Sen. Chapin Rose

Mourns the death of Darrell Dean Beazly of Mansfield.

Mourns the death of Mary Puzey.

Mourns the death of E. Clyde Foster of Monticello.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Permits EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or paramedics who have successfully completed a Department of Public Health approved course in the administration of epinephrine to administer epinephrine from a vial.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals to adopt, implement, periodically update, and submit to the Department of Public Health evidence-based protocols for the early recognition and treatment of patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock that are based on generally accepted standards of care. Requires the protocols to contain certain components, including components specific to the identification, care, and treatment of adults and of children. Requires hospitals to submit the protocols to the Department no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that protocols shall be resubmitted at the request of the Department, but not more frequently than once every 2 years unless the Department identifies hospital-specific performance concerns. Requires hospitals to report certain sepsis-related data to the Department. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to publish guidelines to assist hospitals in developing the sepsis protocols. Contains provisions concerning rulemaking.

Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Provides that all members of the Illinois National Guard shall undergo pre-deployment and post-deployment testing for depleted uranium. Requires the Department of Military Affairs to cover the costs associated with such testing. Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide assistance to any resident of Illinois who served on active duty for any component of the U.S. Armed Forces, excluding the Illinois National Guard, who requests a pre-deployment or post-deployment test for depleted uranium. Effective June 30, 2017.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Adds the percentage of Medicaid funded residents as one of the factors the Department of Healthcare and Family Services must considered in grouping nursing facilities for purposes of payment. Provides that a resident of a nursing facility whose application for long term care benefits is awaiting final action shall be included in the calculation as a Medicaid funded resident.

Amends the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. Makes a technical change in the Section concerning definitions.

Creates the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act. Requires all public institutions of higher education to participate in the Illinois Articulation Initiative through submission and review of their courses for statewide transfer consistency. Requires (i) all sending and receiving institutions to maintain a complete Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum package to ensure seamless transfer; (ii) all institutions to maintain up to 4 core courses in an Illinois Articulation Initiative major, provided the institution has equivalent majors and courses; and (iii) all institutions to provide faculty, as appointed by the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, to serve on panels in the review of courses. Provides that all courses approved for Illinois Articulation Initiative codes must be directly transferable either as a part of the General Education Core Curriculum package or as equivalent major courses, insofar as a specific major is offered at the receiving institution. Provides that students receiving the General Education Core Curriculum package must not be required to take additional freshmen or sophomore level general education courses and must be able to transfer seamlessly. Sets forth the duties of the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board.

Amends the Health Carrier External Review Act. Provides that each health carrier shall submit a report on all requests for external review to the Director of Insurance by June 1 (rather than March 1) of each year. Effective January 1, 2017.