Sen. Donne E. Trotter

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Provides that a dental hygienist may be employed or retained (rather than employed) in specified settings, including in a public health setting (and defines "public health setting"). Provides that certain orders by dentists to dental hygienists must be completed within 12 months (rather than 120 or 180 days). Allows a dental hygienist to perform certain dental hygiene services in a public health setting if the dental hygienist has entered into a written collaborative agreement with a licensed dentist. Sets requirements for the written collaborative agreements and limits the services that may be authorized. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Creates the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund Health Insurance Task Force to study and consider the program of health insurance coverage for pensioners that is currently administered by the Fund. Includes specific subjects of inquiry, relating to the future administration of the insurance program. Specifies Task Force membership and excludes payment for service. Provides for clerical support from the Fund. Requires a report of its findings and recommendations and provides for its abolishment upon conclusion of its business. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a separate tax shall be levied by the Chicago Board of Education for the purpose of making an employer contribution to the Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago, at the rate of 0.26%; requires the proceeds from this separate tax to be paid directly to the Pension Fund. Makes a corresponding reduction in the rate limitation for the tax for general educational purposes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Charitable Trust Stabilization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that prior approval by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to administer to a recipient of medical assistance any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus shall be limited to certain criteria, including that: (i) the recipient must be 18 years of age; (ii) the recipient must have a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C infection, genotype 1, 2, 3, or 4, confirmed by stage 2 fibrosis; (iii) the recipient must not have end stage renal disease requiring dialysis; and (iv) the recipient may not have abused a controlled substance within the past 6 months. Provides that the Department may not use certain criteria as a basis for requiring prior approval to administer to a recipient of medical assistance any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus, including: (a) any evidence or known diagnosis of malignancy of any body organ; (b) the recipient's mental capacity or any determination related to the recipient's ability to make appropriate decisions about the interferon-free therapy treatment or to comply with related instructions; and (c) the fact that the recipient was previously administered an interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus. Contains provisions concerning persons authorized to prescribe an interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus to a recipient of medical assistance; the submission of lab results; an appeals process; and payments to managed care entities for any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus that is prescribed to a recipient of medical assistance. Effective immediately.

Amends the Accountable Care Organization Clinical Laboratory Testing Advisory Board Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the State Treasurer's Bank Services Trust Fund Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning creation of the Fund.

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a Section on payment by the pension fund of certain health insurance costs, increases the annual payment limit from $65,000,000 to $80,000,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision concerning the Community Care Program, establishes the following rate increases for the purpose of increasing the wages paid by vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services: on July 1, 2016, rates shall be increased to $19.27, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; on July 1, 2017, rates shall be increased to $21.39, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; on July 1, 2018, rates shall be increased to $23.52, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; and on July 1, 2019, rates shall be increased to $25.22, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour. Requires the Department to pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees consistent with the mandates of Public Act 95-713; and that for State fiscal year 2017, the enhanced rate shall be $1.77 per hour and shall be adjusted using actuarial analysis based on the cost of care. Effective July 1, 2016.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Makes a technical change in the Section concerning the short title of the Act.