Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the month of October of each year is designated as Italian Heritage Month to be observed throughout the State as a month to recognize the contributions and influence of Italians on American history, achievement, culture, and innovation. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 490/9 new Adds reference to: 25 ILCS 120/6.7 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Compensation Review Act. Prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 for State government legislative and executive elected officers and appointees in positions for which the Compensation Review Board previously recommended or determined compensation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Declares that all changes to the existing nursing facility direct care reimbursement rate methodologies and to the bed assessment and collection procedures must be approached with caution, executed deliberately, and held to the highest of standards in order to protect nursing facility residents from disruption in care, protect workers from lost wages and jobs, and protect providers from the increased instability within the industry. Provides that a Nursing Facility Oversight Committee (Committee) shall be named by the 4 legislative leaders to oversee, assess, and provide direction to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services as it relates to long term care services. Contains provisions on the Committee's composition, meetings, proxy voting, and other matters. Requires the Department to seek the advice and consent of the Committee prior to filing emergency or permanent administrative rules with the Secretary of State or submitting Medicaid State Plan amendments and all correspondence to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Requires the Department to prepare transition plans for the redesign of the direct care reimbursement rate methodologies and the assessment tax schedule and collection proceedings. Contains provisions concerning advanced notice to nursing facilities of all payment, award, and rate changes; a quarterly direct care per diem reimbursement rate for each nursing facility; direct care reimbursement rate components subject to redesign; establishment of a single quarterly non-Medicare occupied bed varied tax assessment; State Plan amendments to permit expedited implementation of the redesigned bed assessment; compliance requirements for managed care organizations; penalties for non-compliance; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer's employer on behalf of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer on behalf of an employee of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Provides that the deductions are limited to the first $5,250 of such assistance so furnished to any individual. Effective January 1, 2023.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the month of October of each year is designated as Italian Heritage Month to be observed throughout the State as a month to recognize the contributions and influence of Italians on American history, achievement, culture, and innovation.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 and that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall provide coverage for vaginal estrogen, and that coverage for vaginal estrogen shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 and that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall include coverage for one or more therapeutic equivalent versions of vaginal estrogen in its formulary (rather than provide coverage for vaginal estrogen), and that a policy is not required to include all therapeutic equivalent versions of vaginal estrogen in its formulary so long as at least one is included and covered without cost sharing and in accordance with the provisions. Provides that if an individual's attending provider recommends a particular vaginal estrogen product or its therapeutic equivalent version approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration based on the provider's determination, the issuer must cover that service or item without cost sharing. Provides that coverage for vaginal estrogen shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided, except to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to specified federal law. Defines "therapeutic equivalent version".

Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Removes language providing that, on and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Public Health shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by the Act or the Illinois Public Aid Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a specified person or entity who provides an acute exam to a sexual assault survivor under the Act who is uninsured or receives medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code shall receive reimbursement for each acute exam provided in the amount of $3,000 for acute exams provided to adult sexual assault survivors or to pediatric sexual assault survivors. Provides that the rates of reimbursement may be increased by the Department of Public Health. Provides that a sexual assault survivor with a nonprimary insurance policy may opt out of billing the sexual assault survivor's private insurance provider in a situation in which a concern for safety or confidentiality exists. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who may claim a qualifying student as a dependent is allowed a credit of up to $2,000 for qualified tuition and fee expenses paid by the taxpayer. Provides that the term qualifying student means a person who (i) is a resident of the State, (ii) is under the age of 24 at the close of the school year for which a credit is sought, and (iii) during the school year for which a credit is sought, is a full-time student enrolled in a program at a qualifying college or university. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $246,800,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a full second year implementation of all of the rate methodology recommendations contained within the Illinois Developmental Disabilities Services Rate Study Regarding Residential Services and Related Supports. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the School Code. Provides that if an employing board determines to dismiss a teacher during the probationary period (instead of in the last year of a specified probationary period), the employing board must provide a written notice for dismissal with specific reasons for dismissal. Provides that any full-time teacher who does not receive written notice from the employing board at least 45 days before the end of any school term and whose performance does not require dismissal (instead of whose performance does not require dismissal after the fourth probationary year) shall be re-employed for the following school term. Effective immediately.

Amends the Evaluation of Employees Article of the School Code. In a provision concerning the development of evaluation plans, provides that each school district shall determine research-based and proven evaluation practices (instead of incorporating the use of data and indicators on student growth). Provides that the practices may include incorporating the use of data and indicators on student growth, student surveys, teacher self-evaluation, goal-setting practices, peer-to-peer feedback, practices developed and approved by a specified joint committee, or practices recommended by the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council. Makes conforming changes. Provides that if a joint committee does not reach agreement on an evaluation plan, then the evaluation rating shall be based on professional practice as established by the district's evaluation plan (instead of implementing a model evaluation plan). Provides that the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council may develop nonregulatory guidance on research-based and proven evaluation practices.