Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel

Mourns the passing of the Honorable Raymond Alan Bolden of Joliet.

Mourns the death of Robert Puleo.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires a hospital to provide a plan of correction to the Department of Public Health within 60 days if the hospital demonstrates a pattern or practice of failing to substantially comply with specified requirements or with the hospital's written staffing plan. Allows the Department to impose specified fines on a hospital for failing to comply with written staffing plans for nursing services or plans of correction. Requires money from fines to be deposited into the Hospital Licensure Fund (instead of the Long Term Care Provider Fund). Contains provisions concerning staffing plans. Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Provides that the Department of Public Health may award a total of $500,000 annually in nursing education scholarships. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are employed during the taxable year as nurse educators. Provides that the credit shall be equal to 2.5% of the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 35 ILCS 5/232 new In provisions of the bill amending the Hospital Licensing Act, restores provisions of current law providing that fines for failing to initiate certain criminal background checks or failing to report the death of a person known to be a resident of a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act shall be deposited into the Long Term Care Provider Fund. Reinserts with formatting changes the provisions of the introduced bill concerning fines for failing to implement a written staffing plan for nursing services or failing to substantially comply with a plan of correction. Removes provisions of the bill creating an income tax credit for nurse educators.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may adopt a policy providing that if a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any public or private school in this or any other state, the student must complete the entire term of the suspension or expulsion before being allowed to attend the school district in person (rather than before being admitted into the school district). Provides that this policy must require the provision of an educational continuity plan for suspended or expelled students; sets forth requirements for the plan. Makes changes concerning the State Board of Education's standard form that Illinois school districts are required to provide to any student who is moving out of the school district. Makes other changes concerning the transfer of a student and the suspension or expulsion of a student. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.13a from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.13a 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6 from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-10 105 ILCS 5/22-90 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In provisions about appointment of members by the State Superintendent of Education to a committee relating to kindergarten assessment, includes state policy advocates, early childhood administrators, and other stakeholders as members. Adds, as a goal of the Whole Child Task Force, recommending legislation, policies, and practices to prevent learning loss in students during periods of suspension and expulsion, including, but not limited to, remote instruction. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds one member who represents an organization representing regional offices of education to the membership of the Whole Child Task Force.

Amends the School Code. Requires each member of a school board and the district superintendent to complete a course of instruction approved by the State Board of Education regarding the adoption and administration of a trauma-informed school standard on an annual basis. Provides that the required training shall focus on (i) the recognition of and care for trauma in students and educators, (ii) the relationship between educator wellness and student learning, (iii) the effect of trauma on student behavior and learning, (iv) the prevalence of trauma among students, including the prevalence of trauma among student populations at higher risk of experiencing trauma, and (v) the effects of implicit or explicit bias on recognizing trauma among various racial or ethnic groups of students. Sets forth other provisions concerning the course of instruction. By no later than December 1, 2021, requires the State Board of Education to approve one or more courses of instruction that satisfy the training requirements. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.67 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-16a 105 ILCS 5/10-22.39 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board member's leadership training, requires that professional development leadership training cover trauma-informed practices for students and staff beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. Sets forth what the training must include and who may provide the training. Allows the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement and administer the provisions concerning a school board member's leadership training. In provisions relating to in-service training programs for licensed school personnel and administrators, requires training to identify the warning signs of trauma. Provides for training regarding the adoption and administration of a trauma-informed school standard. Sets forth the information that may be provided in a course of instruction. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Requires that the training in trauma-informed practices for students and staff begin with the 2023-2024 school year rather than the 2022-2023 school year. Makes changes concerning the information that must be included in the training both for school board members and for in-service training programs. Effective January 1, 2023 (rather than immediately).

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that, no later than January 1, 2022 (rather than 2011) the Department of Public Health shall file with the Secretary of State's Office (rather than the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules) proposed rules or proposed amendments to existing rules to certify nursing homes or distinct self-contained units within existing nursing homes (rather than only distinct self-contained units within existing nursing homes) for the behavioral management of persons with a high risk of aggression. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change. Provides that the definition of a "person with high risk of aggression" in proposed rules or proposed amendments to existing rules filed by the Department of Public Health shall not include any person with a serious mental illness who is eligible to receive services under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that no more than 3 facilities shall be certified in the first 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that, prior to the expansion of the number of certified facilities, the Department of Public Health shall collaborate with specified stakeholders to evaluate the efficacy of the certification program.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code shall not apply to the acquisition of modifications or adjustments, including assistive technology devices and services, to provide reasonable accommodations to specified persons. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Modifies provisions providing that the Illinois Procurement Code shall not apply to the acquisition of modifications or adjustments to provide reasonable accommodations to specified persons with a disability. Defines terms. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Provides that acquisition of modifications or adjustments shall be limited to (rather than including, but not limited to) assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, adaptive equipment, repairs, and replacement parts to provide specified reasonable accommodations.

