Sen. Rachel Ventura

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors John Frederick Anderson of Frankfort, who passed away on November 2, 2024, and extends condolences to his family and friends. The bill formally acknowledges his life as a generous community member, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, while noting his willingness to help others. It directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to Anderson's family as an expression of sympathy from the Illinois Senate.

Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Establishes the role of HIV Treatment Innovation Coordinator to be housed within the Department. Provides that the Department shall create and fill the Coordinator role within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the Coordinator to develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to adopt a Rapid Start model for HIV treatment as the standard of care. Requires compensation and benefits for the Coordinator be at the Program Director level. Describes the specific job responsibilities of the Coordinator. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections, including any laboratory costs of processing the home test kit, that are deemed medically necessary or appropriate and ordered directly by a clinician or furnished through a standing order for patient use based on clinical guidelines and individual patient health needs. Makes a conforming change to the Illinois Public Aid Code regarding coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections. Amends the AIDS Confidentiality Act. Creates the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Provides that Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications shall be processed within 72 hours after the time of submission. Provides for conditional approval of Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications within 24 hours after time of submission. Requires Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applicants to document residency within the State of Illinois. Provides for 8 Rapid Start for HIV Treatment pilot sites established by the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Department shall publish a report on the operation of the pilot program 15 months after the pilot sites have launched. Establishes requirements for the report, requires that the report be shared with the General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and requires that the report be made available on the Department's Internet website. Amends the County Jail Act. Creates new annual adult correctional facility public inspection report requirements on the topics of HIV and AIDS.

Amends the Delinquent Minors Article of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Adds a Part concerning Fitness to Stand Trial. Specifies the unfitness standard for a child. Sets forth procedures to raise the issue of the unfitness of a child. Specifies the burden of proof and a presumption. Provides requirements for a fitness evaluation and hearing to determine the fitness of a child. Provides the requirements for the services to attain fitness, the period to obtain fitness, initial and subsequent progress reports, periodic hearings, and in-court assistance to render a child fit. Specifies time credit and sentencing guidelines for a child who attains fitness. Provides for the legal disposition of a child if fitness cannot be attained. Contains other provisions. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall not enter into a contract with a managed care organization that relies on a pharmacy benefit manager that does not do the following: (i) utilize a pharmacy reimbursement methodology of the lesser of national average drug acquisition cost plus a professional dispensing fee as determined by the Department, the wholesale acquisition cost plus a professional dispensing fee as determined by the Department, or the usual and customary charge by the pharmacy; (ii) reimburse for a legally valid claim at a rate not less than the rate in effect at the time the original claim adjudication was submitted at the point of sale; (iii) agree to move to a transparent pass-through pricing model, in which the pharmacy benefit manager discloses the administrative fee as a percentage of the professional dispensing costs to the Department; (iv) agree to not create new pharmacy administration fees and to not increase current fees more than the rate of inflation; and (v) agree to not terminate an existing contract with a pharmacy licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act for the sole reason of the additional professional dispensing fee authorized under item (i). Requires each pharmacy benefit manager that receives reimbursement for medical services, either directly or through a Medicaid managed care health plan, to submit by January 15, 2026, and each January 15 thereafter, certain data and information to the Department for the previous fiscal year, including: (1) the total number of prescriptions that were dispensed; (2) the aggregate wholesale acquisition cost for each drug on its formulary; (3) the aggregate amount of rebates, discounts, and price concessions that the pharmacy benefit manager received for each drug on its formulary; (4) the aggregate amount of administrative fees that the pharmacy benefit manager received from all pharmaceutical manufacturers; and (5) any other information considered necessary by the Department. Requires the Department to submit such data and information to the General Assembly and to the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Provides that such information is confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Declares November 11 through November 15, 2024 as School Psychology Week in the State of Illinois and commends observance of this week to all of our citizens.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall place no additional restrictions, limitations, or requirements than that provided by the statute creating the procedure for medical release. Provides that upon a determination that the petitioner is eligible for a hearing on medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall: (1) provide public notice of the petitioner's name, docket number, counsel, and hearing date; and (2) provide a copy of the evaluation and any medical records provided by the Department of Corrections to the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney upon scheduling the institutional hearing. Provides that a hearing on a petitioner's application for medical release is public unless the petitioner requests a non-public hearing. Provides that members of the public shall be permitted to freely attend public hearings on medical release without restriction. Provides that upon denying an eligible petitioner's application for medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall publish a decision letter outlining the reason for denial. Provides that the decision letter must include an explanation of each statutory factor and the estimated annual cost of the petitioner's continued incarceration, including the petitioner's medical care. Makes technical changes.

Creates the Securing All Futures through Equitable Reinvestment (SAFER) Communities and Small Business Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a SAFER Communities Wage Subsidy Pilot Program. Provides that the wage subsidy shall apply to no more than 6,000 participants. Requires the Department to maintain a database of all participants for the duration of the incentive period. Provides that individuals seeking to participate in the pilot program shall register with the Department on or after January 1, 2024. Requires the Department to verify individuals' eligibility to participate in the pilot program by checking their employment and felony conviction history. Contains provisions concerning certificates of eligibility for wage subsidies under the pilot program; the monetary amount of monthly wage subsidy payments awarded under the pilot program; certain conditions program participants must satisfy to receive monthly wage subsidy payments; the maximum amount of wage subsidies allowed under the pilot program; promotion efforts for the pilot program conducted by the Department of Corrections; and other matters. Requires the Department to establish a Returning Citizen and Small Business Grant Program. Sets forth requirements a small business must meet to be eligible for a grant under the program. Provides that an eligible small business shall be awarded grants in the amount of $2,500 per new qualifying returning citizen hired. Limits the total annual amount in grants an eligible small business may receive under the grant program. Contains provisions concerning data collection and reporting requirements for the Secretary of Human Services. Provides that implementation of the Act is subject to appropriation. Permits the Department of Human Services to use State or federal funding to administer the SAFER Communities Wage Subsidy Pilot Program and the Returning Citizen and Small Business Grant Program. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections. Provides that the Act is repealed on December 31, 2029. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of James Henry "Jim" Reibel, a resident of Joliet who passed away in April 2024. The document formally records his personal history, including his military service, career as an accountant and realtor, and his family life, while expressing the Senate's condolences to his survivors. It directs that a copy of the resolution be given to Reibel's family as a gesture of sympathy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors the life of Angel Duran Arias, a resident of Joliet who passed away in July 2024. The document formally expresses the Illinois Senate's condolences to his wife, children, and extended family while acknowledging his work history and community involvement. It does not create new laws or alter policies but serves as a ceremonial gesture to recognize his contributions and offer support to his loved ones.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Marilyn A. McGuire, who passed away on July 4, 2024, and serves as a formal expression of grief from the Illinois Senate. The document outlines her personal history, including her upbringing in Joliet, her career in education and development, and her active involvement in local community organizations. It also lists her surviving family members and resolves to present a copy of the resolution to her family as a gesture of sympathy.