Rep. Harry Benton

Maddy summarySB 318 is a procedural bill that makes a technical correction to the short title of the Illinois Fairness in Lending Act. It does not change any substantive lending rules or affect borrowers, lenders, or consumer protections. The bill simply updates the official name reference within the existing law to ensure consistency in legal documents. This is a minor administrative adjustment with no new policy implications.

Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Allows a speech-language pathologist to diagnose autism spectrum disorders if: (1) the child is under 3 years of age; and (2) the speech-language pathologist is trained in autism diagnostic evaluation methods as part of the curriculum of an approved program, through worksite training, or through continuing education. Provides that if a diagnosis requires a plan of care that includes elements that are outside the scope of practice of a speech-language pathologist, the speech-language pathologist must refer the patient to the appropriate medical personnel for further evaluation or management. Makes conforming changes in the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code, and provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code concerning autism spectrum disorders. Effective July 1, 2027.

Creates the Transparency in Downcoding Act. Provides that the Act applies to certain policies of health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the Act, except for employee or employer self-insured health benefit plans under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and health care provided pursuant to the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Prohibits a health insurance issuer from using an automated process, system, or tool to downcode a claim; from downcoding a claim based solely on the reported diagnosis codes; and from using downcoding practices in a targeted or discriminatory manner against physicians who routinely treat patients with complex or chronic conditions. Requires downcoding decisions to be made by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in any United States jurisdiction and of the same or similar specialty as a physician who typically manages the medical condition or disease. Sets forth provisions concerning notification requirements for downcoded claims; the appeal process for downcoded claims; enforcement by the Department of Insurance; and penalties. Provides that any pattern or practice of discriminatory downcoding identified by the Director of Insurance or another regulatory authority shall be subject to enforcement actions, including fines, restitution, or suspension of the health insurance issuer's license in this State. Effective immediately.

Creates the Junk Fee Ban Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for a person to: (1) offer, display, or advertise an amount a consumer may pay for merchandise without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price; (2) fail, in any offer, display, or advertisement that contains an amount a consumer may pay, to display the total price more prominently than any other pricing information; (3) misrepresent the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; (4) fail to disclose clearly and conspicuously before the consumer consents to pay, the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay that is excluded from the total price, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; or (5) offer, display, or advertise, including through direct offerings, third-party distribution, or metasearch referrals, a total price for a place of short-term lodging that does not include all required fees. Requires total price disclosures for retail mercantile establishments and food service establishments; and the disclosure of delivery fees. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce violations of the Act as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Preempts home rule powers.

Creates the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act. Provides that any person or entity that sells or offers to sell goods or services through an online platform to consumers in this State shall provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure if the price displayed to a consumer is generated using surveillance pricing. Provides that a consumer may opt out of surveillance pricing and a covered entity shall provide the consumer with a non-personalized baseline price for the goods or services. Prohibits a covered entity from using specified personal information to generate algorithmic pricing. Provides that a violation of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. Effective one year after becoming law.

Encourages State agencies to regulate the use of electrical lights in State buildings and facilities to better conserve energy and to minimize light pollution. Urges electrical lights in State buildings and facilities to be turned off unless the building or facility or that part of it is occupied, unless the building or facility is open 24-hours a day, limited to the areas and floors that are occupied, or unless the lighting is required for security or safety purposes.

Appropriates $8,000,000 to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the administration of scholarships under the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Directs the Auditor General to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the utilization of the 340B Drug Pricing Program by covered entities within Illinois to assess the amount of 340B profit, defined as total patient and payer reimbursement less the total 340B acquisition cost, generated by 340B covered entities from both self-administered and physician-administered drugs, the amount spent on third party administrators for the management of the 340B Program, the amount going to pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) in contract pharmacy arrangements, the amount going to contract pharmacies, whether covered entities maintain title to 340B drugs in contract pharmacy locations, the average mark-up imposed by covered entities on 340B priced drugs, and the extent to which 340B entities pass 340B discounts to vulnerable patients at the point of sale for both in-house and contracted pharmacies and to also examine the impact of these practices on state health programs, such as Medicaid and the State Employees Group Insurance Program, and to make recommendations for improvement.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028 that provides coverage for: habilitative services shall provide coverage for habilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, regardless of whether the stuttering is classified as developmental; rehabilitative services shall provide coverage for rehabilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering; or both habilitative services and rehabilitative services shall provide coverage for habilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, regardless of whether the stuttering is classified as developmental, and shall provide coverage for rehabilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering. Sets forth requirements and limitations for the coverage. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under the provisions of those Acts. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective January 1, 2028.

Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that all apprentices shall be employed under an apprenticeship agreement between the sponsoring salon or shop and the apprentice that is approved by the Department of Labor. Provides requirements for the completion of an apprenticeship program, including training hours and supplemental instruction. Provides that an apprentice shall only provide licensed services under the supervision of a cosmetologist, barber, esthetician, or nail technician with an active license and for the scope of services for which the supervising licensed professional is licensed to practice. Requires apprentices to be trained in all branches of practical work and related supplemental instruction for the scope of practice for the license the apprentice seeks to obtain. Defines "apprentice". Provides that a person is qualified for a license as a barber if the person has graduated from a school of barbering or school of cosmetology approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or completed an apprenticeship under the Act (rather than only if the person has graduated from a school). Provides that the Department shall prescribe reasonable rules for the registration of apprentices.