Sen. Julie Morrison

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules permitting reimbursement under the fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for remote ultrasound procedures and remote fetal nonstress tests, utilizing established Current Procedural Terminology codes, as published by the American Medical Association, for these procedures when the patient is in a residence or other off-site location from the patient's provider and the same standard of care is met as would be present during an in-person visit. Provides that remote ultrasounds and remote fetal nonstress tests are only eligible for reimbursement when the provider uses digital technology that meets certain criteria. Provides which fetal nonstress test requires a place of service modifier for at-home monitoring in order to qualify for reimbursement. Requires the Department to issue guidance to implement the provisions of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for assessment years following the next general assessment after the effective date of the amendatory Act, no increase in assessment may exceed 20% per year. Provides exceptions if: (1) the property is sold, transferred, or conveyed during the taxable year; (2) significant improvements were made to the property; (3) a homestead exemption or other preferential method of assessment was removed with respect to that property during the taxable year; or (4) the increase was due to an equalization factor imposed by the township, county, or Department of Revenue. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, provides that the exemption applies to all real property that is the primary residence of a veteran with a disability (currently, property with an equalized assessed value of less than $250,000 that is the primary residence of a veteran with a disability). Provides that, with respect to veterans with a service connected disability of 70% or more and surviving spouses of veterans whose deaths were service-connected, the first $250,000 in equalized assessed value of the property is exempt.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for qualified businesses that install solar canopies or permeable surfaces in their parking areas during the taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that on or before October 1, 2024, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team, the Office of the Governor, and relevant stakeholders as needed shall release a strategy that includes a tool for measuring capacity and readiness to implement universal mental health screening of students. Provides that the State Board of Education shall issue a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on school district readiness and plan for phased approach to universal mental health screening of students on or before April 1, 2025. Repeals the Wellness Checks in Schools Program Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement guidance to managed care organizations and similar care coordination entities contracted with the Department, so that the managed care organizations and care coordination entities respond to lead indicators with services and interventions that are designed to help stabilize the child. Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. Provides that the Children's Mental Health Partnership shall advise the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative on designing and implementing short-term and long-term strategies to provide comprehensive and coordinated services for children from birth to age 25 and their families with the goal of addressing children's mental health needs across a full continuum of care, including social determinants of health, prevention, early identification, and treatment. Provides that the Department of Public Health (rather than the Department of Healthcare and Family Services) shall provide technical and administrative support for the Partnership. Deletes requirements that the Partnership shall employ an Executive Director and set the compensation of the Executive Director and other such employees and technical assistance as it deems necessary to carry out its duties. Amends the Interagency Children's Behavioral Health Services Act. Provides that the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team in collaboration with the Department of Human Services shall develop a program to provide one-on-one in-home respite behavioral health aids to youth requiring intensive supervision due to behavioral health needs. Effective immediately.

Amends the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act. Defines "temporary certificate of operation" as a temporary certificate of operation issued by the Administrator or the Local Administrator that permits the temporary use of a conveyance by the general public for a limited time of 30 days while minor repairs or upgrades are being completed if it is determined by the Administrator or the Local Administrator that the conveyance's use will not jeopardize the safety and health of those using or working on the conveyance. Effective immediately.

Expresses support for ensuring that voters with a print disability may exercise their right to vote in a manner that is full and equal. Urges election authorities in the State to conduct outreach to voters with a print disability to inform these voters of the options available to them to exercise their right to vote privately and independently.

Amends the Foster Parent Law. Provides that foster parents have a right to receive an initial payment of $480 per child to be made within 24 hours of a permanent placement. Provides that if the final monthly payment for a child amounts to $480 or more, the amount of $480 shall be deducted from the final monthly payment. Provides that if the final monthly payment amounts to less than $480, the final monthly payment shall not be made.

Creates the Sale of Pharmaceuticals on Social Media Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no individual shall sell or advertise the sale of a pharmaceutical on social media unless the individual has completed a verification process with specified requirements.

Amends the Illinois Local Library Act and the Public Library District Act of 1991. Requires competitive bidding for contracts in excess of $35,000 (rather than $25,000) for specified improvements and equipment purchases.