Creates the Tickborne Disease Prevention and Protection Act. Presents legislative findings. Requires the Department of Public Health, in conjunction with the medical entomology lab of the Prairie Research Institute's Illinois Natural History Survey and a statewide association representing physicians, to develop protocols and best practices for identifying, diagnosing, and treating tickborne diseases in Illinois and a mandatory accredited continuing medical education course that describes those protocols and best practices. Provides that the Department shall require health care professionals and laboratories to report cases of tickborne disease to each other and the Department. Directs the Department to train local health departments to respond to tickborne disease-related inquiries. Requires the Department to prepare a report of all efforts undertaken by the Department under the Act.
Sponsored bills
Declares March 12 through March 18, 2023 as MS Awareness Week in the State of Illinois and recognizes the importance of finding the cause and cure of MS. Encourages all Illinoisans to learn more about MS.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Deletes provision requiring Central Management Services to prepare and submit the total quantity of annual reports printed, the total cost, and the cost per copy and the cost per page of the annual report of the State agency printed during the calendar year covered by the report. Amends the Use Tax Act, Service Occupation Tax Act, Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and the State Finance Act. Deletes obsolete funding. Amends the Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan and Regional Planning Act. Removes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity from the Act. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, Unified Code of Corrections, Workers' Compensation Act. Repeals obsolete mandates. Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that in preparing the roster of approved certified independent arbitrators, the Chairman shall seek the advice and recommendation of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission or the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board at his or her discretion. Repeals obsolete mandate. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Library System Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State to encourage the improvement of free public libraries and to encourage cooperation among all types of libraries in promoting the sharing of library resources, including digital resources, and to encourage and protect the freedom of public libraries and library systems to acquire materials without external limitation and to be protected against attempts to ban, remove, or otherwise restrict access to books or other materials. Provides that the State Librarian shall prescribe rules concerning the development of a written policy declaring the inherent authority of the public library or library system to prohibit the practice of banning specific books or resources. Provides that, in order to be eligible for State grants, a public library or library system shall develop a written policy prohibiting the practice of banning books within the public library or library system. Makes other changes.
Amends the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. Provides that the guardianship training program shall include content regarding Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Requires a public guardian to complete a one-hour course on Alzheimer's disease and dementia within 6 months of appointment and annually thereafter.
Amends the Automatic Contract Renewal Act. Provides that the clear and conspicuous disclosure of an automatic renewal clause displayed during the contract formation process must require the consumer to affirmatively consent to the renewal terms. Provides for additional notice requirements concerning contracts that automatically renew for a specified term of more than one month unless the consumer cancels the contract. Provides for additional notice requirements concerning contracts that allow the consumer to accept a free gift or trial as part of an automatic renewal offer before the consumer makes any payment, or where such contract entitles the consumer to an introductory reduced, promotional, or discounted rate before the customer begins paying the full rate. Provides that a person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation that allows consumers to accept an automatic renewal or continuous service offer online shall allow a consumer to terminate the automatic renewal or continuous service exclusively online, at will, and without engaging any further steps that obstruct or delay the consumer's ability to terminate the automatic renewal or continuous service immediately. Defines "clear and conspicuous".
Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education, beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year and continuing for not less than 2 years, to make available to public institutions of higher education a model program of study, for credit, that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional. Requires the Board, by July 1, 2024, to submit recommendations developed in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations representing community-based providers serving children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and elementary and secondary education practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers, administrators, special education directors, and regional superintendents of schools, to the Department of Human Services for the training that would be required in order to complete the model program of study.
Amends the School Code. Provides that, when hiring physical education, music, and visual arts educators, school districts must prioritize the hiring of educators who hold a teaching license and endorsement in those content areas. Provides that, if a school district is unable to hire a qualified candidate, the district may then hire a candidate who holds a valid professional educator license on a short-term basis. Provides that the professional educator license applicant must pass the content area test for which they are assigned to teach within one calendar year of the employment start date. Provides that, in order to retain employment for subsequent school years, the employee must complete 18 hours of course work in the content area in which they are teaching within 3 calendar years of their employment start date. Provides that in case of a reduction in force, districts may follow their local contract language for filling positions.
Creates the Dog Breed Insurance Underwriting Protection Act. Provides that with respect to homeowner's insurance policies and renter's insurance policies issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after the effective date of the Act, no insurer shall refuse to issue or renew, cancel, or charge or impose an increased premium or rate for a policy or contract, or exclude, limit, restrict, or reduce coverage under a policy or contract based solely upon harboring or owning any dog of a specific breed or mixture of breeds. Provides that with respect to homeowner's insurance policies and renter's insurance policies issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after the effective date of the Act, the provisions shall not prohibit an insurer from refusing to issue or renew or from cancelling a contract or policy nor from imposing a reasonably increased premium or rate for a policy or contract based upon the designation of a dog of any breed or mixture of breeds as a dangerous dog based on sound underwriting and actuarial principles reasonably related to actual or anticipated loss experience. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall have the authority to adopt rules that are not inconsistent with and that are necessary to administer and enforce the provisions. Effective 6 months after becoming law.
Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Provides that any person may report information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult to an agency designated to receive such reports or to the Department on Aging. Provides that if a mandated reporter has reason to believe that the death of an eligible adult is the result of abuse or neglect, the matter shall be reported to the agency designated to receive such reports or to the Department for subsequent referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency and coroner or medical examiner. Prohibits employers from discriminating against any employee who makes a good faith oral or written report concerning information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult. Contains provisions concerning the required testimony of a mandated reporter at an administrative hearing concerning the suspicious death of an eligible adult; the referral of evidence to the appropriate law enforcement agency; access to records concerning reports of suspicious deaths due to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation; and other matters. Makes changes to the definitions of "abuse", "abuser", and "mandated reporter". Defines "investment advisor". Effective January 1, 2024.