Sen. Celina Villanueva

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Specifies that the notice in contested case hearings must include an enclosure that notifies the recipient of the ability to request interpretive assistance for the hearing and to receive language assistance in translating the contents of the notice. Provides that an administrative law judge has the duty to inquire and determine whether a self-represented litigant or witness in a hearing needs interpretive assistance to participate in or understand the hearing. Authorizes any self-represented litigant, witness, or indigent person to request, at any time during the course of a hearing, interpretive assistance needed to participate in or understand the hearing. Provides that, if interpretive assistance is requested by a self-represented litigant, a witness, or an indigent person or if interpretive assistance is determined to be necessary by the administrative law judge, the administrative agency must appoint a foreign language interpreter at no cost to the person in need of the assistance for use in a substantive hearing. Authorizes an administrative agency to provide interpretive assistance during a nonsubstantive hearing through use of an interpreter who is not a foreign language interpreter, provided the administrative law judge examines the interpreter for competency for the purposes of the nonsubstantive hearing. Requires all persons appointed to provide interpretive assistance in substantive and nonsubstantive hearings to make certain affirmations. Contains provisions concerning waiver of these language assistance provisions.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Strengthening Mental Health and Substance Use Parity Act. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, or any third-party administrator administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer, shall cover all out-of-network medically necessary mental health and substance use benefits and services (inpatient and outpatient) as if they were in-network for purposes of cost sharing for the insured. Provides that the insured has the right to select the provider or facility of their choice and the modality, whether the care is provided via in-person visit or telehealth, for medically necessary care. Sets forth minimum reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health benefits. Sets forth provisions concerning responsibility for compliance with parity requirements; coverage and payment for multiple covered mental health and substance use services, mental health or substance use services provided under the supervision of a licensed mental health or substance treatment provider, and 60-minute individual psychotherapy; timely credentialing of mental health and substance use providers; Department of Insurance enforcement and rulemaking; civil penalties; and other matters. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a minor technical correction to the official short title of a section within the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. It does not create new laws, change existing policies, or directly affect any individuals or organizations. The change was approved by both the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor for final approval.

Creates the Patient Access to Pharmacy Protection Act. Defines terms. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may deny, restrict, prohibit, condition, or otherwise interfere with, either directly or indirectly, the acquisition of a 340B drug by, or delivery of a 340B drug to, a 340B covered entity or a 340B contract pharmacy authorized to receive 340B drugs on behalf of the 340B covered entity unless such receipt is prohibited by federal law. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may impose any restriction on the ability of a 340B covered entity to contract with or designate a 340B contract pharmacy including restrictions relating to the number, location, ownership, or type of 340B contract pharmacy. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may require or compel a 340B covered entity or 340B contract pharmacy to submit or otherwise provide ingredient cost or pricing data pertinent to 340B drugs; institute requirements in any way relating to how a 340B covered entity manages its inventory of 340B drugs that are not required by a State or federal agency, including requirements relating to the frequency or scope of audits of inventory management systems of a 340B covered entity or a 340B contract pharmacy; or require a 340B covered entity or its 340B contract pharmacy to submit or otherwise provide data or information that is not required by State or federal law. Sets forth provisions concerning enforcement of this Act; preemption of this Act; and severability of this Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prenatal Syphilis Act. In provisions concerning blood testing of pregnant women, provides that the period for the taking of a second sample of blood during the third trimester of pregnancy is between 27 and 32 weeks, and provides that the purpose of the taking of a second sample of blood during the third trimester of pregnancy is to ensure treatment begins 30 days before delivery.

Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Establishes the role of HIV Treatment Innovation Coordinator to be housed within the Department. Provides that the Department shall create and fill the Coordinator role within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the Coordinator to develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to adopt a Rapid Start model for HIV treatment as the standard of care. Requires compensation and benefits for the Coordinator be at the Program Director level. Describes the specific job responsibilities of the Coordinator. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections, including any laboratory costs of processing the home test kit, that are deemed medically necessary or appropriate and ordered directly by a clinician or furnished through a standing order for patient use based on clinical guidelines and individual patient health needs. Makes a conforming change to the Illinois Public Aid Code regarding coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections. Amends the AIDS Confidentiality Act. Creates the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Provides that Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications shall be processed within 72 hours after the time of submission. Provides for conditional approval of Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications within 24 hours after time of submission. Requires Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applicants to document residency within the State of Illinois. Provides for 8 Rapid Start for HIV Treatment pilot sites established by the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Department shall publish a report on the operation of the pilot program 15 months after the pilot sites have launched. Establishes requirements for the report, requires that the report be shared with the General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and requires that the report be made available on the Department's Internet website. Amends the County Jail Act. Creates new annual adult correctional facility public inspection report requirements on the topics of HIV and AIDS.

