Photo of Scott M. Bennett
D Illinois Senate · District 52

Sen. Scott M. Bennett

Compare
Total votes
0
all sessions
Attendance
-
of floor votes
With party
0%
of cast votes
Bipartisan score
0%
crosses aisle rarely
Sponsored
784
bills & resolutions
Committees
0
assignments
784 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
784
Primary
78
Co-sponsor
706
This page
784
matching current filters
Primary SB 1697
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Lead sponsor
GATA-HIGHER ED AWARDS

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that for public institutions of higher education, specified provisions of the Act apply only to awards funded by federal pass-through awards from a State agency to public institutions of higher education (currently, also applies to awards funded by State appropriations). Provides that the Act shall recognize specified provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations as applicable to public institutions of higher education. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 740/2-3 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 663 30 ILCS 740/2-4 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 664 30 ILCS 740/2-5 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 665 30 ILCS 740/2-5.1 30 ILCS 740/2-7 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 667 30 ILCS 740/2-9 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 669 30 ILCS 740/2-10 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 670 30 ILCS 740/2-11 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 671 30 ILCS 740/2-12 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 672 30 ILCS 740/2-13 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 673 30 ILCS 740/2-14 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 674 30 ILCS 740/2-15.2 30 ILCS 740/2-15.3 30 ILCS 740/2-17 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 678 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with changes. Provides that the requirements established under the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act do not apply to allocations of State revenues paid over by the Comptroller to units of local government and other taxing districts pursuant to the State Revenue Sharing Act from the Local Government Distributive Fund or the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund, or to allotments of State motor fuel tax revenues distributed by the Department of Transportation to units of local government pursuant to the Motor Fuel Tax Law from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund or the Transportation Renewal Fund. Amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act. Provides that commencing with State fiscal year 2022 programs, and for each fiscal year thereafter, all appropriations made under the provisions of the Act shall not constitute a grant program subject to the requirements of the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall approve programs of proposed expenditures and services submitted by participants under specified provisions. Provides that in the event the Department is prevented from processing applications or certifying that a participant meets specified requirements due to extraordinary circumstances beyond its control, the certification deadline for that application shall be stayed until the Department is able to process and certify the same. Provides that notice from the Department, as well as an explanation of the extraordinary circumstances, shall be provided to each participant affected by such delay. Provides for the adoption of rules to govern participants. Provides requirements for participant applications for funding concerning a program of proposed expenditures and services. Provides additional requirements for specified units of local government when applying for the approval of the program of proposed expenditures and services. Specifies further requirements for participants to receive funding. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 27, 2021 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 2339
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
PRIVACY OF CHILD VICTIMS

Amends the Privacy of Child Victims of Criminal Sexual Offenses Act. Provides that law enforcement agency records and all circuit court records relating to any investigation or proceeding pertaining to a criminal sexual offense shall be restricted to exclude the identity of a child victim, and shall not be restricted to exclude the identity of any child who is a victim of such criminal sexual offense or alleged criminal sexual offense only if a court order is issued authorizing the disclosure of a particular case or particular cases records maintained by any circuit court clerk. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as introduced, with the following change: Clarifies language related to restricting the identity of child victims of criminal sexual offenses or alleged criminal sexual offenses by providing that such identity shall be restricted unless a court order is issued authorizing the removal of such restriction of a particular case record or particular records of cases maintained by any circuit court clerk. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Further amends the Privacy of Child Victims of Criminal Sexual Offenses Act. Provides that an advocate and victim's attorney may be exempt from a requirement to exclude a victim's identity in certain records (in addition to the exemptions provided in current law). Provides that the copy of the criminal history record information to be provided under a specified provision shall exclude the identity of the child victim. Provides that, in a provision concerning criminal sexual offense and school districts, a superintendent shall be restricted from revealing the identity of the victim. Provides that nothing in this Article precludes or may be used to preclude a mandated reporter from reporting child abuse or child neglect as required under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that the Attorney General and Assistant Attorneys General may be exempt from a requirement to exclude a victim's identity in certain records.

Signed into law Aug 27, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 2746
Signed into law · Illinois House · Lead sponsor
KNOW BEFORE YOU OWE ED LOANS

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.

