Creates the Right to Garden Act. Provides that the State or a unit of local government may not regulate gardens or the use of season extension techniques and devices on residential property. Provides that the Act does not preclude the State or a unit of local government from adopting statutes or regulations pertaining to: restrictions on water use during drought conditions; existing or future adoption of property set-backs; maximum lot coverage; utility safety; fertilizer use; control of invasive species; a substance regulated under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Industrial Hemp Act, or the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act; or any other regulation that does not have the effect of prohibiting gardens. Defines the terms "garden", "residential property", and "season extension techniques and devices". Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer, health maintenance organization, independent practice association, or physician hospital organization may not attempt a recoupment or offset until all appeal rights of a health care professional or health care provider are exhausted. Provides that no recoupment or offset may be requested or withheld from future payments 6 months or more after the original payment is made (rather than 18 months or more after the original payment is made). Effective January 1, 2021.
Creates the Criminal History in College Applications Act. Prohibits a college from inquiring about or considering an applicant's criminal history information until after a provisional offer of admission has been made. Sets forth provisions concerning multi-institution applications, criminal history inquiries after a provisional offer of admission, an appeals process, and the provision of information about education, licensing, and employment barriers for people with criminal records.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that rates and minimum mandated wage increases for homemaker services shall be, at minimum, a rate of $23.40 per hour beginning July 1, 2020 to sustain a minimum wage of $14 per hour, and a rate of $24.96 per hour beginning July 1, 2021 to sustain a minimum wage of $15 per hour. Provides that rates in State fiscal year 2023 and every State fiscal year thereafter shall be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2021. Requires providers of in-home services to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2020.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to ensure that every youth in care who is entering his or her final year of high school has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, if applicable, or an application for State financial aid on or after October 1, but no later than November 1, of the youth's final year of high school. Requires the Department to assist a youth in care in identifying and obtaining all documents necessary to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, if applicable, or an application for State financial aid.
Creates the Student Athlete Endorsement Act. Prohibits (i) an institution of higher learning from upholding any rule, requirement, standard, or other limitation that prevents a student athlete of that institution from earning compensation as a result of the use of the student's name, image, or likeness and earning compensation from the use of a student athlete's name, image, or likeness from affecting the student's scholarship eligibility; (ii) an athletic association, conference, or other group or organization with authority over intercollegiate athletics from preventing a student athlete of an institution from earning compensation as a result of the use of the student's name, image, or likeness; (iii) an athletic association, conference, or other group or organization with authority over intercollegiate athletics from preventing an institution from participating in intercollegiate athletics as a result of the compensation of a student athlete for the use of the student's name, image, or likeness; and (iv) an institution, athletic association, conference, or other group or organization with authority over intercollegiate athletics from providing a prospective student athlete with compensation in relation to the athlete's name, image, or likeness. Sets forth provisions concerning professional representation and contracts. Effective immediately.
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided, in conjunction with dental care that is provided to an individual in a hospital or an ambulatory surgical treatment center if the individual is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and any of the following applies: (1) the individual has a medical condition that requires hospitalization or general anesthesia for dental care; or (2) the individual is a person with a disability. Defines "person with a disability" to mean a person, regardless of age, with a chronic disability if the chronic disability meets specified conditions. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided by a dentist with a permit provided under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, in conjunction with dental care that is provided to an individual in a dental office, oral surgeon's office, hospital, or ambulatory surgical treatment center if the individual, regardless of age, is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and has been diagnosed with (i) an autism spectrum disorder as defined in the Autism Spectrum Disorders Reporting Act or (ii) a developmental disability. Defines "developmental disability". Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to reimburse providers of services covered under the amendatory Act at the same rates as the Medicare program's rates for similar services.
Amends the Jury Act. Deletes language providing that jurors must be free from all legal exception, of fair character, of approved integrity, of sound judgment, and well informed. Provides that no person who is qualified and able to serve as a juror may be excluded from jury service on the basis of previous criminal conviction.
Amends the Re-Entering Citizens Civics Education Act. Expands the program to persons committed to a Department of Juvenile Justice facility. Provides that the workshop held at the Department of Juvenile Justice shall consist of 270 minutes of instruction. Provides that the civil education program in the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be taught by 2 co-facilitators. Provides that one of the co-facilitators shall be a member of an established nonpartisan civil organization and the other a committed person at the Department of Juvenile Justice who is specifically trained in voting rights education and who has been trained by an established nonpartisan civil organization. Effective January 1, 2021.
Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that registered professional nursing practice is a scientific process founded on a professional body of knowledge; it is a learned profession based on the understanding of the human condition across the life span and environment and includes all nursing specialties and means the performance of any nursing act based upon professional knowledge, judgment, and skills acquired by means of completion of an approved professional nursing education program. Provides that registered professional nurses may delegate nursing interventions and tasks (rather than nursing interventions) to other registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses and may delegate tasks to unlicensed personnel based on the comprehensive nursing assessment. Removes provisions concerning delegation of nursing interventions and administration of medications in community-based or in-home care settings. Provides that a registered professional nurse may delegate tasks to other licensed and unlicensed persons. Makes other changes. Effective August 1, 2019.