Sen. William R. Haine

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Vital Records Act. Removes language denoting allocations to local county coroners and medical examiners or specified officials from the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund as grants. Provides that officials receiving distributions from the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund must submit letters of verification to the Department of Public Health indicating that funds received from the Fund were used as prescribed. Provides that officials failing to provide a letter of verification will be ineligible to receive distributions from the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund for the following 3 years unless a suitable letter of verification is submitted. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, no insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a qualified health plan offered through the health insurance marketplace in this State providing coverage for hospital or any other health care service shall use extrapolation or any other form of statistical sampling methodology to recoup payments for services rendered by any health care professional or provider. Provides that the use of extrapolation or any other form of statistical sampling methodology is an unfair and deceptive act under the Code. Requires any request for recoupment or offset be in writing and include every contested Current Procedural Terminology code and patient encounter data. Requires a minimum of 120 days after the information is provided to respond to requests for recoupment and offsets. Provides that no recoupment or offset may be made unless the provisions are complied with. Provides that the provisions may be enforced by a health care professional or provider through a court of competent jurisdiction or through mandatory arbitration with the right to recover attorney's fees. Makes similar changes in the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act for health care plans. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, Counties Code, Illinois Municipal Code, School Code, Health Maintenance Organization Act, Limited Health Service Organization Act, Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and Illinois Public Aid Code to make conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that "waste" does not include steel slag products. Defines "steel slag products". Effective immediately.

Amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act. Provides that it is unlawful for an employer to inquire into an employee's religious beliefs. Creates an exemption for churches and religious or faith-based organizations. Effective immediately.

Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Provides that nothing in the Act: prohibits employers from adopting workplace policies concerning the consumption, storage, or timekeeping requirements for qualifying patients related to the use of medical cannabis; prohibits employers from enforcing policies concerning the use or possession of drugs by employees; or limits an employer's ability to discipline an employee for failing a drug test, including, but not limited to, if failing to discipline such an employee would cause the employer to violate federal law or lose a federal contract or funding.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that notices of application for judgment and sale may be sent by first class mail (instead of registered or certified mail). Provides that the mailing must be supported by the certificate or affidavit of the employee of the county collector who mailed the document, stating the time and place of mailing or delivery, the complete address which appeared on the envelope or package, and the fact that the proper postage was prepaid. Effective January 1, 2016.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that daily storage charges for impounded vehicles shall not begin to accrue until 5 days after the vehicle is towed and shall not exceed the maximum daily storage rate authorized by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides that at the time a vehicle is towed or within 5 days thereafter, the county or municipality shall notify by certified mail the lienholder of record, lessor, and the owner, lessee, or person identifying himself or herself as the owner or lessee of the vehicle, or any person who is found to be in control of the vehicle at the time of the alleged offense, of the fact of the seizure, and of the vehicle owner's or lessee's right to an administrative hearing. Provides that a lienholder or lessor shall be entitled to take possession of an impounded vehicle, and defer payment of any applicable administrative fees, upon submission of certain documents and fees to the municipality or its designated agent. Provides that upon a request to obtain possession of an impounded vehicle, a municipality or its agent shall provide a lienholder or lessor an opportunity to view the vehicle and provide a statement in writing setting forth the amount of the applicable administrative, towing, and storage fees. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Adds a purpose statement to provisions allowing territory in a fire protection district to be disconnected and added to another adjoining district. Provides that 5% (rather than 1%) of legal voters residing in territory proposed to be transferred may file a petition for disconnection and the proposition to disconnect shall be submitted to the voters of the entire district from which the transfer is sought (rather than to the voters of the territory sought to be transferred). Further provides that a petition to disconnect territory from a fire protection district that would cause serious injury to a fire protection district shall be dismissed. Describes when a serious injury shall be found to exist. Effective immediately.