Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Changes the heading of Article V-F to the Nursing Home Residents' Managed Care Rights Law (rather than the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI) Nursing Home Residents' Managed Care Rights Law). Expands the scope of the Article to apply to policies and contracts for the nursing home component of any Medicaid managed care program established by statute, rule, or contract, including, but not limited to, the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative Program, the Integrated Care Program, the HealthChoices Program, the Managed Long-Term Services and Support Program, and any and all successor programs. Grants the Department of Healthcare and Family Services rulemaking authority to implement this provision. Makes changes to the definitions for "enrollee", "managed care organization", and "transition period". Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, by January 1, 2019, the State Board of Education shall implement a program and adopt rules to allow school districts to supplement their substitute teacher recruitment for elementary and secondary schools with the use of recruiting firms. Defines "recruiting firm". Specifies program requirements. Prohibits school districts from using recruiting firms to circumvent collective bargaining agreements or laws. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the term "teacher" or "substitute teacher" does not include and service credit may not be granted to an individual employed by an entity that provides substitute teaching services under the program and is not a school district. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employee Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act, eligible TRS benefit recipients, TRS dependent beneficiaries, community college benefit recipients, and community college dependent beneficiaries may elect not to participate in the program of health benefits under the Act. Provides that the election must be made during the benefit recipient's annual open enrollment period, subject to specified conditions. Effective immediately.

Creates the Pollinator Friendly Solar Site Act. Provides that an owner of a ground-mounted solar site may follow practices that: (1) provide native perennial vegetation and foraging habitat which is beneficial to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators; and (2) reduce storm water runoff and erosion at the solar site. Provides that an owner or manager of a solar site with a generating capacity of more than 40 kilowatts implementing site management practices under the Act may claim that the site is "pollinator-friendly" or provides benefits to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators only if the site adheres to guidance set forth by the pollinator friendly scorecard published by the Department of Natural Resources in consultation with stakeholders. Provides that an owner making a beneficial habitat claim shall make the solar site's pollinator score card, and where available, related vegetation management plans, available to the public and provide a copy to the Department of Natural Resources and a nonprofit solar industry trade association of the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Changes the classification of Hydrocodone from a Schedule II controlled substance to a Schedule I controlled substance. Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 to make a conforming change.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall develop or approve a curriculum for a certified training program for school resource officers which shall consist of at least 40 hours of training. Provides that the curriculum shall include the following subject areas: (1) child and adolescent development and psychology; (2) positive behavioral interventions and support, conflict resolution techniques, and restorative justice techniques; (3) education law; (4) juvenile law; (5) implicit bias; (6) trauma-informed care; (7) de-escalation techniques, including techniques for limiting the use of physical force and mechanical and chemical restraints; (8) the mental, physical, and behavioral health needs of all children and adolescents including those with disabilities or special needs; (9) a minimum of 8 hours of crisis intervention training for youth; and (10) cultural responsiveness. Provides that the Board by rule shall require a law enforcement officer to successfully complete the certified training program for school resource officers before or within 120 days of a law enforcement officer's first day of service in a school. Provides that the certified training program for school resource officers shall be successfully completed by school resource officers every 4 years. Makes other changes.

Amends the Predator Accountability Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Adds references to involuntary servitude and labor trafficking throughout the Act. Provides that a victim of involuntary servitude or labor trafficking has a cause of action against any person or entity who knowingly subjects, attempts to subject, or engages in a conspiracy to subject the victim to involuntary servitude or labor trafficking. Provides that the standard of proof in specified actions under the Act is a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that a legal guardian, family member, agent of the victim, court appointee, certain type of organization, or government entity responsible for enforcing the laws of this State may bring an action on behalf of a victim. Provides that it is not a defense to an action brought under the Act that a defendant has been acquitted or has not been investigated, arrested, prosecuted, or convicted under the Criminal Code of 2012 or has been convicted of a different offense for the conduct that is alleged to give rise to liability under the Act. Makes other changes, including corresponding changes in the Code of Civil Procedure.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Removes a provision requiring taxpayers who have been granted a disabled veterans standard homestead exemption to reapply on an annual basis. Effective January 1, 2018.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board may require of new substitute teachers evidence of physical fitness to perform duties assigned and shall require of new substitute teachers evidence of freedom from communicable disease, and provides that evidence may consist of a physical examination by a health care provider (instead of treating substitute teachers like other new employees who are required to provide evidence of physical fitness to perform duties assigned and freedom from communicable disease through a physical examination by a health care provider). Effective immediately.

Creates the Government Severance Pay Act. Provides that a unit of government that enters into a contract or employment agreement, or renewal or renegotiation of an existing contract or employment agreement, that contains a provision for severance pay with an officer, agent, employee, or contractor must include specified provisions in the contract. Provides that nothing in the Act creates an entitlement to severance pay in the absence of its contractual authorization or as otherwise authorized by law. Defines terms.