Sen. John Curran

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the contributions made by the taxpayer to the Illinois Excellence Fund during the taxable year. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Excellence Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used for exclusively public purposes, as specified under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code relating to charitable contributions and gifts. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the county board may establish a fund in the county treasury for the purpose of accepting contributions for exclusively public purposes, as specified under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code relating to charitable contributions and gifts and may provide for a credit against the taxpayer's property tax liability in an amount equal to the amount of the contribution. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Establishes the fiscal year 2019 mileage reimbursement rate and allowance for lodging and meals. Amends the Compensation Review Act. Prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018 for State government legislative and executive elected officers and appointees in positions for which the Compensation Review Board previously recommended or determined compensation. Effective immediately.

Creates the Law Enforcement Support Program Confidentiality Act. Provides that information, omissions, confessions, or other communication obtained by a participant in a peer support program involving a peer support counselor from a law enforcement officer, public safety employee, peace officer, firefighter, or emergency services personnel shall be considered confidential information and shall not be released to any person or entity, including, but not limited to, a court, administrative agency or tribunal, or public officer or employer, unless: (1) to the extent it appears necessary to prevent the commission of an act that is likely to result in a clear imminent risk of serious physical injury or death of a person or persons; (2) when required by court order; or (3) when, after full disclosure has been provided, the person who made the confession, admission, or other communication has given specific written consent. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a provision permitting the Department of State Police to deny an application for or to revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a person who has been a patient of a mental health facility within the past 5 years is not applicable to an active law enforcement officer employed by a unit of government, unless the Department receives an affirmative statement by a treating clinical psychologist or physician that the law enforcement officer is a threat to himself or herself, another person, or the public. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Exempts physicians from disciplinary action by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation based solely upon the licensee's recommendation or provision of a treatment method for Lyme disease or other tick-borne disease if specified criteria are met. Effective immediately.

Amends the Union of Contiguous Municipalities Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds "consolidation" to the title of the Division. Provides that any 2 or more incorporated contiguous municipalities may be united into one incorporated city or village (rather than only cities) upon the presentation of a petition, signed by the lesser of 10% of the total number of electors of each municipality voting in the last election or 250 electors, to the election authority for the county in which the municipalities are situated or, if the municipalities are situated in 2 or more counties, in the county where the largest population of the subject municipalities resides. Removes provisions limiting union to municipalities wholly or substantially situation in a single county. Removes provisions requiring union by annexation by another city. Modifies the referendum question to approve the union. Provides that a union is not considered the creation or formation of a new political subdivision for purposes of the Election Code and makes other references to the Election Code. Provides that any elected official, member, employee, or contractor of a city or village subject to a petition to unite shall be expressly prohibited from using any governmental or public resources in opposing or supporting the petition. Provides that if the majority of the votes cast in any of the contiguous municipalities (rather than each municipality) in the petition is in favor of the proposition, then those contiguous municipalities are united. Makes other changes.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that disenrollment of a Medicaid enrollee from a managed care organization under contract with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be in accordance with specified federal requirements whenever a contract is terminated between a Medicaid managed care health plan and a primary care provider that results in a disruption to the Medicaid enrollee's provider-beneficiary relationship. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that after the court has placed a minor in the care of a temporary custodian, any party may apply to the court to grant the temporary custodian the authority to serve as a surrogate decision maker for the minor under the Health Care Surrogate Act for purposes of making the decision whether to forgo life-sustaining treatment, if the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interests of the minor to grant the temporary custodian such authority. Provides that in making its determination, the court shall consider specified factors, the efforts made to engage the respondents in decision making on behalf of the child, evidence of the impact of a delay in decision making on the child, and any other factors the court deems relevant to a determination of the best interests of the minor. Provides that if the Department of Children and Family Services is the temporary custodian of the minor, in addition to specified requirements, the Department shall follow its rules and procedures in exercising authority granted under the new provisions. Amends the Health Care Surrogate Act. To the list of surrogate decision makers, adds the patient's temporary custodian appointed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 if the court has entered an order granting such authority.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, to make an assessment of available treatment technologies for reducing and removing compounds of emerging concern from wastewater treatment facilities, the statewide applicability of the treatment technologies, and the costs associated with the treatment technologies. Requires the Agency and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center to submit a report of findings from the assessment to the General Assembly by June 30, 2020. Defines "compounds of emerging concern".

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Defines "patient" for purposes of the Act. Provides that renewal applications shall be approved or denied within 60 business days, provided the applicant submitted his or her renewal application prior to the expiration of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that if a renewal application has been submitted prior to the expiration date of the applicant's Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall remain valid while the Department processes the application, unless the person is subject to or becomes subject to revocation under the Act. Provides that the cost for a renewal application shall be $10 which shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund. Provides that the Department of State Police may, by rule in a manner consistent with the Department's rules concerning revocation, provide for the suspension of the Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is subject to revocation and seizure under the Act for the duration of the disqualification if the disqualification is not a permanent grounds for revocation of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card under the Act. Provides that the cost for replacement of a lost, destroyed, or stolen card shall be $5 if the loss, destruction, or theft of the card is reported to the Department of State Police. Provides the fee shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act. Provides that the limitation on determining a differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a physical therapist from establishing a relevant diagnosis. In the definition of "documented current and relevant diagnosis" and in provisions concerning disciplinary actions, removes language requiring a diagnosis to be substantiated by a physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or podiatric physician. Effective immediately.