Sen. Sally Turner

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that each public institution of higher education shall study and issue a report on the cost-saving methods and practices utilized by the public institution for improving students' timely access to required course materials and the affordability of required course materials. Sets forth the required areas of study that must be included in the report. Provides that the report from each public institution must be submitted to the Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community College Board no later than August 1, 2022. Provides that no later than February 1, 2023, the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall submit a joint report to the Governor and General Assembly that summarizes the findings from the reports submitted by public institutions. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to post each institution's report and the joint report on their respective websites. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 205/9.40 new Adds reference to: New Act Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the College Course Materials Affordability and Equitable Access Collaborative Study Act. Provides that the College Course Materials Affordability and Equitable Access Task Force is created within the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Sets forth the membership of the task force. Provides that the duties of the task force are to (i) conduct a collaborative college course materials affordability and equitable access study, (ii) examine the cost-saving methods and practices utilized by public and private institutions of higher learning in this State and throughout the United States for improving students' equitable first-day-of-class access to required course materials and conduct an affordability comparison of providing students' course materials, including digital learning tools, and (iii) submit a report of its findings to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Contains provisions concerning meetings, expenses, Commission assistance, collaboration, and reporting. Dissolves the task force on March 31, 2024, and repeals the Act on March 31, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Includes the delivery of covered health care services by way of telephone usage in the definition of "telehealth services". Provides that health care services that are covered under an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance must be covered when delivered via telehealth services when clinically appropriate, subject to specified conditions (rather than requiring an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance to comply with specified conditions if it provides coverage for telehealth services). Provides that patient cost-sharing may be no more than if the health care service were delivered in person. Provides that no excepted benefit policy may deny or reduce any benefit to a patient based on the use of clinically appropriate telehealth services in the course of satisfying the policy's benefit criteria. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning health care services that are covered under an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance that must be covered when delivered via telehealth services when clinically appropriate, provides that reimbursement to a health care provider for telehealth services for behavioral health services provided through an interactive telecommunications system shall be made on the same basis, in the same manner, and at the same rate as would be applied for the same services if they had been delivered in-person and shall include reasonable compensation to a facility that serves as the originating site at the time a telehealth service is rendered. Provides that with respect to telehealth benefits provided in an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance, insurers may not (rather than an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance may not) require patients to use a separate panel of health care providers to receive telehealth service coverage and reimbursement; create geographic or facility restrictions or requirements for telehealth services; require patients or health care providers to prove a hardship or access barrier before the approval of telehealth services for coverage or reimbursement; negotiate different contract rates for telehealth services and in-person services for behavioral health services; or impose upon telehealth services utilization review requirements that are unnecessary, duplicative, or unwarranted or impose any treatment limitations, prior authorization, documentation, or recordkeeping requirements that are more stringent than the requirements applicable to the same health care service when rendered in-person. Provides that health care providers shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to privacy laws. Defines terms. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new 225 ILCS 150/5 225 ILCS 150/15 325 ILCS 20/3 from Ch. 23, par. 4153 325 ILCS 20/3b new 325 ILCS 20/11 from Ch. 23, par. 4161 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that a health insurer shall reimburse a network provider for behavioral health services delivered through telehealth on at least the same basis and at the same rate as if delivered in-person. Provides that a health insurer may establish reasonable requirements and parameters for telehealth services. Further amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force to review and study the use of telehealth services in the State with respect to payment and reimbursement parity for health care providers providing such services. Sets forth provisions concerning election of a chairperson, compensation, and appointments of members of the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force. Provides that the task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2021. Provides that the task force is dissolved on January 1, 2023. Amends the Telehealth Act. In provisions concerning use of telehealth, provides that services provided by telehealth shall be consistent with all federal and State privacy, security, and confidentiality laws. Provides that health care professionals shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to specified privacy laws. Provides that health care professionals shall maintain documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Permits an early intervention provider to deliver via telehealth any type of early intervention services authorized under the Act to the extent of his or her scope of practice as established in his or her respective licensing Act consistent with the standards of care for in-person services. Requires parents to be informed of the availability of early intervention services provided through telehealth. Provides that parents shall make the final decision as to whether accepted early intervention services are delivered in person or via telehealth. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.8 new 225 ILCS 150/10 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall cover telehealth services, e-visits, and virtual check-ins rendered by a health care professional when clinically appropriate and medically necessary to insureds, enrollees, and members in the same manner as any other benefits covered under the policy. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance may provide reimbursement to a facility that serves as the originating site at the time a telehealth service is rendered. Sets forth provisions with which coverage for telehealth services shall comply. