Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes the requirement that an applicant for a Gold Star license plate shall be charged a registration fee. Provides that no registration fee for a Gold Star license plates shall be required from a surviving widow, widower, sibling, daughter, son, or parent of a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and lost his or her life while in service whether in peacetime or war. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Removes language providing that no registration fee for issuance of a Gold Star license plate shall be required from the sibling, daughter, or son of a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and lost his or her life while in service. Provides that no registration fee for a Gold Star license plate shall be required of a surviving widow, widower, or parent of a deceased member of the Armed Forces if that member lost his or her life while in service while in wartime (instead of "in peacetime or war").

Amends the School Code. Requires that each school district, charter school, or alternative school or any school receiving public funds develop an absenteeism and truancy policy to be communicated to students and their parents or guardians on an annual basis. Sets forth the minimum elements that must be included in the policy. Requires the policy to be updated every 2 years and filed with the State Board of Education. Effective July 1, 2021. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the absenteeism and truancy policy must be filed with the State Board of Education and the regional superintendent of schools (rather than only the State Board of Education). Changes the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2022 (rather than July 1, 2021).

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Establishes the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program as a part of the College Savings Pool (currently, not a part of the College Savings Pool), subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Requires the Department of Public Health and the Department of Revenue to provide the State Treasurer with specified information concerning eligible children under the Program. Modifies provisions concerning seed funds, unclaimed seed funds, and incentives and partnerships. Establishes the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury (currently, held outside of the State treasury). Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the Director of Revenue may exchange information with the State Treasurer's Office for the purpose of administering the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program. Amends the State Finance Act to provide for the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program Fund. Modifies defined terms. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective immediately.

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 Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that anything said or done during or in preparation for a restorative justice practice or as a follow-up to that practice, or the fact that the practice has been planned or convened, is privileged and cannot be referred to, used, or admitted in any civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative proceeding unless the privilege is waived, during the proceeding or in writing, by the party or parties protected by the privilege. Provides that the legitimacy of a restorative justice practice, if challenged in any civil, juvenile, criminal, or administrative proceeding, shall be determined by a judge. Provides that the privilege does not apply when: (1) disclosure is necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a crime; (2) necessary to comply with another law; or (3) a court, tribunal, or administrative body requires a report on a restorative justice practice, but such report shall be limited to the fact that a practice has taken place, an opinion regarding the success of the practice, and whether further restorative justice practices are expected. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Margaret S. "Peggy" Knoepfle of Springfield.

Recognizes the City of Decatur's Juneteenth celebration as a time to reflect and to commemorate the end of slavery.

Recognizes the City of Springfield's Juneteenth celebration as a time to reflect and to commemorate the end of slavery.

Declares the month of April 2021 as AMBUCS Appreciation Month in the State of Illinois.

Urges Illinois long-term care facilities to uphold and adhere to federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and guidance on a resident's standards of care, rights, protections, and inalienable right to be treated with respect, dignity, and quality care.