Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, every public high school may include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy; defines "media literacy". Provides requirements for the unit of instruction. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for the unit of instruction. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, requires every public high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy; sets forth what topics the unit of instruction shall include. Provides that the State Board of Education shall determine how to prepare and make available instructional resources and professional learning opportunities for educators that may be used for the development of the unit of instruction. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that Juneteenth National Freedom Day shall be observed on June 19 of each year as a holiday throughout the State (currently, not a holiday and is observed on the third Saturday of June of each year). Provides that when June 19 falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be held and considered the holiday. Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, and the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act to include Juneteenth National Freedom Day as a holiday. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Provides that when June 19 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, neither the preceding Friday nor the following Monday shall be held or considered as a paid holiday (rather than the following Monday being considered a holiday). Effective January 1, 2022.
Declares March 24, 2021 as Equal Pay Day, August 3, 2021 as Black Women's Equal Pay Day, September 8, 2021 as Native American Women's Equal Pay Day, and October 21, 2021 as Latina Equal Pay Day.
Urges Illinois school districts to add additional time to the school day and/or school year, beginning in the School Year 2021-22 and for the next three years, to help all students address the unprecedented need brought on by the COVID-19 learning disruption.
Creates the Electronic Wills and Remote Witnesses Act. Provides that an electronic will shall be executed by the testator or by some person in the testator's presence and at the testator's direction, and attested to in the testator's presence by 2 or more credible witnesses. Provides for the revocation of an electronic will. Provides that an electronic will is a digital asset and any person or business in possession of an electronic will is a custodian. Provides for certified copies. Provides that a person may witness any document, other than a will, using audio-video communication between the individual's signing the document and the witness. Provides for remote attestation for a will. Provides methods for determining a signer's or testator's identity. Provides for the verification of an electronic will when a petition to have an electronic will admitted to probate is filed. Provides for: admission of a paper copy of an electronic will; admission of a will attested to by a witness who is physically present; admission of a will attested to by a remote witness; and admission of a will signed under the Electronic Commerce Security Act. Provides that nothing prohibits any party from introducing evidence of fraud, forgery, compulsion, or other improper conduct which in the opinion of the court is deemed sufficient to invalidate the will when being admitted. Provides for: formal proof of a will with a remote witness; formal proof of an electronic will; and formal proof of a will witnessed under the Electronic Commerce Security Act. Makes corresponding changes in the Electronic Commerce Security Act and the Probate Act of 1975. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: New Act 5 ILCS 175/5-115 5 ILCS 175/5-120 5 ILCS 175/5-125 5 ILCS 175/10-130 755 ILCS 5/1-2.18 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 1-2.18 755 ILCS 5/1-2.25 new 755 ILCS 5/1-2.26 new 755 ILCS 5/6-5 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 6-5 755 ILCS 5/6-6 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 6-6 755 ILCS 5/8-1 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 8-1 755 ILCS 5/8-2 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 8-2 Adds reference to: 735 ILCS 5/2-1303 from Ch. 110, par. 2-1303 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. If and only if House Bill 3360 of the 101st General Assembly becomes law, amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that: prejudgment interest shall begin to accrue on the date the action is filed (rather than the date the defendant has notice of the injury from the incident itself or a written notice); in entering judgment for the plaintiff in the action, the court shall add to the amount of the judgment interest on the amount calculated at the rate of 7% (rather than 9%) per annum; and that neither the State, a unit of local government, a school district, a community college district, nor any other governmental entity (rather than "a local public entity") is liable to pay prejudgment interest in an action brought directly or vicariously against it by the injured party. Deletes language allowing the trial court to apportion any amount of prejudgment interest between the plaintiff and any agency or department of the State. Deletes language requiring the court to consider the plaintiff's hardship from the time of injury to the date of judgment and the effort required to obtain the judgment. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: New Act 5 ILCS 175/5-115 5 ILCS 175/5-120 5 ILCS 175/5-125 5 ILCS 175/10-130 755 ILCS 5/1-2.18 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 1-2.18 755 ILCS 5/1-2.25 new 755 ILCS 5/1-2.26 new 755 ILCS 5/6-5 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 6-5 755 ILCS 5/6-6 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 6-6 755 ILCS 5/8-1 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 8-1 755 ILCS 5/8-2 from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 8-2 Adds reference to: 735 ILCS 5/2-1303 from Ch. 110, par. 2-1303 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in all actions brought to recover damages for personal injury or wrongful death resulting from or occasioned by the conduct of any other person or entity, whether by negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, intentional conduct, or strict liability of the other person or entity, the plaintiff shall recover prejudgment interest on specified damages and costs set forth in the judgment. Provides that neither the State nor a local public entity shall be liable to pay prejudgment interest. Provides that for any personal injury or wrongful death occurring before the effective date of the amendatory Act, the prejudgment interest shall begin to accrue on the later of the effective date of the amendatory Act or the date the action is filed. Effective July 1, 2021.
