitations on Facility Fees Act commits an unlawful practice.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall establish an outcome-based Adult Workforce High School Diploma Program to allow eligible students to qualify for enrollment in the Program, and, upon successful completion of the Program, to be awarded a high school diploma. Sets forth requirements for approved Program providers and Program funding. Requires each approved Program provider to submit an annual report to the Board regarding the Program. Requires the Board to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the Program. Repeals the provisions on June 30, 2030.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Provides that the regulation of allowances for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate is an exclusive power and function of the State. Provides that a home rule unit may not regulate allowances for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that the registration information submitted by a sex offender to the Illinois State Police shall include status of drone ownership, including the make and model.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In a provision regarding endorsements on Professional Educator Licenses, provides for a special education endorsement in the area of deaf-hard of hearing with sign proficiency.

Creates the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression in Long-Term Care Bill of Rights Act. Establishes rights for a client who lives in a long-term care facility, or who receives home care services from a home care provider, from discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sex, actual or perceived sexual orientation, actual or perceived gender identity, actual or perceived gender expression, or actual or perceived HIV status. Provides that an aggrieved person may enforce violations of the Act against a long-term care facility or a home care provider and the staff of the long-term care facility or home care provider through a civil action. Sets forth provisions concerning gender identity in client records; required training for all long-term care facilities and home care providers; arbitration agreements; interpretation of the Act; and enforcement of rights, including civil penalties and other administrative actions. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, and the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act to require compliance with the Sexual orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression in Long-Term Care Bill of Rights Act. Amends the Adult Protective Services Act to include intentional misgendering and unlawful discrimination in the definition of "abuse".

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a public transit agency to use an electronic rearview monitoring system on commercial motor vehicles owned by the agency as an alternative to the mirror requirements of the Code and the Code of Federal Regulations so long as an exemption to the Code of Federal Regulations granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration remains in effect.