Sen. Scott M. Bennett

Amends the School Code. With regard to the salary of any employee of a school board who is a member of any reserve component of the United States Armed Services and is mobilized to active military duty or teacher who is employed in a Department of Defense overseas dependents' school or is mobilized to active military duty, removes a provision decreasing the amount of the employee's salary by the employee's base pay for military service.

Supports the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and the work of stakeholders on the continued implementation of the Strategy.

Declares April 2019 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Creates the Nursing Home Reform Act. Provides that the purposes of the Act include establishing a framework for the provision of care to residents of facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, ensuring the coordination of regulation and reimbursement, strengthening the provider and employee community, and supporting the highest possible quality of resident-centered services and care. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Nursing Home Medicaid Reimbursement Reform Act. Provides that it shall be a matter of State policy that all residents of facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act who meet the financial requirements for medical assistance and have a determination of need score of 29 or greater shall be guaranteed the right to: (1) select the facility in which he or she receives care; (2) participate fully in the development of his or her individualized care plan; and (3) be informed in advance of any changes to his or her individualized care plan or to the status of his or her nursing home stay. Provides that all medical treatment and services deemed medically necessary by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, including the provision of prescription drugs not covered under a qualified Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan, shall be presumed to be available for any resident who is eligible for medical assistance and shall qualify for reimbursement under the Medical Assistance Program. Provides that any medical services provided, as specified in the Act, to a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act shall be reimbursed based on an aggregate rate composed of nursing, support, and capital components. Provides that the State shall also reimburse each facility paying property taxes an amount that equals the facility's actual property tax bill, if applicable. Provides that any additional funds contained in the State Fiscal Year 2020 budget in excess of those expended in the State Fiscal Year 2019 budget shall be distributed by statute. Provides that reimbursement payments for services covered under the Act are due and payable on the last day of each month for all claims submitted during the preceding calendar month. Effective immediately.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that "private information" includes, but is not limited to, the name and any identifying information of a victim in a sexual assault investigation. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that "private information" includes, but is not limited to, the name and any identifying information of a victim in an investigation of a sex offense (instead of "a victim in a sexual assault investigation").

Creates the Collective Bargaining Freedom Act. Provides that employers and labor organizations covered by the National Labor Relations Act may execute and apply agreements requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment to the fullest extent authorized by the National Labor Relations Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State that employers, employees, and their labor organizations are free to bargain collectively. Provides that the authority to enact laws or rules that restrict the use of union security agreements between an employer and a labor organization vests exclusively with the General Assembly. Prohibits local governments from enforcing any such law or rule. Defines terms. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Changes a reference to federal law with respect to union security agreements from a reference relating to requiring membership in a union in conflict with state law to a reference relating to unfair labor practices in connection with membership in a union. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes provision making a violation of the Act by a local governmental official a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the tax imposed on mid-range ethanol blends applies to (i) 80% of the proceeds of sales made on or after July 1, 2019 and on or before December 31, 2023 and (ii) 100% of the proceeds of sales made thereafter. Provides that the term "mid-range ethanol blend" means a blend of gasoline and denatured ethanol that contains not less than 20% but less than 51% denatured ethanol. Makes changes to the definitions of "gasohol" and "majority blended ethanol fuel" to adjust the required percentage of ethanol. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that, for purposes of treatment in the early stages of a mental health condition, a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan shall provide coverage for the treatment of serious mental illnesses and serious emotional disturbances. Provides that coverage shall include, but not be limited to, certain evidence-based and evidence-informed bundled treatment approaches. Provides that payment for the services performed under the treatment models shall be based on all the components of the treatment model combined, rather than for each separate service. Provides that disability or functional impairment shall not be a precondition to receive treatment under the provisions. Provides that if federal regulations require the State to defray the cost of coverage for serious mental illnesses or serious emotional disturbances, then the provisions are inoperative and the State shall not assume any obligation for the cost of the coverage. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Fair Insurance Coverage for Early Treatment of Serious Mental Health Conditions Act. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Legislature and Finance Articles of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that members of the General Assembly shall not receive a salary or allowances if the General Assembly fails to make appropriations for the State budget. Provides that the first bill to become law in a given year shall be a bill making State budget appropriations for an ensuing fiscal year. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Mourns the death of Frank Gallo of Urbana.