Sen. Adriane Johnson

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Specifies that the notice in contested case hearings must include an enclosure that notifies the recipient of the ability to request interpretive assistance for the hearing and to receive language assistance in translating the contents of the notice. Provides that an administrative law judge has the duty to inquire and determine whether a self-represented litigant or witness in a hearing needs interpretive assistance to participate in or understand the hearing. Authorizes any self-represented litigant, witness, or indigent person to request, at any time during the course of a hearing, interpretive assistance needed to participate in or understand the hearing. Provides that, if interpretive assistance is requested by a self-represented litigant, a witness, or an indigent person or if interpretive assistance is determined to be necessary by the administrative law judge, the administrative agency must appoint a foreign language interpreter at no cost to the person in need of the assistance for use in a substantive hearing. Authorizes an administrative agency to provide interpretive assistance during a nonsubstantive hearing through use of an interpreter who is not a foreign language interpreter, provided the administrative law judge examines the interpreter for competency for the purposes of the nonsubstantive hearing. Requires all persons appointed to provide interpretive assistance in substantive and nonsubstantive hearings to make certain affirmations. Contains provisions concerning waiver of these language assistance provisions.

Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. With regard to the pension funds and retirement systems established under the General Assembly, Chicago Police, Chicago Firefighter, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), Chicago Municipal, Chicago Laborers', State Employees, State Universities, Downstate Teachers, or Judges Article of the Code, prohibits investment of pension system assets in fossil fuel companies. Requires pension systems to adopt an update to its written investment policies if necessary. Requires pension systems to divest any holdings of stocks, securities, or other obligations of a fossil fuel company. Provides that, beginning one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the board of trustees of a pension system shall ensure that the pension system does not invest in any indirect investment vehicle unless the board of trustees is satisfied that the investment vehicle is unlikely to have more than 2% of its assets invested in coal, oil, or gas producers. Requires pension systems to post on its publicly accessible website information detailing all its holdings in the public market and private equity investments. Requires pension systems to annually issue a report reviewing its environmental, social, and governance investment policy. Sets forth definitions and other provisions. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Prohibits contests or competitions with the objective of taking any fur-bearing mammal. Provides an exception for field trials. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no less than $500 and no more than $5,000 in addition to other statutory penalties.

Creates the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act, and establishes the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Division and the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, and the Regional Transportation Authority are consolidated into the Metropolitan Mobility Authority and the Service Boards are abolished, instead creating the Suburban Bus Operating Division, Commuter Rail Operating Division, and the Chicago Transit Operating Division. Reinserts, reorganizes, and changes some provisions from the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act into the new Act. Includes provisions about the operation of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. Repeals the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Amends various Acts, Laws, and Codes to make conforming changes. Creates the Equitable Transit-Supportive Development Act. Establishes the Office of Transit-Oriented Development and the Transit-Supportive Development Fund. Provides that the Office and the Fund are to aid transit-supportive development near high-quality transit by providing specified funding to municipalities that have adopted the standards in the transit support overlay district for that area or that have adopted zoning and other changes that the Office determines have benefits greater than or equal to such a District, including transit support overlay districts. Includes provisions relating to Office standards, procedures, and reports. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code. Requires the Department to establish, staff, and support an Office of Public Transportation Support for the purpose of optimizing the operation of public transportation vehicles and the delivery of public transportation services on highways under the Department's jurisdiction in the Metropolitan Mobility Authority's metropolitan region. Describes the duties and operations of the Office. Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Chair of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority is a nonvoting member of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Strengthening Mental Health and Substance Use Parity Act. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, or any third-party administrator administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer, shall cover all out-of-network medically necessary mental health and substance use benefits and services (inpatient and outpatient) as if they were in-network for purposes of cost sharing for the insured. Provides that the insured has the right to select the provider or facility of their choice and the modality, whether the care is provided via in-person visit or telehealth, for medically necessary care. Sets forth minimum reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health benefits. Sets forth provisions concerning responsibility for compliance with parity requirements; coverage and payment for multiple covered mental health and substance use services, mental health or substance use services provided under the supervision of a licensed mental health or substance treatment provider, and 60-minute individual psychotherapy; timely credentialing of mental health and substance use providers; Department of Insurance enforcement and rulemaking; civil penalties; and other matters. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a minor technical correction to the official short title of a section within the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. It does not create new laws, change existing policies, or directly affect any individuals or organizations. The change was approved by both the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor for final approval.

Creates the Patient Access to Pharmacy Protection Act. Defines terms. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may deny, restrict, prohibit, condition, or otherwise interfere with, either directly or indirectly, the acquisition of a 340B drug by, or delivery of a 340B drug to, a 340B covered entity or a 340B contract pharmacy authorized to receive 340B drugs on behalf of the 340B covered entity unless such receipt is prohibited by federal law. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may impose any restriction on the ability of a 340B covered entity to contract with or designate a 340B contract pharmacy including restrictions relating to the number, location, ownership, or type of 340B contract pharmacy. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may require or compel a 340B covered entity or 340B contract pharmacy to submit or otherwise provide ingredient cost or pricing data pertinent to 340B drugs; institute requirements in any way relating to how a 340B covered entity manages its inventory of 340B drugs that are not required by a State or federal agency, including requirements relating to the frequency or scope of audits of inventory management systems of a 340B covered entity or a 340B contract pharmacy; or require a 340B covered entity or its 340B contract pharmacy to submit or otherwise provide data or information that is not required by State or federal law. Sets forth provisions concerning enforcement of this Act; preemption of this Act; and severability of this Act. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to allow the Department of Children and Family Services to use a "differential response program" for handling child abuse and neglect reports. Under this new system, the department can choose between conducting a full investigation or a less intrusive "family assessment" for reports that do not involve substantial child endangerment. A family assessment focuses on evaluating family strengths and needs to determine if services are required, rather than fact-gathering to prove abuse occurred. If a report initially assigned for investigation is later deemed to require only a family assessment, the department must document the reason for this change and notify law enforcement if they are jointly involved. Additionally, the bill requires an independent evaluation of the program for its first three years to ensure it meets its goals.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates December 21, 2024, as Captain James A. Lovell Day throughout the State of Illinois. The measure honors Lovell, a former NASA astronaut and Illinois resident, by officially recognizing his significant contributions to space exploration, including his roles on the Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13 missions. The text details his extensive military and civilian career, numerous awards, and personal history to provide context for the commemoration. Upon passage, a copy of the resolution will be presented to Captain Lovell as a formal symbol of respect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the School Code to update the short title of the School Health Center Act and modify governance rules for a specific school township. It establishes a four-member governing board for Township 38 North, Range 12 East, consisting of four elected trustees and three appointed members selected through a rotating process involving local school boards. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that school counseling services can be provided by licensed counselors or support personnel, outlining duties such as crisis intervention, college planning, and mental health support for all students.