Sen. Sally Turner

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that there is a rebuttable presumption that the testimony of a victim who is a child under 13 years of age shall testify outside the courtroom and the child's testimony shall be shown in the courtroom by means of a closed circuit television. Provides that this presumption may be overcome if the defendant can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the child victim will not suffer severe emotional distress.

Creates the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act. Provides that all records and documents are presumed to be accessible by the court and the clerk of the court. Requires a clerk of the court to limit access to case information and documents that are not identified as public to the clerk of the court or limited supervisory staff through the use of access codes restricting access. Provides that access to court records and documents remotely over the Internet shall be as authorized by the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy. Provides definitions for case information and documents that are identified as public, impounded, confidential, sealed, and expunged. Requires the Supreme Court to establish a process for access to court files that are limited by statute or court rule, and to create a statewide standardized form to request access to documents in a court file that is restricted in any manner. Provides that the Act applies to all court records and documents related to any civil or criminal proceeding brought before any court in the State that are created and maintained by a State court. Makes conforming changes in the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Privacy of Child Victims of Criminal Sexual Offenses Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, the Communicable Disease Report Act, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, and the Probate Act of 1975.

Amends the Law Enforcement and Fire Fighting Medal of Honor Act. Provides that the Director of the Illinois State Police shall serve as chair of the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee. Provides that, after expiration of the initial appointments, all members shall hold office for 2 years, with terms expiring on the second Monday in January immediately following the expiration of their terms and every 2 years thereafter. The Governor may remove a member for incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or inability to serve.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township's board may either expend funds directly or may enter into any cooperative agreement or contract with specified entities to provide its residents with health services, including mental, behavioral, eye, dental, or other healthcare. Provides that the township board may approve the application of a different, publicly available, professional or academically recognized standard of need in determining eligibility for subsidized day care. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that persons shall not be determined ineligible for case assistance under the General Assistance Article of the Code based upon a conviction for any drug-related felony under State or federal law. In provisions concerning the General Assistance program, permits a local government unit to provide assistance to households under its General Assistance program following a disaster proclamation issued by the Governor if the local governmental unit is within the area designated under the proclamation. Provides that a local governmental unit may provide assistance under its General Assistance program under a service that complies with specified provisions of the Township Code. Provides that before a local government provides assistance, the board of the local government shall approve the expenditures of such assistance.

Creates the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission Act. Provides that the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission is created and shall exercise jurisdiction with respect to the duties and powers delegated to it under the Act within the following port districts and counties: the Seneca Regional Port District, the Ottawa Port District, the Illinois Valley Regional Port District, the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District, and the Havana Port District and Fulton, Mason, Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, LaSalle, and Grundy counties. Provides that the Commission shall (1) coordinate and synchronize common efforts and initiatives in the Commission area to enhance the reporting and benefits of statistical data; (2) make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, Congress, and federal agencies on regional issues that impact multimodal transportation, economic development, environmental sustainability, and climate resiliency of the Commission area; (3) coordinate and synchronize common efforts and initiatives on the larger Illinois Waterway with the Mid-America Port Commission and the Joliet Regional Port District; (4) coordinate and synchronize federal activities associated with the nonfederal sponsorship of the M-55 Illinois-Gulf Marine Highway; and (5) request and assist in requesting funding for the Commission area and the surrounding areas, as the Commission deems necessary. Includes provisions relating to the organization of the Commission and the Commission's powers. Effective immediately.

Creates the Essential Support Person Act. Provides that a resident or the resident's representative may designate a primary essential support person and a secondary essential support person who may visit the resident despite general visitation restrictions imposed on other visitors, provided that the primary essential support person or secondary essential support person complies with any rules adopted by the Department of Public Health to protect the health, safety, and well-being of residents. Tasks the Department with establishing a statewide policy for visitation with a resident. Requires the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman to perform specified duties. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Requires housing authorities to develop and implement policies granting housing preferences to veterans who are homeless. Provides that such preferences shall be cumulative with any other preference allowed by a housing authority for which the veteran qualifies. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to supersede any federal law or regulation.

Amends Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes the testing requirement for motorcycle operators who are under the age of 18.

Appropriates $7,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of making a grant to the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living to administer and implement the Home Modification Program. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Provides that a person who provides teledentistry is considered to practice dentistry under the Act. Provides that a dentist practicing teledentistry is subject to the same standard of care as if those services were being delivered in a clinic or office setting. Provides that a patient receiving dental services through teledentistry shall be provided with the name, direct telephone number, and physical practice address of the treating dentist who will be involved in the teledentistry services. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may adopt rules to implement the provisions of the use of teledentistry services. Provides that it shall be a violation of the Act for a provider of dental services utilizing care through teledentistry to require a patient to sign an agreement that limits in any way the patient's ability to write a review of services received or file a complaint with the Department or other regulatory agency. Provides that a person may not sell a clear aligner to a patient unless the person has received written or electronic confirmation from a dentist licensed in this State that the patient has received an intraoral or extraoral dental examination and has had a review of new or recently conducted x-rays, panoramic x-rays, computed tomography, bone imaging scans, or other appropriate diagnostic imaging sufficient to allow the dentist to detect conditions in the patient that would preclude or contraindicate the provision of safe orthodontic treatment. Provides that a person who sells a clear aligner to a patient shall maintain any documents for not less than 7 years after the date of sale. Defines "informed consent" and "clear aligner". Changes the definitions of "patient of record" and "teledentistry".