Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins

Mourns the death of G. Guffie Jones.

Mourns the death of Cornelius L. Jackson.

Mourns the death of Melba deane Booker.

Mourns the death of Gladys Patsy Murray of Chicago.

Amends the Illinois Plain Language Task Force Act. Provides for plain language State government communications to the public. Modifies the definition of "plain language" to conform to the Plain Writing Act of 2010. Removes the representation interest requirements for persons appointed to the Task Force by the governor. Modifies the duties of the Task Force concerning the Task Force's initial report. Requires the Task Force to be specifically guided in its discussions on the subject of plain language by the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and subsequent guidance documents, including, but not limited to, the Federal Plain Language Guidelines. Modifies the purpose of the Act.

Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. In provisions concerning transition of services, provides that the health care plan shall not modify an enrollee's coverage of a drug during the plan year if the drug has been previously approved for coverage by the plan for a medical condition, the plan's prescribing provider continues to prescribe the drug for the medical condition, and the patient continues to be an enrollee of the health care plan. Provides specific prohibited modifications of drug coverage in the health plan. Provides that the provisions do not prohibit a health care plan from requiring a pharmacist to effect generic substitutions of prescription drugs. Provides that the provisions do not prohibit the addition of prescription drugs to a health care plan's list of covered drugs during the coverage year. Provides that the provisions do not apply to a health care plan as defined in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 or medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that interest penalties that may be payable under the Act, as provided under specified Sections of the Illinois Insurance Code, shall be paid from a separate appropriation from each fund for such purpose and for each appropriated agency. Amends the State Budget Law. Provides that for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the budget shall include a separate line item request appropriating moneys to each State agency for estimated costs for each fund under the State Prompt Payment Act and specified Sections of the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the sum of transfers among line item appropriations for an agency in a fiscal year shall not exceed 2% of the aggregate amount appropriated to it within the same treasury fund for, among other objects, late interest penalties under the State Prompt Payment Act and specified Sections of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that if lump sum appropriations are enacted with a separate line item for late interest penalties under the State Prompt Payment Act and the Illinois Insurance Code, the 2% transfer authority shall apply to the aggregate amount of these appropriations. Amends the State Prompt Payment Act to provide that interest penalties that may be payable under the Act and under specified Sections of the Illinois Insurance Code shall be paid from a separate appropriation from each fund for such purpose and for each appropriated agency. Effective immediately.

Amends the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act. Provides that a person who is required to register under the Act may file a Petition to Review Registrant Status with the county where he or she is required to register, seeking a hearing for early removal from the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry. Provides that the registrant shall be removed from the Registry if he or she can demonstrate exemplary conduct within his or her community, in addition to successful completion of the terms and conditions of his or her registration for 5 consecutive years on the Registry. Provides that exemplary conduct shall be successfully demonstrated when the registrant presents testimony, character witnesses, or other evidence to demonstrate rehabilitation and that the registrant has had no felony convictions during the last 5 years of registration. Provides that the office of the State's Attorney shall receive a copy of the petition and shall inform the victim involved of a hearing date and time and the courtroom scheduled for the hearing. Provides that specified information shall be collected and be accessible on the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2018, any publicly funded early childhood program receiving Preschool for All Block Grant funds or Preschool for All Expansion Block Grant funds shall collect and review its chronic absence data and determine what systems of support and resources are needed to engage chronically absent students and their families to encourage the habit of daily attendance and promote success; defines "chronic absence". Sets forth actions that are encouraged. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, an early childhood program shall report all the data collected to the State Board of Education, which shall make the report publicly available via the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map Internet website and the Preschool for All Program or Preschool for All Expansion Program triennial report. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Act. Provides that the Program Board created to administer the grant program authorized by the Act shall be comprised of 11 (rather than 21) members. Effective immediately.