Sen. Pat McGuire

Mourns the death of Francis Jones of Elwood.

Amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code, the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985, the Illinois Public Accounting Act, and the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Allows the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to consider an applicant's prior conviction or convictions, but provides that the conviction or convictions may not be the sole basis for refusing to issue a license unless the crime substantially and directly relates to the occupation for which the license is sought. Requires that if the conviction is used as a basis for rejection, the rejection must be in writing and specifically state the evidence presented and reasons for rejection, which must be substantially and directly related to the licensed activity. Provides specific considerations the Department must use in making its decision for rejection. Provides what the Department shall use as evidence of rehabilitation so that all license rights and privileges granted under the Act, under consideration for issuance or formerly revoked or suspended because of conviction of an offense, are automatically restored unless the Department finds that restoration is not in the public interest. Requires that the Department not consider non-conviction records, convictions that did not result in incarceration, or convictions unrelated to the capacity to serve the public. In provisions concerning grounds for discipline, makes changes concerning disqualifying criminal penalties and delinquent child support.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that any commissions or revenues for the provision of pay telephones in institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice for those incarcerated are prohibited. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall contract with the qualified vendor who proposes the lowest per minute rate not exceeding 5 cents per minute for debit, prepaid, collect calls and who does not bill to any party any service charge or additional fee exceeding the per minute rate, including, but not limited to, any per call surcharge, account set up fee, bill statement fee, monthly account maintenance charge, or refund fee, as established by the Federal Communications Commission Order for state prisons in the Matter of Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services, Second Report and Order, WC Docket 12-375, FCC 15-136 (adopted Oct. 22, 2015). Provides that telephone services made available through a prepaid or collect call system shall include international calls; those calls shall be made available at reasonable rates subject to Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations, but not to exceed 25 cents per minute. Provides that the amendatory Act applies to any new or renewal contract for inmate calling services. Effective January 1, 2017.

Creates the Employee Sick Leave Act. Provides that employees may use personal sick leave benefits provided by the employer for absences due to an illness, injury, or medical appointment of the employee's child, spouse, sibling, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandchild, grandparent, or stepparent, for reasonable periods of time as the employee's attendance may be necessary, on the same terms upon which the employee is able to use sick leave benefits for the employee's own illness or injury. Provides that the Department of Labor shall issue rules to implement the Act. Effective January 1, 2017.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that alcoholic liquors may be served or sold in buildings under the control of the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University for events that the Board may determine are public events and not student-related activities. Provides that the Board of Trustees shall issue a written policy within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act concerning the types of events that would be eligible for an exemption. Provides that the Board of Trustees may issue revised, updated, new, or amended policies as it deems necessary and appropriate. Specifies factors that the Board of Trustees shall, in addition to other factors it considers relevant and important, consider in forming its written policy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State policy.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires each Medicaid Managed Care Entity (MMCE) contracted by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to: (i) make available on the entity's website a provider directory in a machine readable file and format; (ii) make provider directories publicly accessible without the necessity of providing a password, a username, or personally identifiable information; (iii) make available through an electronic provider directory, for each Medicaid Managed Care Entity Plan offered by the entity, certain information in an easily understandable and searchable format, including the contact information and website URLs, if applicable, of all health care professionals, hospitals, pharmacies, and facilities that provide services to Medicaid recipients under the Medicaid Managed Care Entity Plan. Requires each MMCE to ensure that all information included in a print version of the provider directory is updated at least monthly and that the electronic provider directory is updated no later than 3 business days after the MMCE receives updated provider information. Provides that non-compliance with these and other specified requirements may subject the MMCE to certain sanctions. Requires the Department's client enrollment services broker to post certain information on the broker's website, including, information explaining the circumstances under which a Medicaid enrollee can file a grievance or request a hearing to appeal an adverse action by the Department or the MMCE; information on the Medicaid eligibility redetermination process; and information on Medicaid care coordination. Requires the Department to create a consumer quality comparison tool to assist enrollees with Medicaid Managed Care Entity Plan selection. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that motorcycles may be equipped with a blue light or lights located on the rear of the motorcycle as a part of the motorcycle's rear stop lamp or lamps.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section requiring the board of review to serve a copy of the petition on all taxing districts when a change in assessed valuation of $100,000 or more is sought, provides that the service may be by electronic means if the taxing district consents to electronic service and provides the board of review with a valid e-mail address for the purpose of receiving service. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Michael Ward Adler.