Signed into law Aug 26, 2021 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 3950
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
HIGHR ED-DUAL CREDIT-DISABILTY

Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Provides that a community college district shall, upon the request of a school district within the jurisdiction of the community college district, enter into a partnership agreement with the school district to offer dual credit courses for students with intellectual disabilities. Provides that courses shall include, if appropriate, support outlined in the student's individualized education program and support provided under a significantly modified curriculum. Provides that within one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, every community college district in this State shall create a plan outlining a partnership agreement with a school district to offer dual credit courses for students with intellectual disabilities; requires the plan to be updated every 3 years thereafter. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Within one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires each community college district to develop a plan to offer dual credit courses to high school students with disabilities enrolled in school districts located within the jurisdiction of the community college district who have an individualized education program under the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code and who do not otherwise meet the academic criteria for dual credit course eligibility pursuant to the Act. Sets forth requirements concerning the plan. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/14-8.03 from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.03 110 ILCS 27/16 110 ILCS 805/3-29.14 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code in provisions concerning transition services. Makes changes relating to the definition of terms. Provides that, as a component of transition planning, a school district shall provide a student with information about the school district's career and technical education (CTE) opportunities and postsecondary CTE opportunities; sets forth what the CTE information must include. Provides that a student in high school with an individualized education program may enroll in the school district's CTE program at any time if participation in a CTE program is consistent with the student's transition goals. Makes changes concerning the participants in the transition planning process. Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Requires a high school and community college partnership agreement to include the collaborative process and criteria by which a school district and a community college district shall work to ensure that individual students with disabilities have access to dual credit courses, provided that those students are able to meet the criteria for entry into a dual credit course; sets forth other requirements. Amends the Public Community College Act. Requires each community college district to provide access to higher education for students with disabilities. Encourages each community college to offer for-credit and non-credit courses as deemed appropriate for the individual student based on the student's abilities, interests, and postsecondary transition goals, with the appropriate individualized supplementary aids and accommodations. Strongly encourages each community college to have its disability services coordinator or the coordinator's representative participate either in person or remotely in meetings held by high schools within the community college district to provide information to the student's individualized education program team about the community college and the availability of courses and programs at the community college. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 20, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 1855
Signed into law · Illinois House · Lead sponsor
DCEO-INNOVATION VOUCHER PROG

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is authorized to establish the Illinois Innovation Voucher Program for the purpose of fostering research and development in key industry clusters leading to the creation of new products and services that can be marketed by Illinois businesses. Provides that the Department may award innovation vouchers to eligible businesses to offset a portion of expenses incurred through a collaborative research engagement with an Illinois institution of higher education. Provides for the award of matching funds in the form of innovation vouchers. Provides eligibility requirements for receiving innovation vouchers. Provides requirements for administering the Program. Provides for the adoption of rules. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 605/605-1055 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 605/605-1060 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Removes provision allowing the Illinois Innovation Voucher Program to be administered by an Illinois non-profit membership organization whose mission is to cultivate innovation and technology-based economic development in Illinois. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 20, 2021 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 1646
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
PENS CD-TRS-PRIVATE SCHOOL

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows a member to establish optional credit for up to 2 years of service as a teacher or administrator employed by a private school recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education, provided that the teacher (i) was certified under the law governing the certification of teachers at the time the service was rendered, (ii) applies in writing on or before June 30, 2023, (iii) supplies satisfactory evidence of the employment, (iv) completes at least 10 years of contributing service as a teacher, and (v) pays the required contribution. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 40 ILCS 5/16-158 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 16-158 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Further amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that requires an employer to make an additional contribution to the System for certain salary increases greater than 6%, excludes salary increases resulting from teaching summer school on or after May 1, 2021 and before September 15, 2022. Effective immediately. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 1646, as amended by HA 2, would reopen a window for teachers to apply for optional service credit for work done in approved private schools as teachers and administrators. The Teachers' Retirement System reports having 3,463 members who have applied for this private school credit in previous window openings, as described below. TRS estimates that the fiscal impact of this bill would be low, as the member must pay both the member and employer contributions, plus the actuarially assumed rate of interest to take advantage of this credit. The fiscal impact to TRS as a result of exempting summer school teaching from the 6% Final Average Salary Cap is unknown, as it is not known how many teachers would accrue pensionable salary in excess of 6% from the previous school year with the same employer via summer school teaching rendered between May 1, 2021 and September 15, 2022. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Teachers Retirement System) Actuarial cost impact. SB 1646 as amended would have an unknown impact to TRS. Changes allowing optional service purchase under the bill are designed to be fully paid for by the related member contributions. Changes in required school district contributions would likely create some additional cost to the State of Illinois, but the total cost cannot be calculated without knowing the actual behavior of individual school districts and employees. Administrative cost impact. Administering the provisions of this bill would not increase the administrative costs ofTRS.

