Sen. Ann Gillespie

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides for a new board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago beginning with the 2023 consolidated election. Sets forth provisions concerning nominating petitions and ballots. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Provides that the City of Chicago trustee districts must be drawn on or before May 31, 2022. Provides that in the year following each decennial census, the General Assembly shall redistrict the trustee districts to reflect the results of each decennial census. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $8,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the State Treasurer for the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is unlawful for a person to store or keep any firearm on the premises of a residence under the control of the person if the person knows, or reasonably should know, that: (1) a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or guardian of the minor; or (2) a resident of the residence is ineligible to possess a firearm under federal, State, or local law. Provides exemptions for safe storage of the firearm. Provides that a person who commits a violation is guilty of a petty offense and shall be fined $500 per violation. Provides that if a person violates this provision and a minor or a resident who is ineligible to possess a firearm under federal, State, or local law obtains the firearm and causes injury or death to the minor, resident, or any other individual, the person is guilty of a Class 2 felony. Provides that any firearm stored in violation of this provision is subject to seizure and forfeiture. Repeals provisions relating to child protection.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate-level early childhood education program and confer a bachelor of applied science degree in early childhood education and a Professional Educator License with endorsements in early childhood education and early childhood special education under certain conditions. Provides for an application for approval from the Illinois Community College Board. Sets forth college requirements and prohibitions. Provides that a candidate for educator licensure must successfully complete applicable testing requirements prior to the issuance of an educator license and any endorsements. Provides for a statewide evaluation of such programs.

Amends the Telephone Solicitations Act. Provides that a person, business, or organization may not spoof a caller's information or otherwise misrepresent the origin of a telemarketing call unless the person, business, or organization has the right to use the name and phone number displayed. Requires telephone solicitations placed in a manner other than by a live operator to immediately disclose their identity and the purpose of the call and prompt the recipient of the call to consent to the solicitation. Defines terms.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2022, breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies, and breast pump kits are exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Provides that newsletters and other materials intended for distribution to constituents may deal with such matters as: (i) reports on public and official actions taken by the General Assembly and the members requesting the newsletters; (ii) discussions of proposed or pending legislation or governmental actions; and (iii) the position of the members requesting the newsletter, and the arguments for or against, such matters. Provides that newsletters and other materials may contain fair comment on the positions taken by a constitutional officer, legislative leader, or legislative caucus, but such commentary shall not include past or future campaign activities or campaign positions. Provides that newsletters and other materials may refer to each caucus, members thereof, and voting records, with specified limitations. Provides that newsletters and other materials shall not contain appeals for campaign contributions or other funds, and shall not be used to announce or advertise campaign activities. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Specifies that provisions authorizing school districts to offer courses on hunting safety shall not be construed to allow anyone to bring certain weapons to school.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Provides that all individual and small group accident and health policies written subject to certain federal standards must file rates with the Department of Insurance for approval. Provides that unreasonable rate increases or inadequate rates shall be disapproved. Requires the Department to provide a report to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2023 regarding both on and off exchange individual and small group rates in the Illinois market. Requires that the Department approve or deny rate filings within 45 calendar days of submission unless the Director of Insurance extends the period by following specific procedures. Provides that a rate increase that is not approved or denied by the Department by the applicable deadline shall be automatically approved on the following calendar day. Provides that no less than 30 days after the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has certified the plans described in this Section for the upcoming plan year, the Department shall publish on its website a report explaining the rates for that plan year's certified health care plans. Defines "inadequate rate" and "unreasonable rate increase". Effective immediately.

