Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides for payment for ground ambulance services under the medical assistance program. Provides that for ground ambulance services provided to a medical assistance recipient on or after January 1, 2016, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide payment to ground ambulance services providers for base charges and mileage charges based upon the lesser of the provider's charge, as reflected on the provider's claim form, or the Illinois Medicaid Ambulance Fee Schedule payment rates. Provides that effective January 1, 2016, the Illinois Medicaid Ambulance Fee Schedule shall be established and shall include only the ground ambulance services payment rates outlined in the Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule as promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in effect as of July 1, 2013 and adjusted for the 4 Medicare Localities in Illinois, with an adjustment of 80% of the Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule payment rates, by Medicare Locality, for both base rates and mileage for all counties. Provides that for ground ambulance services provided where the point of pickup is in a rural county, the Department shall pay an amount equal to one and one-half times the ground mileage rate for the first 17 miles of such a transport and the ground mileage rate for the remaining miles of the transport. Makes other changes in connection with medical assistance payments for ground ambulance services. Effective July 1, 2015.
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Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes changes concerning open space valuation for privately-owned public golf course property located in a county with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants. Effective immediately.
Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, in the event of insufficient funds in the Injured Workers' Benefit Fund to pay all claims, an amount of money sufficient to make up the deficiency shall be considered to be always appropriated from the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Operations Fund, the Rate Adjustment Fund, the Settlement Fund, and the Second Injury Fund. Provides that the minimum payout from the Injured Workers' Benefit Fund for death or permanent total disability is 364 weeks of benefits payable in a lump sum. Provides that proof that an employer was not insured or is not insured constitutes a rebuttable presumption that the employer knowingly failed to comply with specified provisions of the Act.
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of "gambling device" to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including without limitation a machine or device that awards credits, points, or replays and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits, points, or replays that offers a person entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process that involves or is dependent upon an element of chance for which the person may receive a gift, award, or other item or service of value if that offer is incidental to or results from: (A) the purchase of an item or service of value; or (B) the purchase or gratuitous receipt of a coupon, voucher, certificate, or other similar credit that can be redeemed for or applied towards an item or service of value from such machine or device or elsewhere. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by these changes to the definition. Further provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Makes other changes.
Amends the State Universities Civil Service Act. Provides that each university is urged to give preference to those applicants for employment in positions not covered by the State Universities Civil Service System who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces if the applicant is as qualified as other applicants.
Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Insurance Verification Fund. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Creates an online insurance verification system with the assistance of an Insurance Verification Advisory Council composed of representatives from the Department of Insurance and the insurance industry. Provides that the online insurance verification system shall key vehicle registration information to current insurance information provided by insurers selling policies within the State. Provides that the Secretary may use the online insurance verification system to verify insurance information. Provides that authorized personnel shall serve as intermediaries for the courts, insurers, law enforcement agencies, and licensing officials to access the system for the purposes of verifying insurance information on a 24-hour basis through the Internet or other electronic system as developed by the Secretary. Provides that the Secretary may contract with a third party to develop the online insurance verification system. Provides that insurers shall provide information as required by the Secretary, and shall add a $1 fee on all policies issued to motorists to be paid into the Insurance Verification Fund for the purpose of operating the online insurance verification system. Provides that insurers that wilfully fail to provide information required by the Secretary shall be guilty of a business offense with a fine of up to $5,000. Provides that insurers shall be immune from liability for complying with the requirements of the Secretary. Provides that a violation of the prohibition on driving without insurance by the owner of a vehicle shall result in the suspension of the driver's license, regardless of whether the owner subsequently acquired insurance or terminated ownership of the vehicle. Provides that a person whose driver's license has been suspended for a violation of driving without insurance must pay a reinstatement fee of $100 and maintain proof of financial responsibility for 3 years. Provides that the Department of Transportation may access the online insurance verification system when compiling an accident report. Extends the repeal date of a Section concerning the verification of liability insurance policies.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may not renew the registration of a vehicle until the registered owner of the vehicle completes a required traffic education program or pays any fine or penalty due and owing, or both, as a result of a violation of the automated traffic law enforcement system or the automated speed enforcement system. Provides that the Section concerning automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones applies to the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will and to municipalities located within those counties (instead of in municipalities with a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants).
Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a license required to engage in the business of making loans of money in a principal amount not exceeding $40,000.
Amends the Township Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the use of terms.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Capital Development Board for its FY16 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2015.