Sen. Omar Aquino

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to identify and flag all college students who are potentially eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Provides that the factors to be used to determine potential SNAP eligibility shall be prescribed by the Department of Human Services by rule, but at a minimum the Department shall consider income information reported on a college student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Requires ISAC to develop a notice available electronically to institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum, college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline. Requires Illinois institutions of higher education that participate in the Monetary Award Program to provide the notice in writing to all students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and are identified by ISAC as potentially SNAP eligible and, if possible, to designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Contains provisions concerning: SNAP Employment and Training program requirements; protocols to identify and verify all potential exemptions to an eligibility rule described in a specified federal regulation and to identify and verify a student's participation in educational programs; and other matters. Requires the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement specified provisions on or before October 1, 2017. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In the provision concerning the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Operations Fund surcharge, provides that after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Director of Insurance shall make one or more loans to the Illinois Employers Mutual Insurance Company (the Company) in an amount not to exceed an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 from the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Operations Fund for the start-up funding and initial capitalization of the Company. Creates the Illinois Employers Mutual Insurance Company Article in the Code and establishes the Company as a nonprofit, independent public corporation. Provides that the Company (1) shall be operated as a domestic mutual insurance company, subject to all applicable provisions of the Code, (2) shall issue insurance for workers' compensation and occupational disease and shall not provide any other type of insurance, (3) shall not be considered a State agency or instrumentality of the State for any purpose, and (4) shall not receive any State appropriations or funds, except for an initial loan or loans. Sets forth provisions concerning a board of directors, ratemaking, the Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund, a chief executive officer, liability, a workplace safety plan, investments, dividends, the sale of policies, auditing requirements, and an annual report. Effective immediately.

Amends the Departments of State Government Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that notwithstanding any law to the contrary, third-party contracts entered into by the State are permissible only when they are in the best interests of the State. Provides conditions with which to measure whether a third-party contract is in the best interests of the State. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that a home care consumer in the Department of Human Services' Home Services Program has the right and discretion to: (i) select and hire a personal assistant or other individual provider of his or her choice; and (ii) determine the number of hours worked weekly by his or her personal assistant or other individual provider. Provides that, subject to the Department's authority to approve the total monthly hours in a home care consumer's service plan, the State of Illinois and any of its departments, including the Department, shall not limit the number of weekly hours worked by personal assistants or other individual providers in the Department's Home Services Program. Provides that the provisions do not limit the Department's authority in any other statute to disqualify an individual from providing services in the Department's Home Services Program for reasons other than the number of weekly hours worked by the individual.

Amends the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Requires a day and temporary labor service agency (agency) to notify a day or temporary laborer (laborer) in writing of the schedule and length of multi-day assignments. Requires an agency to keep records on the ethnicity of each laborer or applicant and the date, time, and location at which an applicant requested employment. Requires an agency to provide a laborer with transportation back to the point of hire at the end of each work day. Requires an agency to indicate on a laborer's payment stub the current maximum amount of any placement fee charged to a third party client. Prohibits an agency or third party client from charging a laborer for the expense of conducting a consumer report, a criminal background check, or a drug test. Requires an agency to submit to the Department of Labor the total number of laborers the agency has placed in a permanent position. Requires laborers to be paid at a rate no less than the same average rate of pay as a permanent employee performing the same or substantially similar work. Requires a third party client to conduct a job hazard analysis for each job to which a laborer might be sent. Requires an agency to obtain a surety bond of no less than $150,000 and to comply with other specified registration requirements. Makes a third party client liable for any obligation to pay the 4 hours minimum pay or any statutory damages required under the Act. Provides that termination or disciplinary action against a laborer within 90 days of the person's exercise of rights protected under the Act shall raise a rebuttable presumption of retaliation. Makes other changes.

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 Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to create and maintain a website to educate the public on heroin and prescription opioid abuse. Provides that at a minimum, the website shall include: (i) information on the warning signs of heroin and prescription opioid addiction; (ii) helpful hints for parents on how to discuss the dangers of heroin and prescription opioid addiction with their children; (iii) information on available treatment options and services; (iv) a listing of the toll-free number established by the Department to provide information and referral services for persons with questions concerning substance abuse and treatment; and (v) links to flyers and resources for download. Provides that the Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the new provisions.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Contains provisions concerning the establishment of various programs and services for the benefit of veterans including a proactive outreach program for veterans that served in high casualty units, in units that experienced high conflict areas, and in units where at least one service member committed suicide following his or her service; a public awareness campaign concerning the trauma and internal injuries suffered by veterans; specified training concerning mental health services for employees of veterans service organizations, Veterans Assistance Commissions, and veterans' service associations; educational success programs for veterans experiencing specified difficulties in higher education; a family preparation course for the families of returning veterans; a licensing program for therapy dogs for veterans; a transition program for returning veterans that reside in the State; a system that allows veterans to file a specified federal form immediately upon discharge; creation of an employer training program; and a standard statewide peer-to-peer training program to familiarize veterans with the veterans' services available at the local, State, and federal levels. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to adopt any rules necessary to implement these provisions.

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 Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning registration plates and stickers.