Amends the Counties Code and the Autopsy Act. Provides that autopsies must be performed by board-certified forensic pathologists or, if under the direct supervision of a board-certified forensic pathologist, pathology residents or forensic pathology fellows (rather than a licensed physician must perform autopsies). In the Autopsy Act, further provides that other qualified personnel or other qualified personnel selected by a board-certified forensic pathologist (rather than a physician) may perform (rather than assist) an autopsy. Further amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county in which the body of a deceased person is found shall indemnify and hold harmless a board-certified forensic pathologist who renders services under the provisions for all of the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding based on the service provided under the provisions, except actions involving willful and wanton misconduct of the pathologist. Conditions the duty of the county to indemnify a board-certified forensic pathologist who rendered services under the provisions for a judgment recovered against the pathologist upon receiving notice of the filing of the action. Provides that, if a board-certified forensic pathologist is made a party defendant to an action and the action against the pathologist is based upon the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding, then, within 10 days of service of process, the pathologist shall notify the county in which the body of a deceased person was found of the fact that the pathologist has been made a party defendant to the action. Includes requirements for the notice. Provides that the State's Attorney of the county in which the body of the deceased person is found may appear and defend on behalf of the board-certified forensic pathologist. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Automatic Contract Renewal Act. Provides that any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation that sells or offers to sell any products or services to a consumer pursuant to a contract that includes a free gift or a trial period of the product or service that lasts 15 days or longer, where such contract automatically renews unless the consumer cancels the contract, shall notify the consumer no less than 2 weeks before the cancellation deadline as described by the automatic renewal offer terms. Provides that if the person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation has the consumer's email address, this notice shall be sent by email.
Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Large Event Recycling and Composting Law. Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2025, an owner or operator of an event facility that has a maximum legal capacity or occupancy of at least 3,000 persons and that receives funding from the State of Illinois shall participate in the recycling program established by the county in which the event facility is located and shall send recyclable materials to a recycling center. Defines "event facility".
Creates the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, hotels with 50 rooms or more and, beginning January 1, 2026, hotels with less than 50 rooms may not provide small single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products to either (i) a customer of the establishment who is staying in a sleeping room accommodation or any space within the sleeping room accommodation or (ii) a customer of the establishment who is using a bathroom shared by the public or guests. Establishes civil penalties. Defines terms.
Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Provides that no person shall cause electronic cigarettes ordered or purchased by mail, through the Internet, or other remote sale methods, to be shipped to anyone in the State other than (i) a distributor, as defined in specified Acts, or (ii) a retailer, as defined in specified Acts. Effective immediately.
Creates the Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force Act. Provides that it is the General Assembly's intent to require a coordinated, public health, and service-integrated response by various agencies within the State's health and child welfare systems to address the substance use treatment needs of infants born with prenatal substance exposure, as well as the treatment needs of their caregivers and families, by requiring the development, provision, and monitoring of family recovery plans. Creates the Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force within the Department of Human Services. Sets forth the duties of the Task Force, including reviewing models of family recovery plans that have been implemented in other states; and reviewing and developing recommendations to replace punitive policies with notification policies for health care professionals reporting a positive toxicology screen of a newborn. Contains provisions concerning Task Force membership, meetings, reporting requirements, and other matters. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to develop a standardized CAPTA notification form that is separate and distinct from the form for written confirmation reports of child abuse or neglect. Provides that a CAPTA notification shall not be treated as a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, shall not be recorded in the State Central Registry, and shall not be discoverable or admissible as evidence in any juvenile court or adoption proceeding unless the named party waives, in writing, his or her right to confidentiality. Repeals a provision requiring the Department to report to the State's Attorney every report of a newborn infant whose blood, urine, or meconium contains a prohibited controlled substance. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Removes newborn infants whose blood, urine, or meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance from the list of children presumed neglected or abused under the Act. Makes corresponding changes to a provision listing the types of evidence that constitute prima facie evidence of neglect and to relevant provisions under the Adoption Act. Effective immediately, except that some parts take effect January 1, 2025.
Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that substance abuse programs and mental health or developmental disabilities facilities operating in the State shall provide verbal notice to the personal representative of the patient within 24 hours after the death of a patient and shall provide written notice to the personal representative of the patient within 5 days after the death of a patient. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to award post-secondary education scholarships and fee waivers to eligible students, removes a provision that conditions the renewal of awarded scholarships and fee waivers on students continuing to work toward graduation. Instead provides that while students shall not be required to maintain a specified minimum grade point average to continue to receive scholarships and fee waivers, students must be making satisfactory progress toward completing their degree at a community college, university, or college. Requires the Department to adopt rules identifying the criteria for "satisfactory progress toward completing a degree" (rather than the criteria for "continuing to work toward graduation"). Removes a provision requiring a community college or public university that an applicant attends to waive any tuition and fee amounts that exceed the amounts paid to the applicant under the State's Monetary Award Program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish a program to train EMS personnel, State police officers, and law enforcement officers to access a cell phone's medical identification or medical information application. Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the Illinois Police Training Act providing that the State police officers and law enforcement officers are required to participate in the in-service training established by the Department of Public Health for training in accessing a cell phone's medical identification or medical information application. Effective January 1, 2025.
Amends the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may issue a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist, without the required examination, to an applicant who is currently registered, certified, or licensed to practice marriage and family therapy in another state, territory, or jurisdiction (rather than the requirements for licensure in another state or territory must be substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Act or the person must have possessed individual qualifications at the time of applying for licensure that were substantially equivalent to the requirements then in force in this State), submits an application on a form that is approved by the Department, and pays the application fee set by the Department. Provides that an individual applying for licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been licensed at the independent level in another United States jurisdiction without discipline (rather than 5 years without discipline) is not required to submit proof of completion of the education, professional experience, and supervision otherwise required. Makes conforming changes.