Sen. Laura Murphy

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Requires the governing board of each public university to establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. Allows the university to request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation the day after Gold Star Mothers' Day as Gold Star Family Day to be observed throughout the State as a day to honor and commemorate the families of men and women who gave their lives while serving with the armed forces of the United States in time of war or during periods of hostilities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Applies the medical exemptions process to all entities licensed in the State to sell a policy of group or individual accident and health insurance or health benefits plan. Provides certain exceptions upon which a step therapy override will always be provided. Sets clinical review criteria that must be used to establish step therapy protocols. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act. In a Section concerning park owner remedies, provides that a fine imposed for a violation shall be considered separate from rent, and a park owner shall not cease acceptance of the rent payment if a violation fine has been issued.

Amends the Supreme Court Act. Provides that the Supreme Court may establish a pilot program for the filing of petitions for temporary orders of protection by electronic means and for the issuance of such orders by audio-visual means. Provides that the administrative director of the courts shall maintain an up-to-date and publicly available listing of the sites, if any, at which petitions for ex parte temporary orders of protection may be filed, and at which electronic appearances in support of such petitions may be made. Provides that in developing a pilot program, the administrative director shall strive for a program that is regionally diverse and takes into consideration, among other things, the availability of public transportation, population density, and the availability of facilities for conducting the program. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Defines terms and provides substantive and procedural requirements for the pilot program.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires each Medicaid Managed Care Entity (MMCE) contracted by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to: (i) make available on the entity's website a provider directory in a machine readable file and format; (ii) make provider directories publicly accessible without the necessity of providing a password, a username, or personally identifiable information; (iii) make available through an electronic provider directory, for each Medicaid Managed Care Entity Plan offered by the entity, certain information in an easily understandable and searchable format, including the contact information and website URLs, if applicable, of all health care professionals, hospitals, pharmacies, and facilities that provide services to Medicaid recipients under the Medicaid Managed Care Entity Plan. Requires each MMCE to ensure that all information included in a print version of the provider directory is updated at least monthly and that the electronic provider directory is updated no later than 3 business days after the MMCE receives updated provider information. Provides that non-compliance with these and other specified requirements may subject the MMCE to certain sanctions. Requires the Department's client enrollment services broker to post certain information on the broker's website, including, information explaining the circumstances under which a Medicaid enrollee can file a grievance or request a hearing to appeal an adverse action by the Department or the MMCE; information on the Medicaid eligibility redetermination process; and information on Medicaid care coordination. Requires the Department to create a consumer quality comparison tool to assist enrollees with Medicaid Managed Care Entity Plan selection. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes changes to a Section concerning coverage for contraceptives. Provides that an individual or group health policy shall provide coverage for all contraceptive drugs, devices, and other products approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, including over-the-counter contraceptive drugs, devices, and products; voluntary sterilization procedures; contraceptive services, patient education, and counseling on contraception; and follow-up services related to their use. Provides that if the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved one or more therapeutic equivalent versions of a contraceptive drug, device, or product, a policy is not required to include all therapeutic equivalent versions in its formulary, so long as at least one is included and covered without cost-sharing; if an individual's attending provider recommends a particular service or item approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration based on a determination of medical necessity with respect to that individual, the plan or issuer must cover that service or item without cost sharing and the plan or issuer must defer to the determination of the attending provider; if a drug, device or product is not covered, plans and issuers must have an easily accessible, transparent, and sufficiently expedient process that is not unduly burdensome on the individual or a provider or person acting as a patient's authorized representative to ensure coverage without cost sharing; and that coverage must provide for the dispensing of 12 months' worth of contraception at one time. Defines "contraceptive services", "medical necessity", and "therapeutic equivalent version". Removes language prohibiting the provisions from being construed to require an insurance company cover services related to permanent sterilization requiring a surgical procedure.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits a false personation when he or she knowingly and falsely represents himself or herself to be: (1) an active-duty member of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the National Guard or a veteran of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the National Guard; and (2) obtains money, property, or another tangible benefit through that false representation. Provides that a violation is a petty offense for which the offender shall be fined at least $100 and not more than $200. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Leroy Alfano, formerly of Des Plaines.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that the State Treasurer may accept contributions for ABLE accounts once the Internal Revenue Service has issued either interim guidance or final regulations (currently, only final regulations). Provides that ABLE accounts may also be established for residents of other states (currently, only residents of Illinois). Makes technical corrections. Effective immediately.