Creates the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program Act. Directs the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create a pilot program for the distribution of grants for the construction of new natural gas pipelines and infrastructure in Pembroke Township. Requires applicants for grants to demonstrate that the grants will result in the construction of a new natural gas pipeline to provide natural gas to the residents of the township. Provides that the Department shall report annually to the Governor and General Assembly beginning in 2022 regarding cost estimates for the Pilot Program, recommendations for improvement to the Pilot Program, and a recommendation as to whether the Pilot Program should be continued. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a gas public utility may apply for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to increase its gas service territory and extend its gas distribution system to serve a designated hardship area. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall, after notice and hearing, grant a certificate of public convenience and necessity if, based upon the application filed with the Commission and the evidentiary record, the Commission finds that specified criteria are satisfied. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Replaces provisions concerning the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program with language providing that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program for a duration of 5 years. Provides that the Department shall distribute grants, subject to appropriation, from moneys in the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Fund for the conversion of appliances to be compatible with natural gas. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for the administration of the Program. Provides that, at a minimum, the rules shall require that the applicant for the grants demonstrate that the grants will result in the conversion of necessary equipment to have the ability to utilize natural gas. Provides that the rules shall allow for conversion grants awarded to residents of Pembroke Township and to Pembroke Township to provide assistance for the use of natural gas and shall ensure that the applicant complies with all other requirements of the rules. In provisions amending the Public Utilities Act, makes changes concerning what a gas public utility applying for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall include in the application and the criteria the Illinois Commerce Commission shall consider in granting the certificate. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall require each long-term care facility in the State, as a condition of facility licensure, to adopt and implement written policies, provide for the availability of technology to facility residents, and ensure that appropriate staff and other capabilities are in place to prevent the social isolation of facility residents. Contains specified requirements for the social isolation prevention policies. Provides that the Department shall distribute civil monetary penalty funds, as approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and any other available federal and State funds, upon request, to facilities for communicative technologies and accessories needed for the purposes of the provisions. Provides that whenever the Department conducts an inspection of a long-term care facility, the Department's inspector shall determine whether the long-term facility is in compliance with the provisions and the policies, protocols, and procedures adopted pursuant to the provisions. Requires the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions within 60 days after the amendatory Act's effective date (and makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act). Contains other provisions. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes language providing that the Department of Public Health shall require each long-term care facility in the State to perform specified actions as a condition of facility licensure. Provides that the social isolation prevention policies shall not be interpreted as a substitute for in person visitation, but shall be wholly in addition to the existing in person visitation policies. Provides that a resident's individualized visitation plan shall give priority to the resident's preferences over the preferences of the resident's representative. Provides that a long-term care facility may apply for (rather than the Department shall distribute) civil monetary penalty fund grants, and may request other available federal and State funds to obtain assistive and supportive technologies and related accessories that would facilitate communication between residents and other family members, friends, and external support systems. Provides that the Department (rather than the Department's inspector) shall determine whether a long-term care facility is in compliance with the provisions whenever the Department conducts an annual licensure and certification survey, when a complaint is received, or as frequently as may be necessary (rather than whenever the Department conducts an inspection of a long-term care facility). Provides that a noncompliant long-term care facility shall be liable to pay an administrative penalty as a Type "C" violation. Provides that implementation of an administrative penalty as a Type "C" violation under the provisions shall not be imposed prior to January 1, 2023. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 In provisions amending the Nursing Home Care Act, provides that the social isolation prevention policies adopted by each long-term care facility shall be consistent with the rights and privileges guaranteed to residents and constraints provided under specified provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Adds provisions regarding legislative findings. Replaces references to specified types of equipment with references to assistive and supportive technology and devices. Requires appropriate staff to develop and update an individualized virtual visitation schedule while taking into account the individual's requests and preferences (rather than to assess and regularly reassess the individual needs and preferences of facility residents). Requires appropriate staff to develop an individualized virtual visitation schedule (rather than an individualized visitation plan) with specified requirements. Provides that specific protocols and procedures shall be developed to ensure that the quantity of assistive and supportive technology and devices maintained on-site at a facility remains sufficient, at all times, to meet the assessed social and activity needs and preferences of each facility resident. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act. Requires private educational lenders to obtain from the relevant institution of higher education at which the borrower will use the loan proceeds certifications regarding cost, enrollment status of the borrower, and financial assistance available to the borrower. Provides that private educational lenders must file reports with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Student Loan Ombudsman. Provides that loan statements must be provided not less frequently than quarterly. Requires institutions of higher education to certify compliance with provisions of the Act to the Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community College Board as a condition to operate. Defines terms. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Revises a cross-reference to certain certifications required under the Act to be made by an institution of higher education. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Defines the term "annual percentage rate" and requires disclosure of that rate. Provides an exemption from reporting for private educational lenders that fund 10 or fewer educational loans in a calendar year. Adds disclosure requirements for income share agreements.