Creates the Community Health Worker Certification and Reimbursement Act. Amends various Acts regarding medical staff credentials; electronic posters and signs; N95 masks; Legionella bacteria testing; continuing education on implicit bias awareness; overdoses; the Prescription Monitoring Program; a dementia training program; taxation of blood sugar testing materials; funding of safety-net hospitals; a Child Care Assistance Program Eligibility Calculator; managed care organizations; Federally Qualified Health Centers; care coordination; billing; the Medicaid Business Opportunity Commission; reimbursement rates; doula services; personal care of family members; the State Health Assessment; the State Health Improvement Plan; child care training; and a Medicaid Managed Care Oversight Commission. Creates the Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center of Illinois Act. Creates the Underlying Causes of Crime and Violence Study Act. Creates the Special Commission on Gynecologic Cancers Act. Creates the Racial Impact Note Act to require the estimate of the impact on racial and ethnic minorities of certain bills. Creates the Health and Human Services Task Force and Study Act to review health and human service departments and programs. Creates the Anti-Racism Commission Act concerning elimination of systemic racism. Creates the Sickle Cell Prevention, Care, and Treatment Program Act regarding programs and other matters. Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act in relation to the Health Facilities and Services Review Board, facility closure, and other matters. Creates the Medicaid Technical Assistance Act. Repeals, adds, and changes other provisions. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 305 ILCS 5/9A-11 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-11 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Removes language requiring the SHA and SHIP Partnership to regularly evaluate and update the State Health Assessment and track implementation of the State Health Improvement Plan with revisions as necessary. In provisions amending the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and regarding the Prescription Monitoring Program: (1) presents the findings of the General Assembly; (2) provides that opioid treatment programs may not transmit information without patient consent, and reports made may not be utilized for law enforcement purposes; and (3) provides that treatment of a patient may not be conditioned upon his or her consent to reporting. Removes provisions amending the Illinois Public Aid Code regarding child care. Removes language requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to issue quarterly reports to the Governor and the General Assembly indicating: (i) the number of determinations of noncompliance since the last quarter; (ii) the number of financial penalties imposed; and (iii) the outcome or status of each determination. Makes other changes. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 720 ILCS 570/316 Removes provisions amending the Illinois Controlled Substances Act regarding the Prescription Monitoring Program. Makes changes in provisions amending the Adult Protective Services Act regarding adult protective services dementia training. In provisions regarding increasing access to primary care in hospitals, removes language providing that the program developed by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall encourage coordination between FQHCs and hospitals. In the Sickle Cell Prevention, Care, and Treatment Program Act, provides that expenditures from the Sickle Cell Chronic Disease Fund shall be subject to appropriation. Makes the following changes to the Medicaid Technical Assistance Center Act: (1) provides that the Center: (i) shall undertake efforts to identify and engage community-based providers offering behavioral health services or services addressing the social determinants of health, especially those predominantly serving communities of color or those operating within or near service deserts, for the purpose of offering training and technical assistance to them through the Center; and (ii) is committed to the principle that all Medicaid recipients have accessible and equitable physical and mental health care services; (2) requires all providers served through the Center to deliver services notwithstanding the patient's race, color, gender, gender identity, age, ancestry, marital status, military status, religion, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, order of protection status, or immigration status; and (3) provides that moneys in the Medicaid Technical Assistance Center Fund shall be used for specified purposes, subject to appropriation. Makes other changes.
Declares March 10, 2021 as Delta Day 2021 in the State of Illinois in recognition of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the 2021 theme of "Embracing and Elevating the Power In Our Voice".
Mourns the passing of former Chicago Teachers Union President Karen GJ Lewis.
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Modifies provisions concerning the College Savings Pool. Provides that the State Treasurer, in administering the College Savings Pool, may, among other actions, perform any other action he or she deems necessary to administer the Pool. Provides that the State Treasurer may delegate duties related to the College Savings Pool to one or more contractors. Provides that any fees, costs, and expenses related to the College Savings Pool shall be paid from the assets of the College Savings Pool. Provides further requirements concerning fees of the College Savings Pool. Modifies provisions concerning investment restrictions, distributions, and contributions of the College Savings Pool. Modifies provisions concerning the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Provides that the State Treasurer and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall each cooperate in providing each other with account information, as necessary, to prevent contributions in excess of those necessary to provide for the qualified expenses of the designated beneficiary. Removes provisions requiring the maintenance of specified records. Modifies defined terms. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/16.5 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 3960/8.9 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that a party seeking to re-establish a previously discontinued general acute care hospital under the Act shall be authorized to file a certificate of exemption for purposes of re-establishing the hospital. Specifies the conditions that must be met in filing a certificate of exemption to re-establish a general acute care hospital. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/16.5 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 3960/8.9 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that a party seeking to re-establish a previously discontinued general acute care hospital under the Act shall be authorized to file a certificate of exemption for purposes of re-establishing the hospital. Specifies the conditions that must be met in filing a certificate of exemption to re-establish a general acute care hospital. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/16.5 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 3960/8.9 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that a party seeking to re-establish a previously discontinued general acute care hospital under the Act shall be authorized to file a certificate of exemption for purposes of re-establishing the hospital. Specifies the conditions that must be met in filing a certificate of exemption to re-establish a general acute care hospital. Effective immediately.
Urges the U.S. Department of Education, pursuant to section 8401(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, to offer states the option to waive certain assessment and concomitant accountability and reporting requirements.