Sen. Javier Cervantes

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the tax credit for employee child care shall be (i) 30% of the start-up costs expended by the corporate taxpayer to provide a child care facility for the children of its employees and (ii) 10% (currently, 5%) of the annual amount paid by the corporate taxpayer in providing the child care facility for the children of its employees. Creates an income tax credit for corporate taxpayers that are qualified small businesses in an amount equal to 10% of the federal tax credit claimed by the taxpayer for the taxable year for qualified child care expenditures. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the campaign free zone at any polling place located within any forest preserve district or conservation district shall extend 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting and shall also extend 500 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting to the boundaries of the district.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the Medicaid Access Adjustment payments to nursing facilities, provides that for dates of service beginning January 1, 2027, the Medicaid Access Adjustment shall be increased by $5.75 to $10.50 per diem. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, facilities located outside of Rate Areas 6, 7, and 8 shall have the Medicaid percent of occupied bed days to be at least 60% of all occupied bed days adjusted quarterly to qualify for the Medicaid Access Adjustment. Provides that the remaining facilities shall have their threshold remain at 70%.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital licensed under the Act shall not charge a covered hospital employee more than 10% of the total health insurance premium cost. Provides that any agreement permitting a charge to a covered hospital employee in excess of 10% of the total health insurance premium cost shall be deemed invalid, void, and unenforceable. Provides that a hospital in violation of those provisions shall pay a civil penalty of $500 to the Department of Public Health for each impacted covered hospital employee.

Creates the Illinois All-Payer Health Care Payment and Global Budget Act. Creates the Illinois Health Care Cost and Payment Board as an independent body within the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and sets forth its membership and powers. Defines "commercial payer" as any health insurance issuer, health maintenance organization, or third-party administrator subject to regulation by the Illinois Department of Insurance, excluding self-funded plans governed solely by ERISA. Provides that all commercial payers shall reimburse hospitals for covered services at standardized rates established by the Board. Defines "global hospital budget" as a prospective, fixed annual operating revenue amount established for a hospital to cover all inpatient and outpatient hospital services. Provides that the Board shall establish prospective annual global hospital budgets for Illinois hospitals. Provides that the Board shall establish a unified health care data system in coordination with State agencies. Creates the Health Care Payment Reform Advisory Council to advise the Board. Provides that the Governor, in consultation with the Board, shall seek all necessary federal approvals, including Medicare demonstrations and Medicaid waivers, to implement the Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, Hospital Licensing Act, Illinois Insurance Code, Health Maintenance Organization Act, and Illinois Public Aid Code with regard to the new Act. Contains a severability clause. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that any person who was initially determined to be eligible for medical assistance and is receiving institutional services or home and community-based services as authorized under the Article shall be presumed eligible for a continuation of coverage for such services during any redetermination process. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to continue to make payments for such services unless the person experiences a material change in financial circumstances that results in the loss of eligibility. Provides that if the person experiences a material change in financial circumstances that results in the loss of eligibility, the person, or the person's designated caregiver or responsible party, shall notify the Department. Provides that if the Department subsequently conducts a redetermination of eligibility, the Department must provide written notice to the person (i) before the commencement of the redetermination; and (ii) upon conclusion of the redetermination. Requires the Department to develop a process to facilitate the written notifications. Provides that no later than October 1, 2026, the Department shall seek federal authorization to exempt persons with disabilities who are eligible for medical assistance from annual redeterminations of eligibility, except that a full redetermination shall be conducted at least once every 5 years, regardless of whether a material change in financial circumstances has occurred. Effective immediately.

Amends the Court of Claims Act. Creates an administrative process for uncontested claims for vendors arising from contracts with the State. Requires a State agency to confirm or reject an uncontested claim that is from a lapsed appropriation and valued at less than $2,500 within 30 days after being notified in writing by the Attorney General. Provides that if the State agency does not confirm or reject the claim within that 30-day period, then the State agency forfeits the right to reject or contest the claim. Requires the Comptroller, subject to appropriation, then issue payment to the vendor within 30 days of the court entering such an award. Provides that if the court determines that it is unable to process such an uncontested claim because the bill or invoice contains a defect, the court must notify the vendor in writing of the defect no later than 30 days after the bill or invoice was first submitted. Provides that if one or more items on a bill or invoice are disapproved, but not the entire bill or invoice, then the portion that is not disapproved must be transmitted to the Comptroller for payment. Changes the filing fees required under the Act as follows: a fee of $15 for a petition seeking more than $500 but less than $10,000; and $35 for a petition seeking more than $10,000 or more. Requires that the court must allow claimants to submit documentation to amend and cure defects. Makes other changes. Authorizes the Court of Claims to adopt rules to implement the Act.

Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Makes technical changes to eliminate obsolete provisions. Provides that, if an agency incurs an interest liability that cannot be charged to the same expenditure authority account to which the related goods or services were charged due to federal prohibitions, the agency may pay the interest from any moneys appropriated to the agency that are not otherwise prohibited to be used for the purpose of paying interest. Provides that, when a State official or agency responsible for administering a contract receives a bill or invoice from a contractor, that State official or agency shall confirm the date on which the bill or invoice was received within 15 business days of receipt and shall transmit any approved amount to the Comptroller within 30 days of receipt. Provides that a State official or agency that is responsible for administering a contract submits a voucher to the Comptroller for payment, the official or agency shall make available electronically the voucher number, the date of the voucher, and the amount of the voucher within 15 days after submitting the voucher to the Comptroller (currently, that information shall be made available promptly).

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Defines the terms "anaerobic digester", "anaerobic digestion", "digestate", and "food waste processing facility". Replaces the definition of "food scrap" with the definition of "food waste". Replaces references to food scrap with references to food waste. Makes changes to provisions concerning pollution control facilities to exclude the portion of a site or facility that is used exclusively for the processing of food waste, with certain other requirements. Provides an exception for the commingling of certain food waste and landscape waste from certain provisions regarding landscape waste. Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Adds to requirements for county waste management plan recycling programs. Amends the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act. Establishes a food and food waste management hierarchy. Requires a covered establishment to carry out certain duties with respect to food waste. Provides for rulemaking, enforcement, and penalties with respect to provisions concerning food waste. Establishes requirements and procedures for diverting food that is safe for human consumption. Requires certain State agencies and units of local government to purchase and use compost and digestate, with certain requirements. Establishes a food diversion grant program. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to create a school counselor stipend program. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students and eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program. Sets forth requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating school counselor who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.