Rep. Sharon Chung

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships may also be known as School Social Work scholarships. Includes, as a qualified applicant subject to meeting the other requirements, (i) a person who is pursuing a clinical social work license or social work license and (ii) a person who will obtain a master's degree in social work from an approved program before enrolling the academic program that the scholarship would support. Allows scholarships to be applied to the payment of tuition and mandatory fees at a private, not-for-profit institution of higher education in the State that prepares students to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Social Work. Provides that a scholarship for a recipient attending a private, not-for-profit institution shall not exceed the maximum grant payable to a student enrolled in the most expensive comparable program of study at a public university in the State. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall allow assisted living establishments and supportive living establishments to provide an approved course of training for certified nursing assistants at the establishment, so long as the training meets the requirements of the Nursing Home Care Act and rules adopted by the Department. Sets forth provisions concerning the supervised clinical training portion of the training program. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules requiring that the Health Care Worker Registry include information identifying where an individual received clinical training and may amend specified rules as necessary to implement the certified nursing assistant training program.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires every insurer to provide in each group or individual policy, contract, or certificate of insurance issued or renewed for persons who are residents of the State, coverage for screening by low-dose mammography for all patients 30 (instead of 35) years of age or older for the presence of occult breast cancer within the provisions of the policy, contract, or certificate. Requires coverage for a baseline mammogram for patients 30 to 34 (instead of 35 to 39) years of age and an annual mammogram for patients 35 (instead of 40) years of age or older. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the chief procurement officer having jurisdiction over construction-related services for the Department of Central Management Services also has jurisdiction over construction procurements for the Department of Central Management Services. Amends the Design-Build Procurement Act. Extends the repeal of the Act until January 1, 2030 (currently, January 1, 2027). Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In provisions concerning implicit bias awareness training, provides that, on and after January 1, 2027, a course covering the topics of perimenopause and menopause may count toward the requirement that a health care professional who has continuing education requirements complete at least a one-hour course in training on implicit bias awareness per renewal period. Defines "menopause" and "perimenopause". Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance issued or renewed in this State from imposing prior authorization or step therapy requirements on menopause therapy under specified conditions. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, and the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 to establish provisions concerning continuing education on perimenopause and menopause recognition and management for physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Other Social Services Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Permits townships to use moneys received and collected for public aid to provide funds and administer programs for providing in-kind aid in meeting basic maintenance requirements, including, but not limited to, food banks, food pantries, food, and other specified items to persons who are poor, indigent, homeless, or in need of immediate assistance, regardless of eligibility (rather than to persons eligible for General Assistance under the Code).

Creates the Higher Education Student Bill of Rights Act. Provides that a student attending a postsecondary education institution in the State is entitled to the following rights: the right to an inclusive and safe learning environment; the right to equal access; the right to safety and respect; the right to accessibility; the right to free expression; the right to organize; the right to peaceful protest; the right to academic transparency; the right to fair evaluation; the right to educational records; the right to educational programs safeguarded from political interference; the right to career preparation; the right to educational quality; the right to due process; the right to representation; the right to institutional accountability; the right to financial transparency; the right to fair lending and borrowing practices; the right to timely refunds and withdrawals; and the right to transfer.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows for the issuance of the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois decal. Provides that for the original issuance of the decal, a $25 fee shall be charged, with $10 to the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund and $15 to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that for the renewal of the decal, a $25 fee shall be charged, with $23 to the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund and $2 to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Creates the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that a public university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.