Signed into law Aug 20, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1989
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
PEN CD-TRS-RETURN TO SERVICE

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that through June 30, 2023 (instead of June 30, 2021), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 20, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 3178
Signed into law · Illinois House · Lead sponsor
SCH CD-AG COMMITTEE-MEMBERSHIP

Amends the School Code. Provides that the committee of agriculturalists established to represent the various and diverse areas of the agricultural industry in Illinois shall, among other duties, advise the State Board of Education on the administration of the agricultural education line item appropriation and agency rulemaking that affects agricultural education educators. Sets forth changes in the composition of the committee's membership.

Signed into law Aug 20, 2021 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 711
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REFORM ACT

Creates the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides requirements concerning disclosure and review of prior authorization requirements, denial of claims or coverage by a utilization review organization, and the implementation of prior authorization requirements or restrictions. Provides requirements concerning a utilization review organization's obligations with respect to prior authorizations in nonurgent circumstances, urgent health care services, and emergency health care services. Provides that a utilization review organization shall not require prior authorization under specified circumstances. Provides requirements concerning the length of prior authorizations. Provides that health care services are automatically deemed authorized if a utilization review organization fails to comply with the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Director of Insurance may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $250,000 for violations of the Act. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to change the definition of "emergency medical condition". Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act to provide that companies that transact accident and health insurance shall comply with specified requirements of the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide that all managed care organizations shall comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Changes references from "utilization review organization" to "health insurance issuer" or "health insurance issuer or its contracted utilization review organization". Provides that a health insurance issuer or its contracted utilization review organization must ensure that all adverse determinations are made by a physician when the request is by a physician or a representative of a physician. Provides that a health insurance issuer shall periodically review its prior authorization requirements and consider removal of prior authorization requirements in specified circumstances (rather than a utilization review organization shall not require prior authorization in specified circumstances). In provisions concerning length of prior authorization approval, provides that a prior authorization approval shall be valid for the lesser of 12 months after the date the health care professional or health care provider receives the prior authorization approval or the length of treatment as determined by the patient's health care professional. In provisions concerning clinical review criteria of prior authorization requirements, removes language that provides that a utilization review organization shall seek input from actively practicing physicians representing major areas of the specialty who are not employees of the utilization review organization or consultants to the utilization review organization before establishing or substantially or materially altering written clinical review criteria. Removes language that provides that a utilization review organization shall not deny prior authorization of a health care service solely based on the grounds that a health care professional or health care provider judges a service, product, or procedure is medically appropriate for his or her patient even if it has not been formally approved for the specific condition being treated. In provisions concerning statistics that shall be made available regarding prior authorization approvals and denials, removes specified categories of information. In provisions concerning requirements applicable to the physician who can review consultations and appeals, removes language that provides that the physician must not be employed by a utilization review organization, be under contract with the utilization review organization other than to participate in one or more of the utilization review organization's health care professional networks or to perform reviews of appeals, or otherwise have any financial interest in the outcome of the appeal. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 134/65 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/155.36 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: In the Prior Authorization Reform Act, deletes a Section concerning obligations with respect to prior authorization concerning emergency health care services, and makes changes in provisions governing applicability; definitions; disclosure and review of prior authorization requirements; obligations with respect to prior authorizations; personnel qualified to make adverse determinations of a prior authorization request; adverse determinations; review of appeals; denials; length of prior authorization approval; continuity of care; effect of failure to comply with the Act; and administration and enforcement. Makes further changes in the Illinois Insurance Code in a Section concerning obligations under the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Deletes changes made to the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act in a Section concerning emergency services prior to stabilization. Effective January 1, 2022.

Signed into law Aug 19, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1624
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
HIGHER ED-ADMISSIONS-AG SCI/ED

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. With respect to the high school coursework that a person must satisfactorily complete for university admission, adds agricultural sciences as a course option for the science category and agricultural education as a course option for the electives category. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill, but changes references from vocational education to career and technical education.

Signed into law Aug 17, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Showing 141 to 150 of 784 bills
Previous 1 14 15 16 79 Next