Amends the Solid Waste Site Operator Certification Law. Creates a Solid Waste Site Operator Certification. Removes provisions concerning Class "A" and Class "B" Solid Waste Site Operator Certification. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency is authorized to approve the use of examinations conducted by third parties. Provides that the Agency shall maintain on its website information regarding the examinations. Provides that at the time of certificate renewal, the applicant shall certify the completion of 30 hours of continuing education covering the operation of landfills during the preceding 3 years. Provides that the fee for the issuance or renewal of a Solid Waste Site Operator Certificate shall be $1,000. Provides that if the fee for renewal is not paid within the grace period, the fee for renewal shall be increased by $100 (rather than $50). Makes other changes. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the applicant shall certify the completion of 15 (rather than 30) hours of continuing education covering the operation of landfills during the preceding 3 years. Provides that continuing education used to satisfy the provisions concerning continuing education requirements must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and must cover the design, operation, and maintenance of sanitary landfills. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 230/1012 from Ch. 111, par. 7862 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill and makes the following changes. Provides that a landfill site that accepts non-hazardous solid waste shall have a Solid Waste Site Operator Certification (rather than a Class A or a Class B Solid Waste Site Operator Certification). Provides that a landfill site which accepts special waste shall have a Solid Waste Site Operator certified by the Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that solid waste site operators shall be certified based on level of competency determined by examination and in accordance with educational and experience level as follows: (1) graduation from high school or equivalent and not less than 2 years (rather than 6 months) of acceptable study, training, and responsible experience in sanitary landfill operation or management, or not less than 7 (rather than 3) years of acceptable study training and responsible experience in operation or management of earth moving equipment; or (2) grammar school completion or equivalent and not less than 15 (rather than 5) years of acceptable study, training, and responsible experience in sanitary landfill operation or management. Provides that at the time of certificate renewal the applicant shall certify the completion of 15 (rather than 30) hours of continuing education covering the operation of landfills during the preceding 3 years. Provides that continuing education used to satisfy continuing education requirements must be approved by the Agency and must cover the design, operation, and maintenance of sanitary landfills, and for certificates that include a special waste endorsement, continuing education must cover the operation of landfills relative to the acceptance and disposal of special wastes. Provides that the fee for a Solid Waste Site Operator Certificate shall be $400 (rather than $1,000) and provides that the fee for an issuance or renewal for special waste endorsements shall be $100. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 230/1004 from Ch. 111, par. 7854 225 ILCS 230/1005 from Ch. 111, par. 7855 225 ILCS 230/1006 from Ch. 111, par. 7856 225 ILCS 230/1007 from Ch. 111, par. 7857 225 ILCS 230/1009 from Ch. 111, par. 7859 225 ILCS 230/1010 from Ch. 111, par. 7860 225 ILCS 230/1011 from Ch. 111, par. 7861 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.35 new 210 ILCS 85/3 225 ILCS 6/30 225 ILCS 6/35 225 ILCS 6/150 225 ILCS 100/18.1 new 305 ILCS 5/5-5.02 from Ch. 23, par. 5-5.02 305 ILCS 5/5-5.2 from Ch. 23, par. 5-5.2 305 ILCS 5/5-5.7b 305 ILCS 5/5B-2 from Ch. 23, par. 5B-2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2023, "hospital" includes rural emergency hospitals, as defined under specified federal provisions. Allows the Department of Public Health to adopt emergency rules and makes a conforming change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Amends the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act. Provides that a person qualifies to be licensed as a behavior analyst or an assistant behavior analyst if that person is a graduate of a graduate level program in the field of behavior analysis or a related field with an equivalent course of study in behavior analysis (rather than just the field of behavior analysis). Provides that notwithstanding the provisions providing that the Act does not prohibit an individual from implementing a behavior analytic treatment plan under the extended authority, direction, and supervision of a licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst, no business organization shall provide, attempt to provide, or offer to provide behavior analysis services unless every individual who holds an ownership interest holds a currently valid licensed issued under the Act. Amends the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides a one-time fee waiver for Fiscal Year 2023. Provides that no individual may benefit from such waiver more than once. Provides that if an individual has already paid a fee for Fiscal Year 2023, then the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall apply the moneys to the next required fee. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning hospital reimbursements, provides that effective October 1, 2023, for rate year 2024 and thereafter, the Medicaid Inpatient utilization rate, used in the determination of eligibility for payments under provisions concerning inpatient adjustment payments, shall be modified to exclude from both the numerator and denominator all days of care provided to military recruits or trainees for the United States Navy and covered by TriCare or its successor. In provisions concerning the Medicaid Access Adjustment of $4 for specified nursing facilities, provides that beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Medicaid Access Adjustment of $4 shall be increased by $0.75 and the increased reimbursement rate shall be applied to services rendered on and after July 1, 2022. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to recalculate each affected facility's reimbursement rate retroactive to July 1, 2022 and remit all additional money owed to each facility as a result of the retroactive recalculation. Provides that by December 31, 2022, the Department Healthcare and Family Services shall obtain appropriate documentation from Qualifying Ground Ambulance Service Providers to ascertain an accurate count of the number of licensed vehicles available to serve enrollees in the State's Medical Assistance Programs. Provides that by February 28, 2023, Qualifying Ground Ambulance Service Providers shall be initially notified of their eligible award. Provides that after March 31, 2024, any unobligated funds shall be reallocated pro rata to the remaining Qualifying Ground Ambulance Service Providers that are able to prove up eligible expenses in excess of their initial award amount until all such appropriated funds are exhausted. Makes changes in a provision on funds awarded for a COVID-19 response support initiative. Amends the Long-Term Care Provider Funding Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for the privilege of engaging in the occupation of long-term care provider for each occupied non-Medicare bed day, beginning July 1, 2022, an assessment is imposed upon each long-term care provider in an amount of $7 per occupied bed day for any non-profit nursing facilities without Medicaid-certified beds. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 In provisions concerning non-emergency service certification in the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code, removes provisions stating specified requirements the Qualifying Ground Ambulance Service Provider shall maintain.