Sen. Steve Stadelman

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board's suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that a student who is determined to have committed sexual violence, sexual assault, or sexual activity with an individual without the individual's consent at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the payment of scholarships to students who qualify for the Journalism Student Scholarship Program.

Amends the Ticket Sale and Resale Act. Provides that a person or entity that does not have actual or constructive possession of an event ticket shall not sell, offer for sale, or advertise for sale the event ticket unless specified conditions are satisfied. Prohibits a ticket issuer, ticket broker, or ticket reseller from offering for sale an event ticket unless the ticket issuer, ticket broker, or ticket reseller makes specified disclosures. Sets forth provisions concerning refunds, if an event is cancelled or postponed, and advertisements. Provides that whoever violates the amendatory provisions may be fined up to $5,000 for each offense. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Establishes reimbursement rates for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for all group or individual policies of accident and health insurance or managed care plans that are amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 or for any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer. Requires 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, 2026 or any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer to cover certain medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. Provides that, if the Department of Insurance determines that an insurer or a contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer has violated a provision concerning mental health and substance use parity, the Department shall by order assess a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation. Excludes certain health care plans serving Medicaid populations who are enrolled under the Illinois Public Aid Code or under the Children's Health Insurance Program Act from provisions concerning mental health and substance use parity. Requires the Department to review the impact of the proposed mental health and substance abuse mandate on network adequacy for mental health and substance use disorder treatment and access to affordable mental health and substance use care. Permits the Department to examine out-of-network utilization and out-of-pocket costs for insureds for mental health and substance use treatment and services for all plans to compare with in-network utilization. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the School Code to require coverage under those provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides for the election (rather than appointment) of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago beginning with the 2027 consolidated election. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Facility Fee Transparency and Prevention Act. Prohibits a health care facility or health care provider from charging or collecting a facility fee for preventive services provided to a patient, regardless of whether the patient's insurance covers the preventive service. Provides that, for any health care service other than preventive services, a health care facility may not charge or collect a facility fee not covered by the patient's insurance unless the patient is provided with written notice, as specified, of the facility fee 7 days prior to the scheduled service, or as soon as possible for unscheduled or emergency services. Requires health care facilities or health care providers to notify patients in writing, as specified, of any new business relationship with, affiliation with, or acquisition by a hospital or health system. Provides that any health care facility or health care provider that violates the Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $2,500 per violation, and all funds collected under the Act shall be deposited into the Facility Fee Reimbursement Fund. Provides that the Facility Fee Reimbursement Fund is created to reimburse patients who have provided sufficient evidence to the Department of Public Health that they were charged a facility fee not in accordance with the Act and to cover any administrative costs related to processing reimbursements. Grants the Department of Public Health authority to adopt rules to implement and enforce the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires the Secretary of State to include information advising drivers of the laws and best practices for safely sharing the roadway with bicyclists and pedestrians in the Illinois Rules of the Road Publication. Provides that an applicant for a school bus driver permit or commercial driver's license with a school bus driver endorsement is not required to pass a written test if the applicant holds a valid commercial driver's license or a commercial driver's license that expired in the preceding 30 days issued by another state with a school bus and passenger endorsements. Requires all driver education courses to include information advising drivers of the laws and best practices for safely sharing the roadway with bicyclists and pedestrians. Provides that the examination to test an applicant's ability to read and understand official traffic control devices and knowledge of safe driving practices and traffic laws may be administered at a Secretary of State facility, remotely via the Internet, or in a manner otherwise specified by the Secretary of State by administrative rule. Allows the Secretary to destroy a driving record created 20 or more years ago for a person who was convicted of an offense and who did not have an Illinois driver's license if the record no longer contains any convictions or withdrawal of driving privileges due to the convictions. Provides that the application for an instructor for a driving school must be accompanied by a medical examination report completed by a competent medical examiner (rather than a competent physician). Provides that the restricted commercial driver's license issued for farm-related service industries may be available for periods not to exceed a total of 210 (rather than 180) days in any 12-month period. Removes some of the duration limitations for suspended licenses. Provides that the traffic-control signals also apply to bicyclists. Restricts a person from driving a motor vehicle on a bicycle lane, trail, or path designated by an official sign or marking for the exclusive use of bicycles or pedestrians. Makes other changes. Amends the School Code to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall, on or before July 1, 2027, adopt rules requiring food product labels to contain information regarding the quality date of a product and the safety date of a product. Provides for exceptions for eggs, beer and other malt beverages, and as limited by federal law. Provides for a civil penalty of $100.

Creates the Gift Card Scam Prevention Act. Provides that a merchant shall not knowingly sell an open-loop gift card to a consumer unless the merchant satisfies specified requirements. Provides that a third-party gift card reseller that buys or sells an open-loop gift card as part of a transaction occurring in the State shall record and maintain a copy of specified information. Provides for enforcement of the Act by the Attorney General. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county board may, by ordinance, establish standards for noise pollution in the unincorporated areas of the county. Effective immediately.