Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the Monetary Award Program, removes a provision that requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to determine the eligibility of and make grants to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit institutions in accordance with specified criteria. Instead, prohibits the Commission from making grants to applicants enrolled at for-profit institutions. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that as a condition of initial eligibility for any benefits under the Code, an applicant must pass a drug screening. Provides that as a condition of continued eligibility for benefits, a recipient must pass random drug screenings as prescribed by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Exempts residents of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or the ID/DD Community Care Act from the required drug screenings. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning participating and covered employees. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Trauma Center Medical Directors or the Trauma Center Medical Directors Committee shall consider Level III Trauma Centers in the types of facilities that can care for certain patients. Provides that Level II and Level III Trauma Centers shall have some essential services available in-house, 24 hours per day and other essential services readily available. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall have the authority to establish and enforce minimum standards for designation and re-designation of 3 levels of trauma centers that meet trauma center national standards. Provides that the Department shall renew trauma center designations every 4 years (instead of every 2 years). Creates provisions concerning Level III Trauma Center and Acute Injury Stabilization Center minimum standards. Authorizes the Department to impose fines on Acute Injury Stabilization Centers. Prohibits facilities from holding themselves out as Acute Injury Stabilization Centers without first obtaining that designation. Requires the Department to appoint an advisory council that shall be charged with making recommendations for pediatric care needs. Removes provisions concerning certain grants from the Department to EMS systems and trauma centers. Requires the Department to designate applicant hospitals that meet the minimum standards established by the Department for pediatric emergency and critical care capabilities. Makes changes to the membership of the State Trauma Advisory Council. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt from disclosure certain information received by the Department. Makes other changes. Effective 270 days after becoming law.

Amends the monetary award program provisions of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that if a recipient of a monetary award program grant is not permitted to continue attending a higher education institution because he or she is not earning the minimum grades needed to continue to attend the institution, then that person may not receive a grant during the following academic year; provides for rulemaking. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to request that the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators or a committee designated by this association from among its membership make recommendations on possible changes to how the Commission determines the number of grants to be offered and to whom they are offered. Requires institutions to provide specified information concerning grant recipients to the Commission, if requested, to demonstrate the value of the program and determine where improvements could be made; makes related changes.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Office of Retail Market Development shall: have the function and duties of promoting competition in the natural gas market for all classes of customers; work with all segments of the natural gas market to identify barriers to competition; and recommend to the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Governor, and the General Assembly programs or legislation needed to eliminate those barriers. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Wayne N. "Buck" Meyer of Tuscola.

Mourns the death of Carl Wayne Miller of Shelbyville.

Amends the Voluntary Payroll Deductions Act of 1983. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes establishment of the Resource Development Bureau discretionary, and makes related changes. Moves language providing that each year the Illinois Power Agency shall prepare a public report for the General Assembly and the Illinois Commerce Commission that shall include certain criteria associated with the procurement of renewable energy resources from under a provision concerning the renewable portfolio standard to a provision concerning Agency annual reports within the Act. In a provision concerning Agency annual reports: provides that the Agency shall report annually each February 15 (currently December 15) on the operations and transactions of the Agency; removes a provision regarding reporting the quantity, price, and rate of all renewable resources purchased under the electricity procurement plans for electric utilities; and provides that average quantity (rather than total quantity) be used for certain reporting criteria. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.