Sen. Karina Villa

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to ensure that every youth in care who is entering his or her final year of high school has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, if applicable, or an application for State financial aid on or after October 1, but no later than November 1, of the youth's final year of high school. Requires the Department to assist a youth in care in identifying and obtaining all documents necessary to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, if applicable, or an application for State financial aid.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Requires a school district to provide notification to the parent or guardian of a student with an individualized education program (IEP) that the student may be eligible to receive additional specified services, benefits, or resources. Provides that the written notification must be provided no later than 30 days following the implementation of the initial IEP and once a year thereafter. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Removes the requirement that a school district provide written notification concerning Supplemental Security Income and a special-needs trust. Provides that a school district must provide the written notification concerning the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database to the parent or guardian at the initial meeting between the school district and the parent or guardian to develop the student's individualized education program and once a year thereafter at a regularly scheduled individualized education program meeting (rather than no later than 30 days following the implementation of the initial individualized education program and once a year thereafter). Requires a school district to provide to the parent or guardian of a student with an individualized education program a copy of the Department of Human Services' guide titled "Understanding PUNS". Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/14-17 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.163 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database, requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, through school districts, to provide to parents and guardians of students a copy of the Department of Human Services' guide titled "Understanding PUNS: A Guide to Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services" each year at the annual review meeting for the student's individualized education program (rather than requiring the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to inform parents and guardians of students through school districts about the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services waiting list). Effective immediately.

Creates the Housing is Recovery Pilot Program Act. Creates the Housing is Recovery Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health. Provides that the Program shall provide bridge rental subsidies for individuals at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization and individuals at high risk of overdose for purposes of stabilizing their mental illness or substance abuse disorder. Provides criteria for the award, computation, and payment of bridge rental subsidies. Sets forth the responsibilities of persons receiving bridge rental subsidies. Provides for the identification and referral to the Program of persons eligible to receive bridge rental subsidies prior to their discharge from a hospital or release from a correctional facility. Provides standards for housing service providers, long-term housing, and temporary rental units. Provides that the Department will contract with an independent outside research organization to evaluate the Program's effectiveness, and shall report the results of the evaluation to the General Assembly after 5 years. Provides rulemaking authority. Defines terms. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Housing is Recovery pilot program is established subject to appropriation. Changes the definition of "serious mental illness". Defines "serious mental illness" as meeting both the diagnostic and functioning criteria consistent with the definition of Serious Mental Illness in the most current edition of the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health Community Mental Health Provider Manual.

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning the calculation of retirement pensions and automatic annual increases for eligible firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund, removes language limiting application of the provision to Tier 1 retirement pension amounts and Tier 1 automatic annual increases. Provides that as a condition of being eligible for the benefits in a provision concerning firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund, a person who is hired to a position as a firefighter after December 31, 2010 must within 21 months after being hired or within 21 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, whichever is later, notify the new employer, all of his or her previous employers under the Article, and the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance of his or her intent to receive those benefits; and make the required contributions with applicable interest. Provides that a person who was hired to a position as a firefighter after December 31, 2010 and who, before the effective date of the amendatory Act, notified the new employer, all of his or her previous employers, and the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance of his or her intent to receive the benefits under a provision concerning firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund shall be deemed to have met the notice requirement. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act to the provision concerning firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund apply retroactively. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that as a condition of being eligible for the benefits in a provision concerning firefighters who participated in more than one pension fund, a person who first becomes a firefighter under the Article (instead of a person who is hired to a position as a firefighter) after December 31, 2010 must notify specified entities and make certain contributions. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that all contracts for investment services shall be awarded by the board of trustees using a competitive process that is substantially similar to the process required for the procurement of professional and artistic services under the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that an exception shall be allowed for contracts for investment services with an emerging investment manager provided through a qualified manager of emerging investment managers services. Provides that based upon a written recommendation from an investment adviser providing qualified manager of emerging investment managers services for the selection or appointment of an emerging investment manager that has been providing investment services in the multimanager portfolio for at least 24 months, the board may select or appoint such emerging investment manager. Provides that all exceptions must be published on the Fund's website, which shall name the person authorizing the procurement and shall include a brief explanation of the reason for the exception. Defines terms. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 40 ILCS 5/8-201.2 new Adds reference to: 40 ILCS 5/1-113.24 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Moves and changes the applicability of the provisions from the Chicago Municipal Article to the General Provisions Article. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires the fire chief of a secondary employer to report any injury, illness, or exposure incurred by a secondary employee during his or her employment to the Department of Insurance. Requires secondary employers to transmit to the Department of Insurance a certified copy of its report accounting for all hours worked by secondary employees. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Provides that an employee is entitled to recover damages of 5% (rather than 2%) of the amount of any underpayments in wages for each month following the date of payment during which such underpayments remain unpaid. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that targeted dental services that are provided to adults and children under the Medical Assistance Program shall be established and paid at no less than the rates established under the State of Illinois Dental Benefit Schedule and shall include specified dental procedures. Sets forth the reimbursement rates for certain anesthesia services. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer and regulate a school-based dental program that allows for the out-of-office delivery of preventative dental services in a school setting to children under 19 years of age. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided, in conjunction with dental care that is provided in a hospital or an ambulatory surgical treatment center if the individual is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and the individual (1) has a medical condition that requires hospitalization or general anesthesia for dental care or (2) is a person with a disability. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided by a dentist, in conjunction with dental care that is provided in a dental office or other specified setting if the individual is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and has been diagnosed with (i) an autism spectrum disorder or (ii) a developmental disability. Requires the Department to reimburse providers at no less than the rates established under the State of Illinois Dental Benefit Schedule used for State employees. Effective January 1, 2022. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 305 ILCS 5/5-5.28 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer and regulate a school-based dental program that allows for the out-of-office delivery of preventative dental services in a school setting to children under 19 years of age. Provides that the Department shall establish, by rule, guidelines for participation by providers and set requirements for follow-up referral care based on the requirements established in the Dental Office Reference Manual published by the Department that establishes the requirements for dentists participating in the All Kids Dental School Program. Provides that every effort shall be made by the Department when developing the program requirements to consider the different geographic differences of both urban and rural areas of the State for initial treatment and necessary follow-up care. Provides that no provider shall be charged a fee by any unit of local government to participate in the school-based dental program administered by the Department. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to limit or preempt a home rule unit's or school district's authority to establish, change, or administer a school-based dental program in addition to, or independent of, the school-based dental program administered by the Department. Effective January 1, 2022.

Creates the Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act. Requires an institution of higher education (including a business, technical, or vocational school) to designate at least one employee who works within the financial aid department, campus housing services, or any other appropriate office or department, as may be determined by the institution, to serve as a liaison between the institution and a homeless student or student in care who is enrolled at the institution. Sets forth the responsibilities of the liaison, the Board of Higher Education, and the institution. Effective August 1, 2022. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Adds the Illinois Community College Board as a governing body with responsibilities under the Act. Requires an institution to create a position to carry out the responsibilities of a liaison if the number of students experiencing homelessness or students in care exceeds 2% (rather than 1%) of the student body. Effective August 1, 2022.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, every public high school may include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy; defines "media literacy". Provides requirements for the unit of instruction. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for the unit of instruction. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, requires every public high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy; sets forth what topics the unit of instruction shall include. Provides that the State Board of Education shall determine how to prepare and make available instructional resources and professional learning opportunities for educators that may be used for the development of the unit of instruction. Effective immediately.