Sen. Don Harmon

Maddy summaryHB 56 is a technical amendment to the Farmer Equity Act that updates the short title of a specific section within the law. This change does not alter the actual rules or requirements for farmers but simply corrects the official name used to reference that part of the legislation. The bill affects the legal documentation of the Farmer Equity Act by ensuring the title is accurate. It is a procedural measure designed to clarify the bill's identity rather than introduce new agricultural policies.

Maddy summaryHB 890 is a technical amendment to the Child Passenger Protection Act that updates the short title of a specific section within the law. This change does not alter any existing rules, penalties, or requirements for child car seats or booster seats. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been debated or voted on by the full legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 299 is a technical amendment to the Green Cleaning Schools Act that updates the bill's short title. This change does not alter the existing requirements for schools to use environmentally friendly cleaning products. The legislation affects school districts and facilities currently covered by the Green Cleaning Schools Act. It is a procedural update intended to correct the official name of the law without changing its operational provisions.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that the provisions for prompt settlement of claims apply to private causes of action rather than just personal injury, property damage, wrongful death, or tort actions.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to by rule implement a methodology to reimburse hospitals for inpatient stays extended beyond medical necessity due to the inability of the Department, the managed care organization (MCO) in which a medical assistance recipient is enrolled in, or the hospital discharge planner to find an appropriate placement after discharge from the hospital to the next level of care. Requires the Department to by rule implement a methodology effective for dates of service January 1, 2025 and later to reimburse hospitals for emergency department stays extended beyond medical necessity due to the inability of the Department, the MCO, or the hospital discharge planner to find an appropriate placement after discharge from the hospital setting to the next appropriate level of care. Provides that both methodologies shall provide reasonable compensation for the services provided attributable to the hours of the extended stay for which the prevailing rate methodology provides no reimbursement. Contains provisions concerning the rate for inpatient days of care; hourly rates of reimbursement for emergency department stays; a prohibition on MCOs restricting coverage due to delays caused by the Department or the MCOs in completing the pre-admission screening and resident review process; a prohibition on MCOs imposing authorization or documentation requirements and other conditions of reimbursement that are more restrictive than standards under the fee-for-service medical assistance program; sanctions on MCOs for noncompliance; and administrative rules. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Michael Perricone of Riverside.

Amends the Illinois Antitrust Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that townships in a county with a population of 500,000 or more may enter into intergovernmental agreements to provide ADA paratransit bus transportation and bus transportation for senior citizens between townships. The township providing service may apply to the Department of Human Services to receive grants to reimburse costs from the Township Bus Service Fund, a special fund that is created in the State treasury, and, subject to appropriation and as directed by the Secretary of Human Services, moneys in the Fund may be expended for reimbursement costs for ADA paratransit bus transportation and bus transportation for senior citizens between townships and for no other purpose. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Township Bus Service Fund.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act. Provides that the KIND Act creates the statutory vision and authority for the Department of Children and Family Services to execute a kin-first approach to service delivery and directs the juvenile courts to provide necessary oversight of the Department's obligations to maintain family connections and promote equitable opportunities for youth and families to thrive with relational permanence. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Contains provisions concerning Department rules on relative, kinship, and licensed foster care; grants to subsidized guardians of hard-to-place children; a requirement on the Department to make reasonable efforts to place a child with a relative; documentation of the Department's reasons for failing to secure a relative placement; foster care maintenance payments for relatives who qualify for certification as a kinship caregiver home; subsidized guardianship support services for children and their guardians; certification and background checks on relative caregivers; annual reports regarding relative and kinship care placements; performance audits; and other matters. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires the Department to adopt standards for certifying kinship caregiver family homes that are different from licensing standards used for non-relative foster family homes. Contains provisions concerning background screenings of prospective kinship caregivers; a requirement that the Department assist relatives and prospective kinship caregivers with completing the steps required for approval as a kinship caregiver home; orientation activities for prospective kinship caregivers; Guardianship Assistance Program payments and services for relative caregivers; and other matters. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes changes to provisions concerning "best interest" determinations; emergency placement of a minor with a willing relative pending a temporary custody hearing; court assessments on the Department's effort to place a minor with a relative; court ordered family-finding efforts; required notification to a minor's located relatives that the minor has been removed from the custody of the minor's parents; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes changes to provisions requiring Medicaid managed care organizations (MCO) to make payments for emergency services. Requires an MCO to pay any provider of emergency services, including inpatient stabilization services provided during the inpatient stabilization period, that does not have in effect a contract with the MCO. Defines "inpatient stabilization period" to mean the initial 72 hours of inpatient stabilization services, beginning from the date and time of the order for inpatient admission to the hospital. Provides that when determining payment for all emergency services, including inpatient stabilization services provided during the inpatient stabilization period, the MCO shall: (i) not impose any service authorization requirements, including, but not limited to, prior authorization, prior approval, pre-certification, concurrent review, or certification of admission; (ii) have no obligation to cover emergency services provided on an emergency basis that are not covered services under the MCO's contract with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services; and (iii) not condition coverage for emergency services on the treating provider notifying the MCO of the enrollee's emergency medical screening examination and treatment within 10 days after presentation for emergency services. Provides that the determination of the attending emergency physician, or the practitioner responsible for the enrollee's care at the hospital, of whether an enrollee requires inpatient stabilization services, can be stabilized in the outpatient setting, or is sufficiently stabilized for discharge or transfer to another facility, shall be binding on the MCO. Provides that an MCO shall not reimburse inpatient stabilization services billed on an inpatient institutional claim under the outpatient reimbursement methodology and shall not reimburse providers for emergency services in cases of fraud. Requires the Department to impose sanctions on an MCO for noncompliance, including, but not limited to, financial penalties, suspension of enrollment of new enrollees, and termination of the MCO's contract with the Department. Effective immediately.