Sen. Iris Y. Martinez

Amends the Electrologist Licensing Act. In provisions concerning qualification for licensure, requires a person to complete a total of 600 hours in the study of electrology over a period of not less than 16 weeks nor more than 4 (rather than 2) years at a program approved by the Department. Provides that time spent under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or a foreign country or province shall be credited toward the period of study required.

Amends the Genetic Counselor Licensing Act. Removes language prohibiting a genetic counselor from providing genetic counseling without a referral. Makes related changes.

Amends various Acts to add physician assistants to provisions applicable to physicians, including adding physician assistant members to various committees and boards. Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act. Specifies that the physician assistant who may make a determination of disability for the purposes of an Illinois Persons with a Disability Identification Card is a physician assistant who has been delegated the authority to make this determination by his or her supervising physician. Amends the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act. Adds the President of the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants or his or her designee to the Illinois Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Adds representative of a professional organization representing physician assistants to various task forces and councils. Requires that the Department of Public Health consult with the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants in developing the summary of health care for women and that the summary be distributed to physician assistants. Requires that the Department of Public Health consult with a statewide professional organization representing physician assistants in developing the POLST form. Makes other changes.

Amends the Comprehensive Housing Planning Act. Changes the date through which the State is required to prepare and be guided by an annual comprehensive housing plan that is consistent with the affirmative fair housing provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act to December 31, 2026 (rather than June 30, 2016). Effective immediately.

Brings attention to the cases of legal permanent veterans who have been deported from the United States to the attention of the members of Congress and to the President of the United States in a determined effort to win the return of these veterans to their families, children, and communities in the United States.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning accident and health policies.

Urges the Latino community in the State to share its unique gift of life by donating blood; further urges Latino businesses, churches, and other organizations to consider hosting a blood drive in their community and urges community colleges, colleges, universities, and trade schools to host blood drives and participate in the National Cesar E. Chavez Blood Drive Scholarship Challenge.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Expands definition of "late term appointee" to include a person who is appointed as a director, executive director, or other similar officer by a board, commission, authority, task force, or other similar group, authorized or created by State law where the Governor appoints one or more members, 90 or fewer days before the end of the then-serving Governor's term, when the then-serving Governor does not succeed himself or herself as Governor. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Patricia M. Holden of Hoffman Estates.

Creates the Heroin Crisis Act. Contains only a short title provision.