Sen. Laura Murphy

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2026 must provide coverage, no less than once every 12 months, for a peripheral artery disease screening test for any at-risk individual. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person who commits the offense of non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images may be tried in any one of the following counties in which: (1) the offense occurred; or (2) the victim resides.

Maddy summaryHB 2179 makes a technical amendment to the Nursing Home Care Act. The bill specifically modifies a section related to the short title of the Act. This is a minor, technical adjustment to existing law.

Amends the Small Estates Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Allows a small estate affidavit to be used to transfer personal property in a decedent's estate if: (1) no letters of office are outstanding on the decedent's estate and no petition for letters is contemplated or pending in the State or in any other jurisdiction; and (2) the decedent's personal estate passing to any party by intestacy or under a will is limited to tangible and intangible personal property not exceeding $150,000 and motor vehicles registered with the Secretary of State. Makes a corresponding change in the form for a small estate affidavit. Provides that the changes made to the Act apply to a decedent whose date of death is on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. With respect to the suspension or revocation of a license, endorsement, or approval, allows disclosure of correspondence, documentation, and other information received by a regional superintendent of schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board of Education, or the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board to the license holder's current or most recent employer. Provides that a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing and Statement of Charges issued by the State Superintendent of Education against a license holder is not confidential and may be disclosed to third parties.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall include in its handbook regarding dyslexia guidelines on the administration of universal screeners for a risk of reading difficulties and secondary reviews, the interpretation of data from these screeners and reviews, and the resulting appropriate intervention within a multi-tiered system of support framework. Requires the State Board to adopt any rules necessary to ensure that a student will be screened for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener. Provides that a student shall be screened: (1) if the student is enrolled in a public school in any of grades kindergarten through 3; (2) if the student is in any of grades kindergarten through 3, transfers to a new public school, and has not been screened twice previously during the school year; (3) if the student is in grade 4 or higher and the student's teacher, parent, or guardian requests that the student be screened for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener; or (4) if the student is from another state and enrolls for the first time in any of grades kindergarten through 3 in a school district in the State. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school district must screen students, no less than twice each school year, in grades kindergarten through 3 for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener approved by the State Board. Provides for intervention. Requires a report to the State Board. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Requires individual residents to be assessed prior to admission using assessment tools that are approved or recommended by recognized Alzheimer's and dementia care experts, ensuring that the tools are validated for accurately identifying and evaluating cognitive impairments related to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Provides that these tools shall be reviewed and updated as needed to align with current best practices and clinical standards in dementia care.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning identification cards and suicide prevention information, provides that each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to school employees serving any of grades 6 through 12 shall provide on the identification card the same contact information concerning suicide prevention that is required to be provided on a pupil's identification card.

Amends the Epinephrine Injector Act. Defines "authorized individual". Adds references to "authorized individual" in provisions regarding those persons who may provide or administer an epinephrine injector. Requires the issuance of a certificate upon completion of an anaphylaxis training program. Adds provisions regarding good Samaritan protections. Amends the Good Samaritan Act. Limits the liability of authorized individuals who may provide or administer an epinephrine injector.

Amends the Flag Display Act. Permits the United States national flag to be displayed on the grounds of a courthouse (rather than only on the top of a courthouse).