Sen. Cristina Castro

Creates the Bridge Program for Underrepresented Students Act. Defines terms. Provides that each public university in this State may establish a Bridge Program for underrepresented students. Specifies program requirements. Provides that a public university that establishes a Bridge Program shall, on or before September 1, 2019 and on or before September 1 of each subsequent year, publish on its website and make available to the public a report on the Program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that a unit of local government, school district, community college district, or other local taxing body shall provide notice to the public if the unit of local government, school district, community college district, or other local taxing body enters into a severance agreement with an employee or contractor accused of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination. Provides that no more than 72 hours after the unit of local government, school district, community college district, or other local taxing body makes a payment under the severance agreement, the unit of local government, school district, community college district, or other local taxing body shall publish on its Internet website and cause to be published, for a period of not less than 7 days, in the newspaper of general circulation having the largest circulation within the jurisdiction of the unit of local government, school district, community college district, or other local taxing body the following information: (1) the name of the person receiving the payment; (2) the amount of the payment; and (3) the fact that the person receiving the payment has been accused of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination, as the case may be. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Exempts the Illinois State Guard from the definition of "agency". Amends the State Employee Indemnification Act. Expands the definition of "State" and "employee" to include the Illinois State Guard and its members. Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Provides that, in the event of the death or disability of the Adjutant General or any other occurrence that creates a vacancy in the office, the Commander-in-Chief shall designate either the Assistant Adjutant General for Army or the Assistant Adjutant General for Air as the acting Adjutant General until an Adjutant General is appointed. Amends the Illinois Code of Military Justice. Provides that no person may be brought to trial by court-martial if that person is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering that person mentally incompetent. Provides that a determination on the accused person's capacity to stand trial shall be made in accordance with specified rules described in the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2012 Edition). Contains provisions concerning inquiries into a person's mental responsibility and mental health. Amends the State Guard Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Illinois State Guard Act. Repeals the substantive provisions of the Act. Establishes the Illinois State Guard as the State's non-federally recognized military force composed of members of the Unorganized Militia who are 18 through 45 years of age and other persons as determined necessary by the Governor. Contains provisions concerning: the activation and organization of the State Guard; personnel, pay, and allowances; equipping and uniforms; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning coverage for telehealth services, provides that if an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance provides coverage for telehealth services, it must provide coverage for licensed dietitians, nutritionists, and diabetes educators who counsel senior diabetes patients in the patients' homes to remove the hurdle of transportation for patients to receive treatment. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may authorize licensed dietitians, nutritionists, and diabetes educators to counsel senior diabetes patients in the patients' homes to remove the hurdle of transportation for patients to receive treatment.

Amends the Higher Education Veterans Service Act. Requires a public college or university to use its best efforts to hire a veteran of the armed services as the Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Changes the classification of Hydrocodone from a Schedule II controlled substance to a Schedule I controlled substance. Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 to make a conforming change.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall not require children made eligible for medical assistance through any home and community-based services waiver program for medically fragile and technology dependent children authorized under the Social Security Act to enroll in or transition to the State's managed care medical assistance program. Provides that any medically fragile and technology dependent child who is enrolled in the State's managed care medical assistance program on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be given the option to disenroll from the State's managed care medical assistance program and receive medical assistance coverage under the State's traditional fee-for-service program.

Creates the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Provides a minimum fine is $25. Provides when any defendant is convicted, pleads guilty, or placed on court supervision for a violation of a law or local ordinance, the court shall order one schedule of assessments in the case plus any conditional assessment applicable to a conviction in the case, as set forth in the Act, for the defendant to pay in addition to any fine, restitution, or forfeiture ordered by the court. Provides all money collected by the clerk of the court based on the schedules or conditional assessments shall be remitted to the appropriate treasurer as directed in the Act. Provides the treasurers shall deposit the money as indicated in the ordered schedule or conditional assessment. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a defendant may petition the court for full or partial waiver of court assessments imposed under the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Provides the court shall grant a full or partial waiver of court assessments if specified conditions are met. Makes corresponding and conforming changes to various Acts and Codes. Repeals various laws. Effective July 1, 2019, except for certain provisions that are effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Respite Program Act. In a provision requiring the Director of the Department on Aging to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly detailing the progress of the respite care services provided under the Act, provides that the report shall also include an estimate of the demand for respite care services over the next 10 years.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the child care assistance program, provides that a family's eligibility for child care services shall be redetermined no sooner than 12 months following the initial determination or most recent redetermination. Provides that during the 12-month periods, the family shall remain eligible for child care services regardless of (i) a change in family income, unless family income exceeds 85% of State median income, or (ii) a temporary change in the ongoing status of the parents as working or attending a job training or educational program. Effective October 1, 2018.