Sen. Don DeWitte

Condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel, expresses deepest sorrow to all innocent people impacted by this terrorist attack and for all the innocent lives lost in Israel and Gaza, calls for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the region, demands the release of the hostages being held by Hamas, prays for all deployed Americans, and opposes all organizations that use terror as a tactic, victimize innocent civilians, and intentionally undermine peace throughout the world.

Mourns the death of James Henry "Jim" Goebbert of Huntley.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or municipality may undertake local broadband projects and the provision of services in connection with local broadband projects, may lease infrastructure that it owns or controls relating to local broadband projects or services, may aggregate customers or demand for broadband services, and may apply for and receive funds or technical assistance to undertake local broadband projects to address the level of broadband access available to its businesses and residents. Provides that, to the extent that it seeks to serve as a retail provider of telecommunications services, the county or municipality must obtain appropriate certification from the Illinois Commerce Commission as a telecommunications carrier. Provides that certification of a county or municipality serving as a retail provider of telecommunication services is an exclusive power and function of the State. Amends the Public Utilities Act to make a conforming change.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that specified Advisory Committees shall include one representative from the labor organization recognized as the exclusive representative of specified entities' employees. Provides that an EMS Medical Director may only suspend any EMS personnel, EMS Lead Instructor, individual, individual provider, or other participant considered not to be meeting the requirements of the Program Plan if the EMS Medical Director obtains agreement from the Department of Public Health. Allows arbitration meeting specified requirements as alternative dispute resolution procedures for EMS System licensing and makes conforming changes throughout the Act. Provides that a member of a fire department's or fire protection district's collective bargaining unit shall be eligible to work under a silver spanner program for another fire department EMS System that is not the full time employer of that member, for a period not to exceed 12 months, without being required to test into the EMS System of the fire department or fire protection district. Makes other changes.

Amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Provides that land acquisition is included in the definition of "project". Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the month of October of each year is designated as Italian Heritage Month to be observed throughout the State as a month to recognize the contributions and influence of Italians on American history, achievement, culture, and innovation.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue may deny a certificate of registration to an applicant or refuse to issue, reissue, or renew a certificate of registration, permit, or license authorized to be issued by the Department of Revenue if certain owners, partners, officers, managers, or members of the applicant fail to file a return, on or before the due date prescribed for filing that return, that the person is required to file under any tax or fee Act administered by the Department of Revenue.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act that provides coverage for the treatment of cancer shall not apply a higher standard of clinical evidence for the coverage of proton beam therapy than the insurer applies for the coverage of any other form of radiation therapy treatment. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act that provides coverage or benefits to any resident of this State for radiation oncology shall include coverage or benefits for physician-prescribed proton beam therapy for the treatment of cancer as recommended by the patient's physician. Defines terms. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that a managed care organization under contract with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide services to recipients of medical assistance shall provide coverage for proton beam therapy. Defines terms. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act. Provides that a pharmacist may sell fentanyl test strips over-the-counter to the public to test for the presence of fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, or a drug adulterant within a controlled substance. Provides that a county health department may distribute fentanyl test strips at the county health department facility for no fee. Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act. Provides that "drug paraphernalia" does not include equipment, products, or materials to analyze or test for the presence of fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, or a drug adulterant within a controlled substance.

Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. In a provision requiring a public safety employer to pay the entire premium of its health insurance plan for a public safety employee, the employee's spouse, and the employee's dependent children after the employee suffers a fatal or catastrophic injury in the line of duty, requires the employer to offer any individual who qualifies for such premium payments the choice of any health insurance plan available to currently employed full-time public safety employees.