Sen. Mattie Hunter

Amends the Illinois Act on Aging. Provides that all records containing resident, participant, and complainant information collected by the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program are confidential and shall not be disclosed outside of the program without a lawful subpoena or the permission of the State Ombudsman. Permits the State Ombudsman, at his or her discretion, to disclose resident or participant information if it is in the best interest of the resident or participant. Requires the Department on Aging to establish procedures for the disclosure of program records by the State Ombudsman. Provides that the procedures shall prohibit disclosure of a resident's identity in case records unless the resident gives consent.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the names of the offenses of unlawful use of weapons, unlawful use of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, being an armed habitual criminal, unlawful use of firearm projectiles, and unlawful use of a firearm in the shape of a wireless telephone to unlawful possession of weapons, unlawful possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, persistent unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of firearm projectiles, and unlawful possession of a firearm in the shape of a wireless telephone. Provides that if any person before the effective date of the amendatory Act has been arrested, charged, prosecuted, convicted, or sentenced for unlawful use of weapons, unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, being an armed habitual criminal, unlawful use of firearm projectiles, or unlawful use of a firearm in the shape of a wireless telephone, the changes of the names and the defendants to unlawful possession of weapons, unlawful possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, persistent unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of firearm projectiles, and unlawful possession of a firearm in the shape of a wireless telephone, shall retroactively be made in any criminal background records maintained by the Illinois State Police, law enforcement agencies, clerks of the circuit court, and any other State agencies providing criminal background information to the public under specified timelines. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2025.

Makes changes concerning the powers and duties of the Illinois State Museum. Repeals a provision which specifies that the Board of the Illinois State Museum is the governing board for the State Museum. Replaces the Board of the Illinois State Museum with an advisory board. Describes the duties of the advisory board. Repeals a provision which states that the Department of Natural Resources may set, by administrative rule, an entrance fee for visitors to the Illinois State Museum. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that every youth in care must have a Haircare Plan included in their case plan unless the youth explicitly indicates to the youth's caseworker that a Haircare Plan is not needed due to the youth's ability to maintain haircare without assistance. Provides that a caseworker or placement plan specialist must develop the Haircare Plan in consultation with the youth and parents. Provides that at a minimum, the Haircare Plan must address: (1) necessary haircare steps to be taken to preserve the youth's desired connection to their race, culture, gender, religion, and identity; (2) the desires of the youth as it pertains to the youth's hair; (3) the guidance and desires of the youth's parents, unless the parents cannot be contacted; and (4) steps to be taken specific to the youth's hair during emergency situations, including, but not limited to, lice infestations and scalp rashes and infections. Provides that by June 1, 2025, the Department of Children and Family Services must develop training for caregivers on how to provide culturally competent haircare. Provides that each time a youth is placed with a caregiver, the caregiver must sign a declaration stating that the caregiver has reviewed the training materials and will follow the Haircare Plan for the youth. Requires each Department office location to provide a list of affordable, accessible, and culturally competent haircare providers and resources in each of the Department's geographic regions. Requires the Department to adopt rules, by June 1, 2025, to facilitate the implementation of Haircare Plans.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Sets forth requirements for any State entity or hospital that receives funding from the National Institutes of Health to conduct clinical trials of drugs or medical devices. Provides that the Department of Public Health, in consultation with relevant research organizations, shall analyze and provide recommendations on: (i) the demographic groups and populations that are currently represented and underrepresented in clinical trials in the State, including representation of groups based on their geographic location; (ii) the barriers that prevent persons who are members of underrepresented demographic groups from participating in clinical trials in the State, including barriers related to transportation; and (iii) approaches for how clinical trials can successfully partner with others to provide outreach to underrepresented communities. Provides that the Department shall report to the General Assembly on the results of the study by July 1, 2025. Sets forth definitions of underrepresented community and underrepresented demographic group. Provides that the Department shall review guidance published by the United States Food and Drug Administration and use existing infrastructure to encourage participation in clinical trials of drugs and medical devices by persons who are members of underrepresented demographic groups. Authorizes the Department to apply for any grants related to the encouragement of underrepresented demographic groups related to the United Food and Drug Administration's guidance.

Maddy summaryThis law creates a new program within the Department of Juvenile Justice designed specifically for young adults aged 18 to 22 who are currently held in adult correctional facilities. It allows eligible individuals to be transferred to juvenile facilities to participate in these emerging adult programs, provided the move follows specific federal guidelines. The transfer process requires written approval from the directors of both the Juvenile Justice and Corrections departments, and the two agencies must create an agreement to set rules for who qualifies and how transfers are handled.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits public colleges and universities in Illinois from using legacy status or donor connections as a factor when admitting students. It defines legacy status as a familial relationship to a current or former student and explicitly bans schools from considering ties to past, current, or future donors. The bill amends existing education statutes to ensure that admission decisions are made without regard to these specific family or financial connections.

Maddy summarySB 464 amends the Right to Privacy in the School Setting Act to make a technical change regarding the bill's short title. This legislative update clarifies the official name of the existing law without altering its substantive provisions or creating new policies. The change directly affects the legal documentation of the act but does not impact school districts, funding mechanisms, or student privacy rights.

Creates the Reestablishing Integrity in Death Care Act. Provides that no later than January 1, 2025, when a death occurs within the State, the deceased's body, body bag, and any body part, organ, or tissue separated from the deceased to be used in nontransplant organ donation shall be affixed with a unique identifier, and chain of custody documentation shall be maintained for all dead bodies and human remains. Specifies requirements for the unique identifier and chain of custody documentation. Provides that the State Comptroller, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and the Department of Public Health may inspect any business, provider, or facility in the State that handles dead bodies or human remains to ensure compliance with the Act and the rules adopted under the Act. Authorizes rulemaking to implement and enforce the Act. Amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code, the Crematory Regulation Act, and the Vital Records Act to make conforming and other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall determine whether the network plan at each in-network hospital and facility has a sufficient number of hospital-based medical specialists to ensure that covered persons have reasonable and timely access to such in-network physicians and the services they direct or supervise. Defines "hospital-based medical specialists".