Sen. Julie Morrison

Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning administrative review.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to promulgate rules to increase by $10 for State fiscal year 2015 the total monthly personal needs allowance for persons who are inpatients in a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act for which payments are made under the Medical Assistance Article throughout a month and who are determined to be eligible for medical assistance. Provides that for State fiscal years 2016 and beyond, in any calendar year in which there is a cost-of-living increase in federal Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security benefits, the Department shall promulgate rules to increase the total monthly personal needs allowance by an amount that is at least equal to the increase in federal Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security benefits. Provides that the Department shall not be prohibited from increasing, by rule, for State fiscal years 2016 and beyond, the personal needs allowance by an amount that is greater than the cost-of-living increase in federal Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security benefits for that calendar year; and that at no time shall the personal needs allowance for eligible persons be reduced below the rates calculated for State fiscal year 2015. Authorizes the Department to make similar increases, by rule, for persons who reside in a facility licensed under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, who are determined to be eligible for medical assistance, and who are enrolled in the Illinois Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waiver program for adults with developmental disabilities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Adds nursing services, nutrition services, and sign language and cued language services to the list of services included in the definition of "early intervention services". Provides that before adopting any new policy or procedure needed to comply with certain provisions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Department of Human Services must hold public hearings on the new policy or procedure, provide notice of the hearings at least 30 days before the hearings are conducted, and provide an opportunity for the general public, including individuals with disabilities and parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities, early intervention providers, and other specified persons to comment for at least 30 days on the new policy or procedure. Provides that the statewide system for early intervention services and programs shall include a central directory which includes public and private early intervention services (rather than early intervention services), resources, and experts available in this State, professional and other groups that provide assistance to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, and research and demonstration projects being conducted in this State (rather than early intervention research and demonstration projects) relating to infants and toddlers with disabilities. Makes changes to provisions concerning criminal background checks; the timeline for the initial evaluation and assessment of a child and his or her family under the individualized family service plan; and other matters. Repeals a provision requiring the Early Intervention Legislative Advisory Committee to convene for a period of 4 years no later than 60 days after August 9, 2001. Effective immediately.

Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Requires operators of a watercraft towing a person or persons to display red or orange flags on their watercraft.

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that a $50 expedited services fee for certain filings, copies of documents, and annual reports may be charged only if the materials are filed within 72 hours prior to the filing deadline.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Appropriates $400,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for loan assistance under the Child Welfare Student Loan Forgiveness Act. Effective July 1, 2014.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Directs the Auditor General to conduct a program audit of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to examine the operations and management of the Department as it relates to the administration of the EDGE (Economic Development for a Growing Economy) tax credit program.