Sen. Omar Aquino

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Provides that all individual and small group accident and health policies written subject to certain federal standards must file rates with the Department of Insurance for approval. Provides that unreasonable rate increases or inadequate rates shall be disapproved. Requires the Department to provide a report to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2023 regarding both on and off exchange individual and small group rates in the Illinois market. Requires that the Department approve or deny rate filings within 45 calendar days of submission unless the Director of Insurance extends the period by following specific procedures. Provides that a rate increase that is not approved or denied by the Department by the applicable deadline shall be automatically approved on the following calendar day. Provides that no less than 30 days after the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has certified the plans described in this Section for the upcoming plan year, the Department shall publish on its website a report explaining the rates for that plan year's certified health care plans. Defines "inadequate rate" and "unreasonable rate increase". Effective immediately.

Creates the Fix the FOID Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Appropriates $ 250,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the purposes of the Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program, as allowed under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and any associated federal guidance. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an addition modification in an amount equal to certain gains attributable to Opportunity Funds under certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Title Insurance Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any person or legal entity to act as or hold itself out to be a title insurance agent without procuring a title insurance license from the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that every title insurance agent shall pay specified fees. Provides requirements concerning eligibility for title insurance licensure. Grants the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation rulemaking authority for alternate methods of obtaining errors and omissions insurance. Provides requirements concerning rate and service fee filing requirements. Provides that the Secretary shall examine rating organizations at least once every 5 years. Provides that the Secretary may impose a penalty of not more than $5,000 for willful violations of the Act. Provides that the Secretary shall submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly no later than January 1, 2027 regarding separate filings for multiple geographic zones. Provides grounds by which the Secretary may refuse to grant, or suspend or revoke any license issued under the Act or impose a fine. Repeals a provision concerning the Secretary's authority to adjust certain fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately, except the provisions concerning rate and service fee filing requirements take effect September 1, 2022.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that internal (also known as female) and male condoms, incontinence products, diapers, and baby wipes shall be taxed by the State at a rate of 1% (currently, 6.25%). Provides that the net revenue from the 1% tax collected from the sale of those products shall be deposited into the State and Local Sales Tax Reform Fund. Amends the Use Tax, Service Occupation Tax, and Service Occupation Use Tax Acts to make conforming changes.

Creates the Judicial Quality Act. Requires the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to develop and implement an ongoing education and training program for judges and relevant court personnel regarding domestic violence or intimate partner violence, child abuse, racial bias in sentencing, cultural competency, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming individuals, and the impact of trauma on youth brain development. Provides requirements for the education and training program. Allows the education and training program to be conducted virtually or held through an in-person convening. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the education and training program shall include: hearing live testimony from individuals who may have been sentenced to 20 years or more or detained pretrial; and all judicial personnel (rather than no less than a quarter of State judges and relevant court personnel).

Amends the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Adds student loan borrowers to the definition of "consumer". Adds to the definition of "debt settlement provider" any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, or any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of such person or entity engaging in or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of student loan debt relief services in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a consumer. Excludes institutions of higher education from the definition of "debt settlement provider". Defines other terms. Requires a specified notice and disclosure to student loan borrowers to be included in advertising and marketing communications concerning student loan debt relief services. Requires providers of student loan debt relief services to provide a specified notice and disclosure before a student loan borrower signs a contract. Provides that any fees charged to a student loan borrower in exchange for student loan debt relief shall comply with a provision concerning fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning the Chicago Board of Education's requirements and criteria for the position of principal of an attendance center. Provides that if the requirements and criteria result or may result in the exclusion of otherwise qualified and licensed candidates from being eligible for selection to serve as a principal, then the Board shall maintain a public database that includes the names of all of the candidates who are eligible to be selected as a principal. Requires the Board to establish due process protections for candidates for the position of principal and establish a grievance procedure for those candidates the Board has deemed ineligible to serve as a principal. Makes changes concerning the use of performance evaluations in determining that a principal is no longer eligible to serve as principal of an attendance center. Effective January 1, 2023.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall implement and administer a program to award Early Childhood Workforce Free College grants to all eligible child care workers seeking to enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution; defines terms. Specifies grant eligibility and amount, renewal requirements, and repayment requirements. Requires the Illinois Early Learning Council to establish the Early Childhood Workforce Free College Advisory Committee to advise the Commission on all matters relating to the program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Early Childhood Workforce Free College Fund. Effective immediately.