Sen. Omar Aquino

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Provides that an initial charter shall be granted for a period of no more than 3 school years (instead of for a period of 5 school years). Provides that a charter may be renewed in incremental periods not to exceed 3 (instead of 10) school years. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Specifies that nothing in the provisions concerning a moratorium on school closings, consolidations, and phase-outs affects the Chicago Board of Education's ability to not renew its authorization of a charter or contract school.

Amends the Local Volunteer Board Member Removal Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Access to Affordable Insulin Act. Sets forth provisions concerning an insulin urgent-need program. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish procedures and applications for the insulin urgent-need program. Sets forth provisions concerning insulin urgent-need program exceptions, eligibility, forms, applications, claims and reimbursement, copayments, information sheets, and navigators. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs, provides that an insurer that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs under the terms of a health coverage plan the insurer offers shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a 30-day supply of covered prescription insulin drugs at an amount not to exceed $35 (rather than $100). Effective immediately.

Urges the United States Congress to take immediate action to clarify and amend the U.S. tax code to prevent the misuse of Puerto Rican tax incentives. Urges any amendments to the tax code to preserve the original intent of promoting economic growth in Puerto Rico while preventing potential misuse and addressing the negative economic impacts on the local population. Encourages collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, as well as with Puerto Rican authorities, to ensure that tax policies are fair, transparent, and effective. Recommends the implementation of educational campaigns to inform the public about the proper use of tax incentives and the potential consequences of misuse in Puerto Rico.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Office of the Ombudsman for International Applicants within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to assist international applicants in meeting the foreign education requirements for those licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the duties of the Office of the Ombudsman for International Applicants would include: (i) answering questions about meeting foreign education requirements; (ii) assisting international applicants in successful completion of the application forms; (iii) coordinating with personnel of the Department in processing the applications; and (iv) providing direction to community organizations that assist international applicants.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a home visiting program to support communities in providing intensive home visiting programs to pregnant persons and families with children from birth up to elementary school enrollment. Provides that services shall be offered on a voluntary basis to families. Provides that, in awarding grants under the program, the Department shall prioritize populations or communities in need of such services, as determined by the Department, based on data including, but not limited to, statewide home visiting needs assessments. Provides that eligibility under the program shall also take into consideration requirements of the federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to ensure appropriate alignment. Provides that the overall goals for these services are to: (1) improve maternal and newborn health; (2) prevent child abuse and neglect; (3) promote children's development and readiness to participate in school; and (4) connect families to needed community resources and supports. Contains provisions concerning grants to community-based organizations to implement home visiting and family support services; services provided under the home visiting program; infrastructure supports for grantees such as professional development for the workforce, technical assistance and capacity-building, and infant and early childhood mental health consultation; collaboration between the Department and other specified agencies to implement the home visiting services to ensure service alignment with services provided through the Early Childhood Block Grant and the State's Medical Assistance Program; and the establishment of an advisory committee. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Agriculture upon request (previously in cooperation) with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide consulting service and standards. Repeals the Displaced Homemakers Assistance Act, the Energy Policy and Planning Act, the Community Health Worker Advisory Board Act, the Electronic Health Records Taskforce Act, and the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers Act. Makes changes in various Acts in provisions concerning funds; mandates; reports; and task forces. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that in a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more, the county sheriff shall establish with other law enforcement agencies a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of stolen vehicles via their installed existing global positioning systems, collaborate with vehicle manufacturers and dealers to provide information and assistance to law enforcement officers in the investigation of vehicle theft, and ensure that consumers are provided with information concerning the hotline and any new or used vehicle manufactured with a global positioning system by publishing the information in a conspicuous location on the county sheriff's website. Provides that the manufacturer of any vehicle sold in this State shall establish a hotline available to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies exclusively for the purposes of law enforcement information sharing and the electronic tracking of vehicles stolen in vehicular hijacking incidents or that have been used in the commission of kidnapping, aggravated battery with a firearm, attempted homicide, or homicide. Provides that the manufacturer's hotline shall relay vehicle location information, including real-time vehicle location information whenever possible, to the 9-1-1 call center or designated dispatch center for the responding agency, to the best of the manufacturer's technical capability. Requires State, county, and local law enforcement agencies to use their respective 9-1-1 system call centers or designated dispatch centers for the purpose of verification of law enforcement officers' identities and bona fide incident report numbers related to incidents. Requires manufacturers to prepare written statements detailing tracking and disabling system capabilities and make them available to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies upon request. Requires that, if a vehicle is not subscribed to the manufacturer's tracking service, the manufacturer of any vehicle sold in this State shall waive all fees associated with initiating, renewing, reestablishing, or maintaining the location, disabling, or alert service with which the vehicle is equipped during a law enforcement response or investigation of specified offenses.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person engaged in the business of selling or offering to sell goods or services at retail to the public with an individual accepting in-person payments at a physical location shall not: (1) refuse to accept cash as a form of payment for sales of less than $2,000 made at the physical location; (2) post a sign on the premises stating that cash payment is not accepted; or (3) charge a higher price to customers paying with cash compared to the price charged to customers not paying with cash. Provides for specified exceptions. Provides that any person who violates the provisions commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act. Provides that (i) a professional license shall be valid for a period of 240 days (rather than 120 days) unless sooner suspended or revoked, (ii) the Director of Public Health may renew a provisional license once for a period not to exceed 90 days (rather than 120 days) from the expiration date of the initial provisional license, and (iii) the fee for each single home health agency license or any renewal shall be $1,000 (rather than $25). Removes language requiring the Department of Public Health to develop and implement one application to be used even if a combination of licenses authorized under the Act is sought. Provides that the Home Health and Home Services Advisory Committee shall be composed of 15 voting members and one nonvoting member (rather than just 15 members). Provides that 2 (rather than one) of the voting members shall be individuals who represent an organization that advocates for consumers, and the nonvoting member shall be a home services worker. Provides that if the Department finds that a violation does not pose a substantial risk to the health or safety of an agency's clients or patients, the Department may choose to request a plan of correction for the Department's approval prior to issuing a notice of violation to the agency. Provides that if the agency fails to submit an acceptable plan of correction or fails to implement a Department-approved plan of correction within the time provided by the Department, the Department shall then issue the notice of violation. Makes other changes.