Sen. Dan McConchie

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Makes changes to provisions concerning the licensure powers of the State Board of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (including adding 2 members), types of licenses (including removing and adding certain endorsements on an educator license with stipulations), endorsements on professional educator licenses, educator testing, the minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, application fees, license renewal, the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers, alternative route to superintendent endorsement programs, and the approval of educator preparation institutions. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a consumer reporting agency may not impose a charge on a consumer for placing a freeze, removing a freeze, or temporarily lifting a freeze. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Declares April of 2018 as Prevent Child Abuse America Month in the State of Illinois.

Mourns the death of Charles Melville Walsh.

Mourns the death of Elfrieda H. Kelly.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that it is an aggravating factor in sentencing that the defendant committed the offense of driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or any combination thereof in violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance and the defendant during the commission of the offense was driving his or her vehicle upon a roadway designated for one-way traffic in the opposite direction of the direction indicated by official traffic control devices.

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 Illinois Credit Union Act. Provides that the par value of shares of a credit union must be at least $1 (rather than $5). Provides that the board of credit union advisors shall meet at least once each calendar year (rather than once each 6 months). Provides that credit union members may vote on questions and in elections by secure electronic record if approved by the board of directors. Changes the definition of "compliance review committee". Changes the limit on the amount of loans a credit union may make to individual members and how those limitations are set. Provides that a credit union or network credit union may create and use descriptive and brand references to promote and market its identity, services, and products to its members. Provides that corporate bonds identified as investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization may be invested by the credit union with funds not used in loans provided that certain criteria are satisfied. Provides that credit unions may invest funds not used in loans to aid in the credit union's management of its assets, liabilities, and liquidity in the purchase of an investment interest in a pool of loans, in whole or in part and without regard to the membership of the borrowers, from other depository institutions and financial type institutions, including mortgage banks, finance companies, insurance companies, and other loan sellers. Provides that each divisional credit union may (rather than shall) have an advisory board of directors and the advisory board of directors may (rather than the board of directors shall) appoint a divisional credit union chief management official. Provides that a divisional credit union may determine to identify its advisory board as a committee and its divisional chief management official with a title it deems reasonable and appropriate. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Requires that to be illegal a drug analog must not be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or, if approved, it is not dispensed or possessed in accordance with State and federal law. Defines "controlled substance" to include a synthetic drug enumerated as a scheduled drug under the Act. Adds chemical structural classes of synthetic cannabinoids and piperazines to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. Includes certain substances approved by the FDA which are not dispensed or possessed in accordance with State or federal law and certain modified substances.

Amends the School Code. Requires school report cards to include the most current data collected and maintained (rather than possessed) by the State Board of Education. Requires the State Board to include in the school report cards certain demographic information concerning gifted education and advanced academic programs, as well as information concerning the number of teachers a school has who hold a gifted education endorsement.