Sen. Doris Turner

Creates the Strengthening Community Media Act. Provides that a State agency shall direct at least 50% of its total spending on advertising to local news organization publications. Sets forth exceptions and reporting requirements. Provides that a local news organization shall not be sold to an out-of-state company without giving written notice 120 days before the sales occurs to specified individuals and organizations. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer that is an eligible news journalist employer shall be allowed a credit against the Personal Property Tax Replacement Income Tax for each qualified journalist hired by the eligible news journalist employer during the taxable year. Provides that an eligible news journalist employer is entitled to a credit against taxes in an amount equal to 50% of the wages paid for up to 150 qualified journalists. Provides that an eligible small business is entitled to a credit against taxes in an amount equal to the amount paid by the eligible small business to local newspapers or broadcasters for advertising in the State. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the Journalism Student Scholarship Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award scholarships to students who will work at a local news organization in the State for a period of not less than 2 years.

Amends the Family Caregiver Act. In a provision requiring the Department on Aging to provide family caregiver support services in compliance with federal requirements, removes a provision exempting from the compliance requirement family caregiver support services for grandparents or older individuals who are relative caregivers.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the State Employees Group Insurance Program (for Illinois State Police officers), a county (for members of the sheriff's office), and a municipality (for members of the police department or fire department) shall provide coverage for joint mental health therapy services for the officer or firefighter and a spouse or partner of the officer or firefighter who resides with officer or firefighter. Specifies that the coverage shall be provided without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement, except that, for Illinois State Police officers and the spouse or partner of the officer under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, only if all resources available to those individuals through the State of Illinois' Employee Assistance Program and any first responder mental health program available are first exhausted. Directs the joint mental health therapy services to be provided by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, a licensed clinical psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed social worker, or a licensed professional counselor. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue a mobile Illinois Identification Card or mobile driver's license to an individual who is otherwise eligible to hold a physical credential, in addition to an identification card or driver's license, if the Secretary of State has issued an identification card or driver's license to the person. Allows the Secretary to enter into agreements or to contract with an agency of the State, another state, the United States, or a third party to facilitate the issuance, use, and verification of a mobile identification card or driver's license issued by the Secretary or another state. Requires the data elements that are used to build an electronic credential to match the individual's current Department record. Requires all mobile identification cards and driver's licenses issued by the Secretary to be in accordance with the most recent standards of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Provides that, when required by law and upon request by law enforcement, a credential holder must provide the credential holder's physical credential. Provides that the display of a mobile identification card and driver's license shall not serve as consent or authorization for a law enforcement officer, or any other person, to search, view, or access any other data or application on the mobile device.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who is convicted of obscene depiction of a purported child is ineligible to receive a school bus driver permit. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that "child pornography" includes the depiction of a part of an actual child under 18 who by manipulation, creation, or modification, appears to be engaged in sexual activity. Creates the offenses of obscene depiction of a purported child and non-consensual dissemination of sexually explicit digitized depictions. Defines offenses and provides criminal penalties for violations. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides for the forfeiture to the State: (1) of any profits or proceeds and any property the person has acquired or maintained in violation of those offenses; (2) any interest in, securities of, claim against, or property or contractual right of any kind affording a source of influence over any enterprise that the person has established, operated, controlled, or conducted in violation of those offenses; and (3) any computer that contains an obscene depiction of a purported child. Amends the Bill of Rights for Children. Provides that under certain conditions, the parent or legal guardian of a child who is the victim of obscene depiction of a purported child may make a victim's impact statement on the impact which the defendant's criminal conduct or the juvenile's delinquent conduct has had upon the child. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a period of probation, a term of periodic imprisonment, or conditional discharge shall not be imposed for specified violations of the offense of obscene depiction of a purported child. Provides for enhanced penalties for specified violations of obscene depiction of a purported child. Provides that the court shall impose a consecutive sentence when the defendant is convicted of specified violations of the offense of obscene depiction of a purported child. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act to provide that a person convicted of obscene depiction of a purported child must register as a sex offender.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Changes the name of the Medication Aide Pilot Program to the Medication Aide Program. Makes conforming changes. Provides that to be approved as a qualified facility under the program (instead of for the duration of the pilot program), a facility must meet specified requirements. Removes provisions that provide that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall submit a report regarding patient safety, efficiency, and errors, as determined by rule, to the General Assembly no later than 6 months after termination of the pilot program. Removes language providing that licenses under the Medication Aide Program Article may not be renewed or restored. Makes corresponding changes.

Amends the Preventing Youth Vaping Act. Restricts a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer from advertising, marketing, or promoting an electronic cigarette in a manner that is likely to cause a parent, legal guardian, teacher, or other adult to mistake the electronic cigarette for a product that is not a tobacco product.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall waive any admissions application fee for a student transferring from a public community college in this State if the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality or county, including a home rule municipality or county, is a self-insurer for purposes of providing health insurance coverage for its employees, the insurance coverage shall include mental health counseling for any employee who is a first responder, including police and corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel, without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided. Specifies that this requirement does not apply to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. Limits home rule powers by providing that the requirement that mental health counseling be included in health insurance coverage is an exclusive power and function of the State.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 shall provide coverage for a colonoscopy determined to be medically necessary for persons aged 39 years old to 75 years old.