Sen. Laura Ellman

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Teacher Article: provides that through June 30, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2023), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year; deletes language concerning an additional 20 days or 100 paid hours that an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status for the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022; and provides that a person may receive optional credit for certain periods of service as a student teacher. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20) of the Code. In the definition of "pension credit", provides that the one-year limitation does not apply to persons who acquire credit as a substitute teacher covered under the Downstate Teacher Article and reach retirement eligibility under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Creates the Higher Education in Prison Act. Provides that on or before September 1 of the year following the effective date of the Act and each subsequent September 1, the Department of Corrections shall release a report, to be published on the Department of Corrections's Internet website, detailing certain information pertaining to higher education within Department institutions and facilities. Requires the report to be filed with the Governor and General Assembly. Provides that the data provided in the report shall include an aggregate chart at the Department level and individual reports by each correctional institution or facility of the Department of Corrections. Provides that on or before September 1 of the year following the effective date of the Act and each subsequent September 1, each college and university that provides academic programs for committed persons shall report to the Board of Higher Education on enrollment, retention, completion, and student demographics, including race, ethnicity, age, and gender of committed students. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall compile the information and, within 60 days after receipt of such information, issue a report reflecting the information for each institution required to report. Provides that the report must be filed with the Governor and General Assembly and made publicly available on the Board of Higher Education's Internet website.

Amends the Child Labor Law. Provides that upon reaching the age of majority, any individual who was a minor engaged in the work of vlogging may request the permanent deletion of any video segment including the likeness, name, or photograph of the individual from any online platform that provided compensation to the individual's parent or parents in exchange for that video content. Provides that a vlogger who features a minor child in a specified amount of the volgger's content shared on an online platform must set aside a specified amount of gross earnings on the video content in a trust account to be preserved for the benefit of the minor upon reaching the age of majority. Provides for the requirements of the trust account. Defines terms.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the termination of contractual continued service by a teacher, provides that a resignation submitted after the completion of the school year must be submitted a minimum of 30 calendar days prior to the first student attendance day of the following school year. With respect to the referral of a teacher to the State Superintendent of Education for terminating service not in accordance with these provisions, provides that if a school district intends to submit a referral to the State Superintendent, the district shall submit the referral to the State Superintendent within 10 business days after the school board denies acceptance of the resignation. Provides that the district shall notify the teacher that it submitted the referral to the State Superintendent within 5 business days after submitting the referral to the State Superintendent. Provides that the teacher shall receive a summary of the State Superintendent's evidentiary hearing no later than 14 days after the hearing is completed. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, for State Fiscal Year 2024 only and in addition to other amounts provided for school breakfast and lunch programs, the State Board of Education shall provide supplemental nutrition aid to participants in the national school breakfast and lunch programs. Provides that a participant's supplemental nutrition aid shall equal the participant's State Fiscal Year 2023 actual expenditures for providing school breakfast and lunch programs, minus the participant's State Fiscal Year 2023 State reimbursement, minus the participant's State Fiscal Year 2023 federal contribution. Repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act must provide coverage for medically necessary hearing instruments and related services for all individuals (rather than all individuals under the age of 18) when a hearing care professional prescribes a hearing instrument to augment communication. Makes conforming changes, including repealing provisions concerning optional coverage or optional reimbursement for hearing instruments and related services. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall not require, either expressly or effectively, electronic health records systems, pharmacies, or other providers to utilize a particular entity or system for integration of pharmacy records with the Prescription Monitoring Program. Provides that electronic health records systems and providers may integrate with the Prescription Monitoring Program through the integration entity or system of choice of the electronic health records system or provider, including cloud-based systems and systems that are not part of pharmacy management systems, if the integration entity or system has a HITRUST certification, SOC2 certification, or a security certification by a department of the federal government or another United States state government with which Illinois has a controlled substance data-sharing arrangement.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that no person, other than a pesticide applicator under the direct supervision of a supervisory pesticide applicator, may apply a pesticide within any school building or on the grounds of any school. Exempts emergency application of a pesticide meeting specified requirements from the provisions.

Amends the Human Skeletal Remains Protection Act. Changes references from "Indian" to "Native American" and "Historic Preservation Agency" to "Department of Natural Resources". Provides that the Director of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Illinois State Museum, may create a cemetery on existing State lands for the reburial of repatriated Native American remains and materials. Provides that the cemetery shall not be used by the public and shall be protected by the State of Illinois. Provides that the Director of Natural Resources shall cooperate with the State Archaeologist and the Illinois State Museum to coordinate reinterment in the cemetery.

Amends the Department of Innovation and Technology Act. Provides that the Department of Innovation and Technology shall establish the Generative AI and Natural Language Processing Task Force investigate and provide a report on generative artificial intelligence software and natural language processing software. Sets forth the members to serve on the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall hold at least 5 meetings, and specifies the format and the location of those minimum amount of meetings. Provides for additional responsibilities of the Task Force. Provides that the Department of Innovation and Technology shall provide administrative and technical support to the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall provide a report to the Governor and the General Assembly covering the Task Force's investigation into generative artificial intelligence software and natural language processing software and the Task Force's additional responsibilities.