Sen. Rachelle Crowe

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to oversee the enrollment of all State agencies into the United States Department of Defense's SkillBridge program. Provides that all State agencies shall consider filling job vacancies within those agencies by transitioning active service members who participate in and qualify for enrollment into the United States Department of Defense SkillBridge program. Effective immediately.

Urges support for funding the physical infrastructure of early childhood education programs.

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.

Creates the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act of 2019. Provides that if a manufacturer is unable to service or repair a new motor vehicle to conform to the applicable written warranties after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer shall either promptly replace the new motor vehicle or make restitution to the buyer. Provides that it shall be presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been made to conform a new motor vehicle to the applicable express warranties if, within 18 months from delivery to the buyer or 18,000 miles on the odometer of the vehicle: (1) the same nonconformity results in a condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven after 2 or more repairs; (2) the same nonconformity has been subject to repair 4 or more times; or (3) the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair for more than 30 calendar days since delivery of the vehicle to the buyer. Requires a buyer to initiate a qualified third-party dispute resolution process, if available, before asserting the presumption that a reasonable number of attempts have been made to repair the nonconformity. Prohibits a person from selling a motor vehicle without first disclosing to the prospective buyer that the vehicle had a nonconformity and the nonconformity was corrected. Contains provisions concerning a "Lemon Law Buyback" decal; a warranty buyback notice; remedies; a manufacturer's fee for each vehicle sold; sales and use tax reimbursements; and other matters. Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes references to "New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act" to "New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act of 2019". Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Motor Vehicle Dispute Resolution Certification Fund. Repeals the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act.

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 registrant violation provisions of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any person knowingly to use or possess a prescriber's Illinois controlled substance license or United States Drug Enforcement Administration registration number: (A) other than for: (i) prescribing or dispensing controlled substances; (ii) insurance processing related to controlled substances; (iii) professional employment; (iv) collecting credentials data under the Health Care Professional Credentials Data Collection Act; or (v) licensure purposes; (B) without authorization; (C) to fraudulently obtain any medication or to fraudulently create a prescription or order; or (D) except as authorized by law. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 3 felony for each subsequent offense. The fine for the first offense shall be not more than $100,000. Provides that the fine for each subsequent offense shall not be more than $200,000.

Amends the Transportation Network Providers Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning coverage for telehealth services, provides that certain health benefit policies or plans may not exclude from coverage a medically necessary health care service or procedure delivered by certain providers solely because the health care service or procedure is provided through telehealth (rather than requiring certain policies to meet specified criteria if they provide coverage for telehealth services). Provides the requirements of coverage for telehealth services. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance that provides coverage for telehealth services delivered by contracted licensed dietitian nutritionists and contracted certified diabetes educators must also provide coverage for in-home services for senior diabetes patients (rather than requiring an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance that provides coverage for telehealth services to provide coverage for licensed dietitian nutritionists and certified diabetes educators who counsel senior diabetes patients in the patients' homes). Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides payment, reimbursement, and service requirements for telehealth services provided under the State's fee-for-service or managed care medical assistance programs. Provides that "telehealth" includes telepsychiatry. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement the new provisions 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Repeals a provision requiring the Department to reimburse psychiatrists and federally qualified health centers for mental health services provided by psychiatrists to medical assistance recipients through telepsychiatry. Makes other changes.