Sen. Elgie Sims

Mourns the death of Lovie Lee Wilson.

Amends the Election Code. Allows the State Board of Elections to receive voter registration information provided by applicants using electronic voter registration portals (rather than the Board's website). Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who is otherwise qualified to vote may preregister to vote on or after that person's 16th birthday, with the registration held in abeyance by the appropriate election authority until that individual attains the required age to vote. Requires preregistration to be completed using the online voter registration system or an electronic voter registration portal. Provides that for the purposes of the Code, an individual who is 16 years of age or older (rather than who is 17 years of age and who will be 18 years of age on the date of the general or consolidated election) shall be deemed competent to execute and attest to any voter registration forms.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the rates and minimum mandated wage increases for homemaker services shall be, at a minimum, as of January 1, 2019, a rate of $19.96 per hour, for a minimum wage of $12 per hour, and as of July 1, 2019, a rate of $21.64 per hour for a minimum wage of $13 per hour. Provides that rates in future State fiscal years shall be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2019. Provides that in-home service provider agencies shall be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they are in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, any paid time off, payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation payment, shall not be reduced in relation to these rate increases. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Require managed care organizations (MCOs) to ensure (i) that contracted providers shall be paid for any medically necessary service rendered to any of the MCO's enrollees, regardless of inclusion on the MCO's published and publicly available roster of available providers; and (ii) that all contracted providers are contained on an updated roster within 7 days of entering into a contract with the MCO and that such roster be readily accessible by all medical assistance enrollees for purposes of selecting an approved healthcare provider. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop a single standard list of all additional clinical information that shall be considered essential information and may be requested from a hospital to adjudicate a claim. Provides that a provider shall not be required to submit additional information, justifying medical necessity, for a service which has previously received a service authorization by the MCO or its agent. Contains provisions concerning a timely payment interest penalty; an expedited provider payment schedule; a single list of standard codes to identify the reason for nonpayment on a claim; payments under the Department's fee-for-service system; a 90-day correction period for providers to correct errors or omissions in a payment claim; service authorization requests; discharge notification and facility placement; and other matters. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer may not use a person's ZIP code in underwriting or rating automobile insurance, including the determination of premium rates.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits child abduction when he or she commits involuntary sexual servitude of a minor.

Creates the 2020 Census Grant Program Act. Creates the 2020 Census Grant Program for the purpose of issuing matching grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to support the accurate counting of the population of the State and its local jurisdictions, and the collection of basic demographic and housing information of the population of this State for the 2020 Census. Creates the 2020 Census Grant Program Panel and provides for its membership. Provides administrative support for the Grant Panel. Provides for the awarding of funds under the Grant Program. Requires notice to be given to units of local government and nonprofit organizations concerning the Grant Program. Provides that for fiscal year 2020, the Governor shall include in the annual State budget for the 2020 Census Grant Program an appropriation of $33,000,000. Provides legislative findings. Defines terms. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2022. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create the Freshman Success pilot program. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board must award grants to school districts to implement Freshman Success plans; specifies grant eligibility requirements. Provides that, on or before December 1, 2019 and on or before each December 1 thereafter, the State Board shall make grant applications available and issue a list of all school districts eligible to apply. Requires each grant applicant to describe its plan and how the grant funds will be allocated; provides for allowable grant uses. Provides that the State Board must review all submitted applications to determine if an applicant has developed a promising plan to increase on-track freshman rates and has demonstrated the leadership and capacity to implement its plan with the grant assistance. If so, provides that the State Board may award the applicant a grant of up to $100,000 per qualifying high school in the school district. Effective immediately.

Declares March 28, 2019 as Celebrating Women in Public Office Day.

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that enterprise zone applicants shall receive a specific score based on whether or not an applicant meets certain criteria (currently, the applicant receives a score based on the extent to which the applicant meets the criteria). Provides that the Enterprise Zone Board shall approve any application that receives at least 200 points, with the exception of a zone that has previously been decertified for cause. Effective immediately.