Creates the Securing All Futures through Equitable Reinvestment (SAFER) Communities and Small Business Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a SAFER Communities Wage Subsidy Pilot Program. Provides that the wage subsidy shall apply to no more than 6,000 participants. Requires the Department to maintain a database of all participants for the duration of the incentive period. Provides that individuals seeking to participate in the pilot program shall register with the Department on or after January 1, 2024. Requires the Department to verify individuals' eligibility to participate in the pilot program by checking their employment and felony conviction history. Contains provisions concerning certificates of eligibility for wage subsidies under the pilot program; the monetary amount of monthly wage subsidy payments awarded under the pilot program; certain conditions program participants must satisfy to receive monthly wage subsidy payments; the maximum amount of wage subsidies allowed under the pilot program; promotion efforts for the pilot program conducted by the Department of Corrections; and other matters. Requires the Department to establish a Returning Citizen and Small Business Grant Program. Sets forth requirements a small business must meet to be eligible for a grant under the program. Provides that an eligible small business shall be awarded grants in the amount of $2,500 per new qualifying returning citizen hired. Limits the total annual amount in grants an eligible small business may receive under the grant program. Contains provisions concerning data collection and reporting requirements for the Secretary of Human Services. Provides that implementation of the Act is subject to appropriation. Permits the Department of Human Services to use State or federal funding to administer the SAFER Communities Wage Subsidy Pilot Program and the Returning Citizen and Small Business Grant Program. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections. Provides that the Act is repealed on December 31, 2029. Effective immediately.

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that when the Senate adjourns on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, November 19, 2024 or until the call of the President; and when the House of Representatives adjourns on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, November 19, 2024 or until the call of the Speaker.

Creates the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act. Establishes the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for the purpose of advising and making recommendations to the Department regarding the provision of psilocybin and psilocybin services. Provides that the Department shall begin receiving applications for the licensing of persons to manufacture or test psilocybin products, operate service centers, or facilitate psilocybin services. Contains licensure requirements and prohibitions. Provides that a licensee or licensee representative may manufacture, deliver, or possess a psilocybin product. Provides that the Department may obtain, relinquish, or dispose of psilocybin products to ensure compliance with and enforcement of the Act and rules adopted under the Act. Creates the Psilocybin Control and Regulation Fund and the Illinois Psilocybin Fund and makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act. Requires the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and the Department of Revenue to perform specified duties. Contains provisions concerning rulemaking, taxes, fees, zoning, labeling, and penalties. Preempts home rule powers. Contains other provisions. Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Changes the dates by which specified records for minor cannabis offenses shall be automatically expunged. Provides for expungement of specified records concerning the possession of psilocybin and psilocin. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Removes psilocybin and psilocin from the list of Schedule I controlled substances. Amends the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal Act of 2012. Provides that the Tax Tribunal shall have original jurisdiction over all determinations of the Department of Revenue reflected on specified notices issued under the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt specific records from disclosure. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in specified provisions of law, a person serving a term of imprisonment, including terms of natural life, in a Department of Corrections institution or facility is eligible for earned reentry. Provides that for the first year following the effective date of the amendatory Act, a person is eligible for earned reentry if he or she has served a term of imprisonment of at least 35 consecutive years. Provides that for the second year following the effective date of the amendatory Act, a person is eligible for earned reentry if he or she has served a term of imprisonment of at least 25 consecutive years. Provides that for the third year following the effective date of the amendatory Act and each year thereafter, a person is eligible for earned reentry if he or she has served a term of imprisonment of at least 20 consecutive years. Provides that hearings for earned reentry shall be administered by the Prisoner Review Board. Establishes procedures for the hearing. Removes provision that no person serving a term of natural life imprisonment may be paroled or released except through executive clemency. Provides that if any incarcerated person is released on earned reentry, his or her sentence shall be considered complete after the term of mandatory supervised release. Applies retroactively. Contains a severability provision. Defines "earned reentry". Effective January 1, 2024.