Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal of the Nurse Practice Act from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2028. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Defines "focused assessment", "full practice authority", "oversight", and "postgraduate advanced practice nurse". Changes references of "advanced practice nurse" and "APN" to "advanced practice registered nurse" and "APRN" throughout the Act. Replaces provisions regarding nursing delegation with provisions that prohibit specified actions. Provides other guidelines for delegation of nursing activities and medication administration. Makes changes to education program requirements, qualifications for licensure, the scope of practice, and continuing education for LPN and RN licensees. Provides that a written collaborative agreement is required for all postgraduate advanced practice registered nurses until specific requirements have been met. Provides that postgraduate advanced practice registered nurses may enter into written collaborative agreements with collaborating advanced practice registered nurses or physicians (rather than collaborating physicians or podiatric physicians). In provisions concerning prescriptive authority for postgraduate advanced practice registered nurses, sets forth the requirements for postgraduate advanced practice registered nurses to have prescriptive authority and the limitations of such authority. Makes changes to provisions concerning the grounds for disciplinary action under the Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to prepare a report regarding the moneys appropriated from the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund to the Department of Public Health for nursing scholarships. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
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Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that it is an aggravating factor in sentencing that the defendant committed the offense of driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or any combination thereof in violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance and the defendant during the commission of the offense was driving his or her vehicle upon a roadway designated for one-way traffic in the opposite direction of the direction indicated by official traffic control devices.
Creates the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Provides that administrators and insurers, prior to going to market, must file with the Department of Insurance for review and approval a description of the services to be offered through a network plan, with certain criteria included in the description. Provides that the network plan shall demonstrate to the Department, prior to approval, a minimum ratio of full-time equivalent providers to plan beneficiaries and maximum travel and distance standards for plan beneficiaries, which shall be established annually by the Department based upon specified sources. Provides that the Department shall conduct quarterly audits of network plans to verify compliance with network adequacy standards. Establishes certain notice requirements. Provides that a network plan shall provide for continuity of care for its beneficiaries under certain circumstances and according to certain requirements. Provides that a network plan shall post electronically a current and accurate provider directory and make available in print, upon request, a provider directory subject to certain specifications. Provides that the Department is granted specific authority to issue a cease and desist order against, fine, or otherwise penalize any insurer or administrator for violations of any provision of the Act. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2018.
Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall work with the Farmers' Market Task Force to address farmers' market vendor complaints regarding the reasonableness of local health departments' fees and sanitation provisions. Provides that farmers' market vendors shall provide effective means to maintain potentially hazardous food at or below a specified temperature. Provides that handwashing stations may be shared by farmers' market vendors. Makes additions to the list of non-potentially hazardous foods that are allowed in provisions concerning the regulation of cottage food operations. Removes an exemption from provisions concerning the regulation of cottage food operations that applies when the gross receipts from the sale of food do not exceed $36,000 in a calendar year. Provides that no later than December 31, 2017, the Department shall include in the Department's cottage food operation application form a statement containing specified content. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Creates the School Choice Act. Contains findings and declarations of policy. Establishes the School Choice Program. Provides that under the program the custodian of a qualifying pupil is entitled to a School Choice Scholarship to pay for qualified education expenses at participating nonpublic schools. Requires the principal of each public school to notify custodians of qualifying pupils of the availability of scholarships. Requires custodians to apply to the State Board of Education for a scholarship and provide documentation as to eligibility. Requires the State Board to issue a scholarship to custodians who have made proper application and to honor the scholarship when presented for payment by a nonpublic school. Provides for the amount of a scholarship. Provides that the scholarship may be renewed each year through the 12th grade so long as the pupil and custodian remain eligible. Contains funding provisions. Provides that the amount received under the program shall not be considered base income for purposes of Illinois' income tax. Requires the State Board to submit a report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2020. Sets forth criminal penalties for certain violations. Requires the State Board to adopt rules to implement the Act. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2021. Amends the Illinois Lottery Law and the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Adds families that are not recipients of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and that need child care assistance to participate in education and training activities to the list of family categories that are covered under the child care assistance program. Deletes a provision: requiring the Department of Human Services to allocate $7,500,000 annually for a test program for families that are income-eligible for child care assistance, are not recipients of TANF, and need child care assistance to participate in education and training activities; and requiring the Department to specify the conditions of eligibility for the test program. Effective July 1, 2017.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no policy of individual or group accident and health insurance issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act may impose any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to that plan or coverage.
Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Provides that if a contractor is assessed liquidated damages by the State, the contractor is still responsible to each subcontractor under the subcontracts. For contracts with the Department of Transportation, provides that if a contractor is assessed a liquidated damages penalty equal to or exceeding the total amount of the contract and the contractor is unable to pay its subcontractors, the Department of Transportation shall verify completion of the work performed by the subcontractor and, upon successful verification, pay the subcontractor the amount owed on the subcontract with the contractor.
Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that the court may order the sealing of the records of arrests or charges not initiated by arrest which result in an order of supervision or a conviction for a misdemeanor violation of public indecency. Provides that the court may not order the sealing of the records of arrests or charges not initiated by arrest which result in an order of supervision or a conviction for offenses under the Humane Care for Animals Act (rather than Class A misdemeanors under the Act). Eliminates multiple offenses and circumstances of the charge where records may currently be sealed. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. For parties who agree to not use mediation during a challenge, provides that a parent shall have 10 days after a party declines to use mediation to file a request for a due process hearing to allow the student to remain in his or her present educational placement. Effective immediately.