Sen. Christopher Belt

Declares April 2, 2019 as Pay Equity Day.

Creates the Workplace Transparency Act. Provides that employers shall not require an employee or prospective employee to sign a nondisclosure agreement that contains any provision that has the purpose or effect of: limiting the disclosure of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination; suppressing information relevant to an investigation into a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination; impairing the ability of any person to report a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination; or waiving a substantive or procedural right or remedy of any person relating to a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination. Provides that any such provision is void as against public policy and unenforceable, and that agreements that contain such provisions and were entered into before the effective date of the Act are voidable by a party who entered into the agreement under specified circumstances.

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.

Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. Provides that each park district, municipal park and recreation agency, or special recreation agency shall test each source of potable water in a park that serves children under 6 years old for lead contamination. Provides requirements for testing and notification. Provides requirements for requests seeking waiver of testing. Provides that the owner or operator of a community water system may agree to pay for the cost of the laboratory analysis of the test samples.

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.

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.

Creates the Medicaid Eligibility Determination and Renewal Reform Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (Department) to work with the Department of Human Services to achieve the following goals related to eligibility determinations and renewals under the Medical Assistance Program: (i) reduce procedural terminations so that no more than 10% of medical assistance beneficiaries who remain eligible for medical assistance experience any lapse in contemporaneous medical coverage; and (ii) use technology to lower administrative burdens and increase beneficiary continuity of coverage by providing real-time eligibility determination decisions for at least 75% of all medical assistance applicants, increasing automatic renewals for medical assistance beneficiaries, and offering an electronic means by which medical assistance beneficiaries can track and maintain their benefits. Provides that the goals must be meet by December 31, 2020. Requires the Department to submit Medicaid and CHIP State Plan amendments to implement express lane eligibility for all beneficiaries of medical assistance and benefits under the Children's Health Insurance Program Act. Contains provisions concerning community-based enrollment and redetermination assistance; the creation of enhanced user permission; and other matters. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department to reduce administrative burdens and minimize delay utilizing its income, residency, and identity verification system; and to utilize federal or State electronic data sources to obtain certain financial, employment, and residency information. Contains provisions concerning data matching; the waiver of residency verification requirements; rulemaking authority; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Urges the State of Illinois to implement both a "Buy America" policy and a "Buy Illinois" policy, which would help grow the steel industry, create jobs, build the middle class, and protect American companies and workers.