Sen. Sue Rezin

Amends the Department of Employment Security Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Employment Security to consult with private cybersecurity experts on the best practices to identify and prevent fraudulent applications for benefits and fraudulent receipt of benefits under the unemployment insurance program and other programs administered by the Department. Requires the Department to maintain a cloud-based system to detect and prevent fraud. Requires the Department to hire an in-house officer to implement and monitor the cloud-based system. Requires the in-house officer to develop and implement additional internal Department controls designed to detect, deter, mitigate, and prevent fraud.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides for the transfer of day care center licensing, as well as part day child care facility licensing, from the Department of Children and Family Services to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Specifies that the Department of Children and Family Services shall continue to conduct examinations of day care centers but shall report the results of those examinations to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for licensing purposes. Makes other corresponding changes.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that beginning May 1, 2022 the contribution rate of each employer for the second, third, and fourth quarters of calendar year 2022 and for the entirety of calendar year 2023 shall be no more than the contribution rate of each employer in effect during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2021. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the credit for for residential real property taxes from 5% to 10% of real property taxes paid by the taxpayer for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2022. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that an Illinois licensed EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, or PHRN whose license has expired may, within 6 months after license expiration, apply for relicensure, show compliance with all relicensure requirements, and submit the required relicensure fees, including a late fee, and, after that 6-month period, may apply for reinstatement.

Creates the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides requirements concerning disclosure and review of prior authorization requirements, denial of claims or coverage by a utilization review organization, and the implementation of prior authorization requirements or restrictions. Provides requirements concerning a utilization review organization's obligations with respect to prior authorizations in nonurgent circumstances, urgent health care services, and emergency health care services. Provides that a utilization review organization shall not require prior authorization under specified circumstances. Provides requirements concerning the length of prior authorizations. Provides that health care services are automatically deemed authorized if a utilization review organization fails to comply with the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Director of Insurance may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $250,000 for violations of the Act. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to change the definition of "emergency medical condition". Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act to provide that companies that transact accident and health insurance shall comply with specified requirements of the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide that all managed care organizations shall comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2022.

Amends the Boundary Change Article of the School Code. With respect to a petition to change school district boundaries by detachment, annexation, division, or dissolution, provides that the length of time that signatures on the petition remain valid before the filing of the petition shall not exceed one year (rather than shall not exceed 6 months). Effective immediately.

Amends the Statute on Statutes. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the application of the Act. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 70/1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 375/6.17 new 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new 305 ILCS 5/5-41 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Prohibits the State from applying for any federal waiver that would reduce or eliminate any protection or coverage required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act) that was in effect on January 1, 2017, including, but not limited to, any protection for persons with pre-existing conditions and coverage for services identified as essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits the State from applying for any federal waiver that would permit an individual or group health insurance plan to reduce or eliminate any protection or coverage required under the Affordable Care Act that was in effect on January 1, 2017, including, but not limited to, any protection for persons with pre-existing conditions and coverage for services identified as essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Prohibits the State or an agency of the executive branch from applying for any federal Medicaid waiver that would result in more restrictive standards, methodologies, procedures, or other requirements than those that were in effect in Illinois as of January 1, 2017 for the Medical Assistance Program, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or any other medical assistance program in Illinois operating under any existing federal waiver authorized by specified provisions of the Social Security Act. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that veterans with nonservice-connected disabilities, along with those with service-connected disabilities, are eligible for plates for veterans with disabilities. Provides that, in lieu of receiving registration plates without the payment of a fee under Section 3-609, any veteran who holds proof of a 50% or greater service-connected or nonservice-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs may apply for a military series registration plate in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of State.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Declares that all changes to the existing nursing facility direct care reimbursement rate methodologies and to the bed assessment and collection procedures must be approached with caution, executed deliberately, and held to the highest of standards in order to protect nursing facility residents from disruption in care, protect workers from lost wages and jobs, and protect providers from the increased instability within the industry. Provides that a Nursing Facility Oversight Committee (Committee) shall be named by the 4 legislative leaders to oversee, assess, and provide direction to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services as it relates to long term care services. Contains provisions on the Committee's composition, meetings, proxy voting, and other matters. Requires the Department to seek the advice and consent of the Committee prior to filing emergency or permanent administrative rules with the Secretary of State or submitting Medicaid State Plan amendments and all correspondence to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Requires the Department to prepare transition plans for the redesign of the direct care reimbursement rate methodologies and the assessment tax schedule and collection proceedings. Contains provisions concerning advanced notice to nursing facilities of all payment, award, and rate changes; a quarterly direct care per diem reimbursement rate for each nursing facility; direct care reimbursement rate components subject to redesign; establishment of a single quarterly non-Medicare occupied bed varied tax assessment; State Plan amendments to permit expedited implementation of the redesigned bed assessment; compliance requirements for managed care organizations; penalties for non-compliance; and other matters. Effective immediately.