Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Mourns the death of Tsuyako Liebmann of Chicago.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that certain firefighters who participate in IMRF may be granted Sheriff's Law Enforcement Employee (SLEP) status with the approval of the employing municipality. The approval resolution may specify that SLEP status shall be applied retroactively to employment occurring on or after January 1, 2011. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In provisions requiring a criminal history records check to be performed with regard to applicants for employment with a school district or non-public school and whether those applicants may be employed, makes changes concerning the types of convictions checked for and when those convictions occurred. In provisions concerning the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for revocation of an educator license, changes the definitions of "narcotics offense" and "sex offense". Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that when the Department of Children and Family Services first assumes custody of a child, in placing that child, the Department shall make reasonable efforts to "identify, locate, and provide notice to all adult grandparents and other adult relatives of the child who are" ready, willing, and able to care for the child (rather than the Department shall make reasonable efforts to identify and locate a relative who is ready, willing, and able to care for the child).

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2016, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall implement a pilot project requiring that every new or refilled prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance containing hydrocodone shall only be dispensed in a non-reusable medicine locking closure package. Defines "medicine locking closure package" and "Schedule II controlled substance". Provides that the medicine locking closure package must be dispensed by the pharmacy with instructions for patient use. Provides that the manufacturer of the medicine locking closure package must make available assistance online or through a toll-free number for patient use. Provides that prescriptions reimbursed via Medicare Part D and Medicaid and prescriptions for individuals residing in facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act are exempt from the requirements of the pilot project. Repeals the provisions creating the pilot project on January 1, 2017. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Creates the Illinois Sexual Assault Emergency Treatment Program Fund. Prohibits a hospital, health care professional, ambulance provider, laboratory, or pharmacy furnishing hospital emergency services, forensic services, transportation, or medication to a sexual assault survivor from directly billing the survivor. Requires every hospital and health care professional to establish a billing protocol to ensure that no sexual assault survivor is billed for treatment. Contains penalty provisions. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Sexual Assault Emergency Treatment Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Illinois Public Aid Code. With regard to the respective requirements concerning coverage and payment for screening by low-dose mammography for all women 35 years of age or older for the presence of occult breast cancer, includes a screening MRI when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, and if the American Cancer Society's guidelines for appropriate use for women at high risk for breast cancer are met. Further amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2016, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall ensure that all networks of care for adult clients of the Department include access to at least one breast imaging Center of Imaging Excellence as certified by the American College of Radiology. Provides that on and after January 1, 2017, providers participating in a breast cancer treatment quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for breast cancer treatment at a rate that is no lower than 95% of the Medicare program's rates for the data elements included in the breast cancer treatment quality program. Makes changes concerning the case-managing and patient navigation pilot program. Sets forth provisions concerning departmental requirements for networks of care. Provides that on and after January 1, 2016, the Department shall ensure that provider and hospital reimbursement for certain required post-mastectomy care benefits are no lower than the Medicare reimbursement rate. Provides that on and after January 1, 2016 and subject to funding availability, the Department shall administer a grant program to build the public infrastructure for breast cancer imaging and diagnostic services across the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the College Student Immunization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning immunization reports.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no towing service shall engage in the removal of commercial motor vehicles requiring a commercial driver's license by operating the vehicle under its own power, unless authorized by a law enforcement officer. Allows a law enforcement officer issuing a citation to a driver for operating an uninsured motor vehicle to authorize the removal and impoundment of the vehicle by a towing service if the driver has a prior conviction for driving without insurance in the past 12 months, unless the vehicle is exempt from the insurance requirements of the Code. Provides that law enforcement agencies patrolling highways in this State shall establish tow rotation lists of towing services, and requires officers of those agencies to utilize the tow rotation lists to select a towing service for officer initiated tows. Provides criteria for inclusion on a tow rotation list, including licensing, insurance requirements, and submission of fingerprints for the purpose of a criminal history check. Provides that a tower that stops for the purpose of soliciting a towing service transaction or without being summoned by a law enforcement officer shall be subject to a fine, shall have his or her driver's license suspended for 3 months, and shall not be reinstated until the payment of a reinstatement fee. If a person's license is already suspended at the time of the violation, his or her driver's license shall be suspended for 6 months, and shall not be reinstated until the payment of a reinstatement fee. Provides that towers that misrepresent their affiliation with a law enforcement agency's tow rotation list shall be subject to license suspension and a fine up to $1000.

Creates the Youth Mental Health Protection Act. Defines "mental health provider" and "sexual orientation change efforts" or "conversion therapy". Provides that no mental health provider shall engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under the age of 18. Provides that a mental health provider shall not refer a client or patient to any individual for the purpose of sexual orientation change efforts. Further provides that any sexual orientation change effort attempted on a person under the age of 18 or any referral made by a mental health provider shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall be subject to discipline by the licensing entity or disciplinary review board with competent jurisdiction.