Sen. Scott M. Bennett

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to procurements made by or on behalf of public institutions of higher education for (1) procurement expenditures for investments, investment management, investment services, investment banking, and custodial services and (2) procurement expenditures for bonding, bond issuance, and bond custodians and trustees.

Creates the Big Empties Site Act. Provides that property located in the State consisting of one or more PINs but under common ownership at the time of the application, that contains at least one vacant and unused building of specified square footage, is qualified to be designated as a Big Empties Site. Provides that a county or municipality that has adopted an ordinance designating a qualified site as a Big Empties Site shall make written application to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to have that site certified by the Department as a Big Empties Site. Contains procedures for certification by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, and the Public Utilities Act to provide certain tax incentives for Big Empties Sites. Amends the Property Tax Code to provide that a taxing district may issue an abatement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions requiring coverage for newborn infants, provides that coverage for congenital defects shall include treatment of cranial facial anomalies. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall cover charges incurred and services provided for outpatient and inpatient care in conjunction with services that are provided to a covered individual related to the diagnosis and treatment of a congenital anomaly or birth defect. Provides that the required coverage includes any service to functionally improve, repair, or restore any body part involving the cranial facial area that is medically necessary to achieve normal function or appearance. Provides that any coverage provided may be subject to coverage limits, such as pre-authorization or pre-certification, as required by the plan or issuer that are no more restrictive than the predominant treatment limitations applied to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by the plan. Provides that the coverage does not apply to a policy that covers only dental care. Defines "treatment". Effective January 1, 2021.

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Removes a provision limiting consumers to 10 requests for disclosure of the current usual and customary retail price of prescription drugs or medical devices for which the person making the request has a prescription. Provides that a pharmacy must post a notice informing customers that they may request, in person or by telephone, the current usual and customary retail price of any brand or generic prescription drug or medical device that the pharmacy offers for sale to the public.

Amends the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. Provides that "grantor agency" includes the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation when it makes grants under the Access to Justice Act or the Illinois Equal Justice Act. Amends the Access to Justice Act. Provides that grants or distributions made under the Act by (rather than to) the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation are subject to the requirements of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Requires the Department of the Lottery, beginning on July 1, 2020, to offer a special instant scratch-off game for child abuse prevention. Requires the net revenue from that game to be deposited into the Child Abuse Prevention Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities. Provides that the boards of trustees shall provide by rule or contract for a procedure to evaluate the performance and qualifications of non-tenured faculty members. Provides that, if the implementation of the procedure results in a decision to dismiss a non-tenured faculty member for the ensuing academic year or term, the Board shall give notice to the faculty member not later than 60 days before the end of the academic year or term. Provides that, if the Board fails to give the notice within the time period, the faculty member shall be deemed reemployed for the ensuing academic year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for financial institutions with less than $50,000,000,000 in assets in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all fees, penalties, and any other income derived during the taxable year from each commercial loan transaction that is (i) less than $5,000,000, (ii) originated by the financial institution, (iii) made to a person residing or located in this State, and (iv) made primarily for a business or agricultural project in this State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a person is not eligible to be elected or appointed to the office of sheriff unless he or she has a certificate attesting to his or her successful completion of the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training Course as prescribed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board or a substantially similar training program of another state or the federal government. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act making a conforming change.

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Allows parents of students to exempt their children from participation in a law enforcement drill.