Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance issued or renewed in this State from imposing prior authorization or step therapy requirements on menopause therapy under specified conditions. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, and the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 to establish provisions concerning continuing education on perimenopause and menopause recognition and management for physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the County Shelter Care and Detention Home Act, the Illinois Local Library Act, the Public Library District Act of 1991, the Village Library Act, the Libraries in Parks Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the Child Care Act of 1969, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act to require the placement of contact information for the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Amends the School Code. With respect to the comprehensive health education program, provides that a school board shall require each public school serving students in any of grades 6 through 12 to assess courses and seminars available to those students through their regular academic experiences and implement age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention curricula if opportunities for integration exist. Further amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In provisions concerning an inmate's successful transition to the community, provides that release planning shall include access to suicide prevention resources.

Amends the Metro-East Sanitary District Act of 1974. Changes the Act's short title to the Metro-East Flood Prevention District Act. Changes the name of the Metro-East Sanitary District to the Metro-East Flood Prevention District. Makes conforming changes in the Department of Natural Resources Act, the Flood Prevention District Act, the Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan and Regional Planning Act, the Sanitary District Act of 1907, the North Shore Water Reclamation District Act, the Sanitary District Act of 1917, the Public Utilities Act, the Eminent Domain Act, and the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that a public university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no provision of the Illinois Insurance Code, or any other law, prohibits assignability rights to an insured under any policy of dental insurance (in addition to accident and health insurance). Provides that if an enrollee or insured of an insurer, health maintenance organization, managed care plan, health care plan, preferred provider organization, dental service plan corporation, dental insurer, or third party administrator assigns a claim to a health care professional, or health care facility, a dental care provider, or a dental care facility, then payment shall be made directly to the health care professional, or health care facility, dental care provider, or dental care facility, including any required interest. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the court shall require a minor to participate in restorative justice programs, such as social service programs for high-risk youth, cognitive behavioral therapy, including family engagement and mentoring, and comply with referral recommendations if the minor: (1) has previously been placed on probation for an offense that involves the possession or discharge of a firearm not causing any injury; and (2) is convicted of a subsequent offense involving the possession or discharge of a firearm not causing any injury.

Creates the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday Act. Provides that no sales tax shall be imposed on eligible merchandise purchased by any individual or entity in the State of Illinois during the sales tax holiday period. Provides that the sales tax holiday period is the period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and ending at 11:59 p.m. on the following Sunday. Provides that "sales tax" means the taxes imposed under the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that, subject to any contrary provision in the articles of incorporation of a corporation, a director, officer, key employee, or other fiduciary of the corporation shall not take advantage of a corporate opportunity unless the person first tenders the opportunity to the corporation and the corporation rejects the opportunity. Provides that, if the rejection is by a disinterested board of directors or by disinterested shareholder action, the director, officer, key employee, or other fiduciary of the corporation may then take advantage of the opportunity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Accountable Care Organization Clinical Laboratory Testing Advisory Board Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for any person to possess, purchase, attempt to purchase, sell, or attempt to sell, or for any recyclable metal dealer to purchase or attempt to purchase, telecommunications wire in any amount unless the seller is an authorized agent, a representative or employee of a licensed contractor of a public utility, a provider of telecommunications services, as described in the Public Utilities Act, or a provider of broadband service, interconnected VoIP services, or wireless services, as described in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Recyclable Metal Theft Task Force shall review the effectiveness of its efforts in deterring and investigating the problem of recyclable metal theft specific to telecommunications wires, burned wire, and any other equipment used to provide (i) telecommunications services, as described in the Public Utilities Act, or (ii) broadband service, interconnected VoIP services, or wireless services, as described in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Task Force shall consider and develop long-term solutions, both legislative and enforcement-driven, for the rising problem of theft of these wires and equipment in this State. Provides that the Task Force shall be composed of one representative of a wireless telecommunications carrier. Provides that the Task Force shall, by October 31 of each year, report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor. Changes the definition of the term "recyclable metal". Defines the terms "burned wire" and "telecommunications wire".