Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no railroad operating within this State on any main line or any other line shall operate, or permit to be operated, any train that exceeds 8,500 feet in length. Contains a statement of legislative purpose, and defines "main line", "railroad", "train", and "train length".

Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission Act. Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission. Provides that the Commission's purpose is to: (i) drive the State's strategic vision for assessing and achieving the successful transition, adjustment, and reintegration of service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families through the coordination of the collective efforts of public and private organizations throughout the State; (ii) facilitate, collaborate, and coordinate the efforts of these organizations to effectively and responsively meet the needs of the military community; (iii) conduct planning, research, education, training, and evaluation activities to improve the operations and coordination of the systems of care and support; and (iv) coordinate its activities with those of Illinois Joining Forces and other advocacy organizations for service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families. Contains provisions concerning the Commission's composition; term appointments; meetings; and other matters. Provides that the duties of the Commission are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of those State programs and services related to the military community; promote coordination and efficiency among State, county, and local units of government and municipalities; issue periodic reports on its performance and progress in meeting its goals; monitor the progress of the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness developed by specified federal agencies and other organizations; and other matters. Provides that the Commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission Act. Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission. Provides that the Commission's purpose is to prevent veteran suicide. Requires the Commission to: (i) drive the State's strategic vision for assessing and achieving the successful transition, adjustment, and reintegration of service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families through the coordination of the collective efforts of public and private organization throughout the State with the goal of preventing veteran suicide; (ii) facilitate, collaborate, and coordinate the efforts of these organizations to effectively and responsively meet the needs of the military community with the goal of preventing veteran suicide; (iii) conduct planning, research, education, training, and evaluation activities to improve the operations and coordination of the systems of care and support with the goal of preventing veteran suicide; (iv) coordinate its activities with those of Illinois Joining Forces and other advocacy organizations for service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families. Contains provisions concerning the Commission's composition; term appointments; meetings; and other matters. Provides that the duties of the Commission are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of those State programs and services related to the military community; promote coordination and efficiency among State, county, and local units of government and municipalities; issue periodic reports on its performance and progress in meeting its goals; monitor the progress of the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness developed by specified federal agencies and other organizations as they address the needs of the service members and veterans community, and their families, to prevent veteran suicide; and other matters. Provides that the Commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Veterans Affairs) HB 2628l, as amended by House Amendment 1 would have a moderate fiscal impact to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year fishing license. Provides that the fee for a 5-year fishing license is $62.50. Provides that for residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year fishing license. Provides that for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year fishing license. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents holding a license and to the same hunting privileges as residents holding a license to hunt all species under the Wildlife Code. Provides that the 5-year sportsmen's combination license fee shall be $112.50. Provides that a sportsmen's combination license shall not be issued to any individual who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting license separately. Provides that for residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year sportsmen's combination license. Provides that for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year sportsmen's combination license. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year hunting license to hunt all species for $52. Provides that for residents age 65 or older and resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year hunting license.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that all foster families shall automatically qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits regardless of income, subject to federal approval if required. Requires the Department of Human Services to apply for any federal waivers or approvals necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Adds provisions concerning market analysis and market conduct actions. Makes changes to provisions concerning market conduct and non-financial examinations, examination reports, insurance compliance self-evaluative privilege, confidentiality, fees and charges, examination, and fiduciary and bonding requirements. Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Adds definitions. Establishes minimum ratios of providers to beneficiaries for network plans issued, delivered, amended, or renewed during 2023. Makes changes to provisions concerning network adequacy, notice of nonrenewal or termination, transition of services, network transparency, administration and enforcement, and provider requirements. Creates the Network Adequacy Advisory Council. Provides that the Council shall consider the standards required pursuant to the Act and any related rules and may recommend additional or alternative standards for determining whether a network plan is adequate. Contains provisions concerning the membership and responsibilities of the Council. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning notice of nonrenewal or termination and transition of services. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize the Department of Insurance to adopt emergency rules implementing federal standards for provider ratios, time and distance, or appointment wait times when such standards apply to health insurance coverage regulated by the Department of Insurance and are more stringent than the State standards extant at the time the final federal standards are published. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that emergency medical (EMS) personnel may provide preveterinary emergency care to a dog or cat to the extent the EMS personnel has received commensurate training and is authorized by his or her employer to provide care. Provides that requirements governing the circumstances under which EMS personnel may provide preveterinary emergency care to dogs and cats may be specified in the employer's policies governing the provision of care. Contains language stating that nothing in the Act imposes upon EMS personnel any obligation to provide care to a dog or cat or to provide care to a dog or cat before a person. Amends the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004. Provides that nothing in that Act shall apply to EMS personnel who provide preveterinary emergency care to a dog or cat under the amended provisions of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that "preveterinary emergency care" means the immediate medical stabilization of a dog or cat by EMS personnel, in an emergency to which the EMS personnel is responding, through means including oxygen, bandaging, or basic first aid (rather than oxygen, fluids, medications, or bandaging), with the intent of enabling the dog or cat to be treated by a veterinarian. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 210 ILCS 50/3.260 new 225 ILCS 115/4 Adds reference to: 210 ILCS 50/1 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5501 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 210 ILCS 50/1 Adds reference to: 720 ILCS 570/401 from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1401 720 ILCS 570/414 720 ILCS 570/415 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that for various offenses involving the manufacture or delivery of a fentanyl analog, 3 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court, and the maximum sentence for the offense shall be increased by 3 years. Provides that the 3-year penalty enhancement applies when the person knew or should have known that the substance containing the controlled substance contains any amount of fentanyl or a fentanyl analog. Provides that provisions regarding limited immunity from prosecution for a victim of sexual assault for the use, possession, and consumption of a controlled substance and limited immunity from prosecution for a person who is experiencing a drug overdose or for a person who in good faith seeks or obtains emergency medical assistance for someone experiencing an overdose, in relation to fentanyl, only apply to a person possessing less than 3 grams of a substance containing fentanyl or an analog thereof. Effective immediately.

Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Removes language exempting from coverage under the Act an employee of an employer subject to the provisions of Title II of the federal Railway Labor Act.

Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that a health care professional or health care provider shall not contact a collection agency to collect unpaid debt when a patient has a late payment or nonpayment of a medical bill for COVID-19 testing, nor shall the health care professional or health care provider report the late payment or nonpayment to a credit reporting agency. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois State Auditing Act. Provides that the Auditor General shall, on an annual basis, conduct a performance audit of all boards and commissions, and other similar entities, that receive State funds, for the purpose of ensuring that such boards and commissions are holding meetings and performing their stated duties. Provides that if a performance audit finds that a board or commission has not held a meeting or performed any of its stated duties within the year prior to the audit, then that board or commission shall be dissolved. Directs the Auditor General to certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the results of its performance audits. Directs the Legislative Reference Bureau to prepare legislation repealing the enabling laws of the board and commissions identified.

Amends the Firearms Concealed Carry Act. Provides that for a new or renewal concealed carry license, the fee shall be $75 (rather than $150), of which $60 (rather than $120) shall be apportioned to the State Police Firearm Services Fund, $5 (rather than $20) shall be apportioned to the Mental Health Reporting Fund, and $10 shall be apportioned to the State Crime Laboratory Fund. Provides that a non-resident applicant for a new license or renewal shall submit $150 (rather than $300) and a licensee requesting a new license shall submit $10 (rather than $75). Effective immediately.