Sen. Mattie Hunter

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that the chief judge of the circuit by rule may permit the personal appearance of the defendant by means of two-way audio-visual communication, including closed circuit television and computerized video conference, at a hearing at which no witness testimony will be taken concerning the defendant's fitness to stand trial: (1) 90-day hearings; (2) trials with special provisions and assistance; (3) discharge hearings; and (4) proceedings after acquittal by reason of insanity. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall implement a pilot project between the circuit courts in 2 counties and Department of Human Services facilities treating persons unfit to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity. Provides that the purpose of the pilot project is to determine the feasibility and desirability of using video conference technology for hearings involving persons who are unfit to stand trial and persons who have been determined not guilty by reason of insanity. Provides that the Department of Human Services and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall submit a joint report to the General Assembly 6 months after the pilot project between the 2 counties and Department facilities has been operational for at least 2 years. Provides that the report shall: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of the video conference hearing process; and (2) make recommendations concerning the implementation of video conference hearings in all counties. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Illinois Modular Dwelling and Mobile Structure Safety Act. In provisions regarding definitions, provides that codes for structural requirements adopted for modular dwellings shall be no more stringent than the requirements contained in the most recent edition of the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings or the International Building Code, as applicable. Provides that the Code of Standards shall permit the use of new technology, techniques, methods and materials, for both modular dwellings and mobile structures, consistent with recognized and accepted codes and standards developed by the Illinois Energy Conservation Code.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan shall provide coverage for A1C testing recommended by a health care provider for prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes in accordance with prediabetes and diabetes risk factors identified by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan shall provide coverage for vitamin D testing recommended by a health care provider in accordance with vitamin D deficiency risk factors identified by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Defines "A1C testing" and "vitamin D testing". Makes conforming changes in the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

Amends various Acts to make changes concerning references to specified racial and ethnic groups. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 30 ILCS 575/2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, and removes references to "Descendant of American Slaves". Makes conforming changes.

Creates the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force Act. Creates the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force within the Department of Children and Family Services. Requires the Task Force to examine the historical and current role of mandatory reporting and its impact on the racial and gender disparities of families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services; examine the underlying factors that bring families into contact with the Department and the factors that lead to child removal; review the Department's progress on the planning and implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act; examine the current processes and policies, data, and data collection methods for families involved simultaneously in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal justice systems; explore policies and protocols for race-blind child protection screenings and child removal reviews; and other duties. Contains provisions concerning the composition of the Task Force and Task Force meetings. Requires the Task Force to submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor within one year after the Task Force has its first meeting. Provides that the report shall contain policy recommendations that seek to prioritize preserving and reunifying families involved in the child welfare system, particularly Black families; reduce child welfare system involvement, particularly for Black families; and eliminate racial disproportionality in system involvement and the disproportionate impact of system involvement on families. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act repealed, on January 1, 2024. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Task Force shall include one member (rather than 2 members) from an organization with expertise in the child welfare system that advocates to preserve and reunify families, appointed by the Governor's Office; 2 members who provide legal representation on behalf of the State of Illinois in child protection cases, one from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, appointed by the Governor's Office, and one from a State's Attorney's office outside of Cook County, appointed by the Governor's Office; and one member from a statewide organization advocating for the advancement of civil liberties for at least 80 years in Illinois, appointed by the Governor's Office. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall facilitate the prompt and timely collection and provision of data as requested by or on behalf of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to explore policies and protocols that honor language, culture, and heritage in identity formation and familial relationships, including, but not limited to, race-blind child protection screenings and child removal reviews, as implemented in other jurisdictions around the United States, and to make recommendations for implementation in Illinois. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that any data provided by the Department of Children and Family Services to the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force shall not contain any personally identifiable information of any clients or families in accordance with the provisions of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that through June 30, 2023 (instead of June 30, 2021), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Revises language to make certain actions permissible rather than mandatory with respect to truancy. Eliminates the requirement that the Chicago Board of Education establish an Office of Chronic Truant Adjudication. Instead, requires the chief executive officer or the chief executive officer's designee to implement a socio-emotional focused attendance approach that targets the underlying causes of chronic truancy. Makes changes concerning the Chicago school district's truancy intervention services for a pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian. Makes other changes, including changes concerning penalties. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Restores current law with respect to the provisions concerning a truant officer's determination as to compliance. Instead, provides that those provisions do not apply to the Chicago school district.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to adopt written policies related to absences and missed homework or classwork assignments as a result of or related to a student's pregnancy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a restaurant shall, by default, include a specified type of water, milk, milk alternative, or juice with a children's meal sold by the restaurant. Provides that a restaurant may include another beverage with a children's meal upon request. Provides that, during any inspection of a restaurant by a health officer or health inspector of a local health department, the health officer or health inspector shall inspect the restaurant to determine whether it complies with these provisions. Provides that restaurants that violate the provisions are subject to a warning and specified civil penalties. Allows the Department of Public Health to adopt any rules it deems necessary for the implementation, administration, and enforcement. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners and sparkling water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners (rather than water and sparkling water) are default beverages.

Creates the Opioid Overdose Reduction Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Alex's Law. Provides that a person who, in good faith, seeks or obtains emergency medical assistance for someone experiencing an opioid overdose shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike substance or a controlled substance analog if certain conditions are met. Provides that a person who is experiencing an overdose shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike substance or a controlled substance analog if evidence for the possession charge was acquired as a result of the person seeking or obtaining emergency medical assistance. Provides that a person's pretrial release, probation, furlough, supervised release, or parole shall not be revoked based on an incident for which the person would be immune from prosecution under the provisions. Effective August 16, 2021. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: New Act Adds reference to: 720 ILCS 570/414 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Opioid Overdose Reduction Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Alex's Law. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. In a provision concerning overdose and limited immunity, provides that specified violations must not serve as the sole basis of a violation of parole, mandatory supervised release, probation, conditional discharge, a person's pretrial release, or furlough, or any seizure of property under any State law authorizing civil forfeiture so long as the evidence for the violation was acquired as a result of the person seeking or obtaining emergency medical assistance in the event of an overdose. Effective January 1, 2022.