Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to enter into one or more cooperative arrangements with safety-net providers to provide primary, secondary, or tertiary managed health care services as a managed care community network with a monthly total capitation amount not to exceed $100,000,000. Defines "safety-net provider" to mean a non-government owned managed care community network operating and located in Cook County with at least 80% ownership by one or more safety-net hospitals. Provides that a safety-net provider shall be deemed a managed care community network for purposes of the Code only to the extent that it provides services to participating individuals. Provides that a non-government owned safety-net provider is entitled to contract with the Department with respect to Cook County only. Provides that a safety-net provider is not required to accept enrollees who do not reside within Cook County.
Sponsored bills
Urges the United States Congress to enact federal legislation granting statehood to the people of Washington, D.C.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for dependents of the taxpayer. Provides that the maximum amount of the credit is $700 per qualified dependent of the taxpayer. Provides that the maximum amount shall be reduced by $24 for each $1,000 by which the taxpayer's net income exceeds $75,000 in the case of a joint return or $50,000 in the case of any other form of return. Defines "qualified dependent". Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes legislative declarations and findings regarding the deployment of energy storage systems. Makes it a goal of the Illinois Power Agency to include implementing procurement of energy storage credits to cost-effectively deploy contracted energy storage systems. Provides that the Agency is authorized to conduct competitive solicitations to procure contracted energy storage credits sufficient to achieve, at minimum, certain energy storage standards. Provides that the Agency has the power to request, review, and accept proposals, execute contracts, and procure energy storage credits. Provides that the Agency shall develop a storage procurement plan that results in the electric utilities contracting for energy storage credits from contracted energy storage systems in specified amounts. Provides that within 90 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Agency shall develop an energy storage procurement plan. Provides that for all procurements of energy storage credits, the Agency shall direct respondents to offer a strike price. Provides that all procurements under these provisions shall comply with the geographic requirements of the Act and shall follow the procurement processes and procedures described in the Act and the Public Utilities Act. Authorizes the Agency to develop and implement a firm energy resource procurement plan. Provides that no later than December 31, 2026 and every 2 years thereafter, the Agency shall conduct an analysis to determine whether the contracted quantity of energy storage in energy storage capacity and energy storage duration is sufficient to support the State's renewable energy standards and carbon emission standards. Defines terms. Makes corresponding changes in the Public Utilities Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that the operating procedures of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board may provide for the inclusion of nonvoting, ex officio members on the Board. With respect to a for-profit or not-for-profit entity being recognized as an educator preparation institution, provides that any for-profit or not-for-profit entity with a presence in this State must also be approved by the Board of Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board (instead of providing that any for-profit or not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the Board of Higher Education).
Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Specifies that the notice in contested case hearings must include an enclosure that notifies the recipient of the ability to request interpretive assistance for the hearing and to receive language assistance in translating the contents of the notice. Provides that an administrative law judge has the duty to inquire and determine whether a self-represented litigant or witness in a hearing needs interpretive assistance to participate in or understand the hearing. Authorizes any self-represented litigant, witness, or indigent person to request, at any time during the course of a hearing, interpretive assistance needed to participate in or understand the hearing. Provides that, if interpretive assistance is requested by a self-represented litigant, a witness, or an indigent person or if interpretive assistance is determined to be necessary by the administrative law judge, the administrative agency must appoint a foreign language interpreter at no cost to the person in need of the assistance for use in a substantive hearing. Authorizes an administrative agency to provide interpretive assistance during a nonsubstantive hearing through use of an interpreter who is not a foreign language interpreter, provided the administrative law judge examines the interpreter for competency for the purposes of the nonsubstantive hearing. Requires all persons appointed to provide interpretive assistance in substantive and nonsubstantive hearings to make certain affirmations. Contains provisions concerning waiver of these language assistance provisions.
Creates the Department of Early Childhood Act. Creates the Department of Early Childhood to begin operation on July 1, 2024 and transfers to it certain rights, powers, duties, and functions currently exercised by various agencies of State Government. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 the Department of Early Childhood shall be the lead State agency for administering and providing early childhood education and care programs and services to children and families including: home-visiting services; early intervention services; preschool services; child care services; licensing for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes; and other early childhood education and care programs and administrative functions historically managed by the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services. Makes conforming changes to various Acts including the Department of Human Services Act, the Illinois Early Learning Council Act, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Early Intervention Services System Act and the Children and Family Services Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes changes to "brownfield site photovoltaic project" definition. Deletes provision that requires the Agency to develop a method to optimize procurement of the renewable energy credits from proposed utility-scale projects that are located in communities eligible to receive grants pursuant to the Energy Community Reinvestment Act. Provides criteria for the Agency to use to rank the bids for evaluation and selection for the project. Provides that if a project meets one or more of the criteria the Agency shall apply the bid price adjustment two times in ranking and evaluating the bid submitted for the project. Outlines the intent of the General Assembly in enacting the provision. Effective immediately.
Amends the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act. Defines terms. Provides that it shall be the goal of this State that at least 20% of all food and food products purchased by State agencies and State-owned facilities shall be local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers. Provides for a preference in the awarding of State contracts to socially disadvantaged farmers. Requires State agencies to develop a system of tracking the purchase of farm fresh produce and food products as provided.
Creates the Farmer Equity and Innovation Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, creates the Farmer Equity and Innovation Center at the University of Illinois Extension. Provides that the Farmer Equity and Innovation Center shall: (1) ensure the continued economic viability of small-scale and moderate-scale diversified farms and ranches by creating a coordinated, statewide program to support the operators of those farms and ranches, prioritizing limited resource farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; (2) establish a Farmer Equity and Innovation Program administered by the Center; (3) utilize the University of Illinois Small Farm Advisors, and require the University to increase its Small Farm Advisor positions to 6 in number; (4) include applied research on specified subjects concerning farming and ranching in Illinois, outreach regarding those subjects, and informational services on assistance provided by or through the Center or nonprofit organizations designated by the Center; (5) authorize the Program to include special training for new and beginning farmers and ranchers, with priority given to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; and (6) conduct a study to determine and issue an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly containing a demographic breakdown of farmers and ranchers who participate in the Program.