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance shall notify health care professionals and facilities of any instructions necessary to facilitate billing for telehealth services, e-visits, and virtual check-ins. Provides that the Department of Insurance and the Department of Public Health shall commission a report to the General Assembly and shall submit the report by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Department of Insurance may adopt rules to implement the provisions. Provides that specified provisions are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Removes provisions concerning the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force. Defines terms. Further amends the Telehealth Act. Changes a reference to "telehealth" to "telehealth services." Removes language that provides that health care professionals shall maintain documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that at any time during the 6 months following the effective date of the amendatory Act, an active member of a downstate firefighters' pension fund may apply for transfer to that fund of up to 8 years of his or her creditable service accumulated in a police pension fund that is administered by another unit of local government if that active member was not subject to disciplinary action when he or she terminated employment with that police department. Makes conforming changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective January 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that at any time during the 6 months following the effective date of the amendatory Act, an active member of a downstate firefighters' pension fund may apply for transfer to that fund of up to 8 years of his or her creditable service accumulated in a police pension fund that is administered by a unit of local government (rather than another unit of local government) if that active member was not subject to disciplinary action when he or she terminated employment with that police department. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act. Requires an institution of higher education (including a business, technical, or vocational school) to designate at least one employee who works within the financial aid department, campus housing services, or any other appropriate office or department, as may be determined by the institution, to serve as a liaison between the institution and a homeless student or student in care who is enrolled at the institution. Sets forth the responsibilities of the liaison, the Board of Higher Education, and the institution. Effective August 1, 2022. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Adds the Illinois Community College Board as a governing body with responsibilities under the Act. Requires an institution to create a position to carry out the responsibilities of a liaison if the number of students experiencing homelessness or students in care exceeds 2% (rather than 1%) of the student body. Effective August 1, 2022.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that payment by credit card during the period during which merchandising credit may be extended shall be considered payment. Provides that a retailer may use a credit card to make purchases from a distributor, and the distributor may charge to the retailer any fees associated with that credit card transaction. Provides that manufacturers, non-resident dealers, foreign importers, distributors, or importing distributors may make certain donations related to COVID-19. Provides that retail license holders may accept those donations. Repeals provisions related to the receipt of items of value on January 1, 2024. Authorizes the delivery and carry out of a single serving of wine if specified conditions are met. Provides that the provision concerning delivery and carry out of mixed drinks is repealed on January 1, 2024 (instead of June 2, 2021). Makes other changes. Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, with respect to certain eating and drinking establishments, the obligation to make quarter monthly payments shall be suspended, and the taxpayer shall, instead, make monthly payments as otherwise provided by law. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 235 ILCS 5/6-6.65 new Removes provisions from the introduced bill allowing manufacturers, non-resident dealers, foreign importers, distributors, or importing distributors to make certain donations related to COVID-19. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 35 ILCS 105/9 35 ILCS 120/3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. In the Liquor Control Act of 1934, adds to the definition of "original container" a container that is filled and labeled by the manufacturer and secured by the manufacturer's original unbroken seal. Provides that "sealed container" includes a manufacturer's original container. Provides that a manufacturer's original container shall be affixed with a label or tag that contains the name, license number, and address of the retail licensee that sold the product. Provides for repeal of provisions concerning delivery and carry out of mixed drinks on January 1, 2025 (rather than January 1, 2024). Removes provisions amending the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 235 ILCS 5/6-37 new Provides for repeal of provisions concerning delivery and carry out of mixed drinks on January 3, 2024 (rather than January 1, 2025). Further amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that, from June 10, 2021 through July 10, 2021, a retail licensee may offer a single drink of alcoholic liquor at no cost to a customer as part of a publicly advertised promotion to encourage participation in any COVID-19 vaccination program if the customer provides proof of COVID-19 vaccination received at any time. Provides that drinks may be provided only from 6 p.m. through 10 p.m. Provides that a retail licensee's participation in providing a single drink of alcoholic liquor is voluntary. Allows the retail licensee to determine or restrict which single drink of alcoholic liquor it will provide at no cost but provides that under no circumstances may a single drink of alcoholic liquor exceed 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer. Allows a local liquor control commissioner or local liquor control commission to prohibit retail licensees within its jurisdiction from providing a single drink of alcoholic liquor at no charge by promulgating a rule or policy preempting this Section. Provides that, after receiving a single drink of alcoholic liquor at no charge, no customer shall receive a subsequent drink from the retail licensee providing the drink at no charge or from another retail licensee on the same day or any subsequent day. Requires the retail licensee to develop procedures to verify the identity of the vaccinated customer by comparing the vaccination card to a form of valid federal or State identification. Provides that the retail licensee shall develop procedures to ensure that a customer does not obtain more than a single drink at no charge and the retail licensee shall be subject to penalties imposed by the State Commission if the retail licensee provides more than a single drink to a particular customer at no charge. Provides that the Illinois Liquor Control Commission may publish further guidelines on the implementation of this Section not inconsistent with this Section and shall post them on the State Commission's website. Provides for repeal of the provisions on July 11, 2021. Makes other changes.

Declares March 24, 2021 as Equal Pay Day, August 3, 2021 as Black Women's Equal Pay Day, September 8, 2021 as Native American Women's Equal Pay Day, and October 21, 2021 as Latina Equal Pay Day.

Urges the General Assembly and the Governor's Administration to invest our transportation and infrastructure dollars as promised under Rebuild Illinois to make good on our collective commitment to fix our roads, bridges, and schools while creating jobs and opportunities for all residents of Illinois.

Mourns the death of Nancy Moore.

Mourns the passing of Derald Scott Brown.

Mourns the death of Allan Gieseking of Springfield.