Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning identification cards and suicide prevention information, provides that each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to school employees serving any of grades 6 through 12 shall provide on the identification card the same contact information concerning suicide prevention that is required to be provided on a pupil's identification card.

Amends the Epinephrine Injector Act. Defines "authorized individual". Adds references to "authorized individual" in provisions regarding those persons who may provide or administer an epinephrine injector. Requires the issuance of a certificate upon completion of an anaphylaxis training program. Adds provisions regarding good Samaritan protections. Amends the Good Samaritan Act. Limits the liability of authorized individuals who may provide or administer an epinephrine injector.

Amends the Flag Display Act. Permits the United States national flag to be displayed on the grounds of a courthouse (rather than only on the top of a courthouse).

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that on and after January 1, 2026, a person may not sell, distribute, or offer for sale baby food in the State that contains toxic heavy metals that exceed the limits established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Defines "toxic heavy metal" as arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury and defines other terms. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, each manufacturer of baby food shall test a representative sample of each production aggregate of the manufacturer's final baby food product for each toxic heavy metal. Requires monthly testing. Beginning January 1, 2027, requires each manufacturer of baby food to make certain information publicly available. Provides that if a consumer believes, based on information gathered through the use of the code included on the baby food product label, that baby food is being sold in the State with toxic heavy metals that exceed limits established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the consumer may report that baby food to the Department of Public Health.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any additional fee collected for the issuance and renewal of the military series registration plate shall not be included in the authorized fee waiver.

Amends the School Code by adding the Dual Language Education Article. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt comprehensive guidance for school districts on starting new dual language education programs and expanding existing programs. Provides that the guidance shall cover a comprehensive program structure, curriculum, instruction, assessment and accountability, staff quality and professional development, family and community engagement, and support and resources. Provides that the State Board of Education's Equity Journey Continuum shall integrate: (1) dual language education into the broader framework of student learning to ensure it is considered an essential part of educational equity and excellence; and (2) specific provisions for dual language teachers, focusing on recruitment, professional development, and retention of bilingual educators. Requires a school district to establish recognition pathways for biliteracy at various levels before high school. Requires each school district to: (1) create an intuitive and resource-rich online platform that provides comprehensive information and tools for potential bilingual educators; (2) develop strategies to ensure bilingual educators remain in the profession; and (3) launch a marketing campaign that aligns with the U.S. Department of Education's "Being Bilingual is a Superpower" initiative, focusing on the benefits of bilingualism and highlighting inspiring stories of bilingual educators and students.

Amends the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act. Provides that every employer covered under the Act shall permit an employee or an employee's family or household member who is a victim or alleged victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence to utilize for personal use an employer-provided electronic device to document or communicate an act of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence committed against the employee or the employee's family or household member. Requires employers to grant an employee who is a victim or alleged victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence or an employee who has a family or household member who is a victim or alleged victim or domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence access to any photographs, voice or video recordings, sound recordings, or any other digital documents or communications stored on an employer-provided electronic device issued to the employee whenever such photographs, voice or video recordings, sound recordings, or other digital documents or communications are needed by the employee or the employee's family or household member during a criminal action or proceeding to establish or support an allegation of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence. Provides that, if an employee is seriously injured or incapacitated, the employer shall grant access to the described materials to a family or household member of the employee who requests access from the employer and whose interests are not adverse to the employee as it relates to the domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or other crime of violence. Provides that every employer covered by the Act shall post and keep posted, in conspicuous places where employees are employed, a notice, to be prepared or approved by the Director of Labor, explaining these provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Defines "acute sexual assault" as a sexual assault that has recently occurred within a specified time. Replaces various references to "sexual assault" with "acute sexual assault". Deletes the definition of "prepubescent sexual assault survivor". Changes provisions regarding hospitals located in counties with a population of less than 1,000,000 and within a 20-mile radius of a 4-year public university with respect to a sexual assault treatment plan approved by the Department of Public Health. Makes changes in various provisions concerning plans of correction and penalties for hospitals that commit specified violations of the Act. In provisions regarding requirements for medical forensic services, provides that the provisions of the Act are not intended to prohibit a qualified medical provider from offering an Illinois Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit to a sexual assault survivor who presents at a treatment hospital or approved pediatric health care facility with a nonacute complaint of sexual assault if there is a compelling reason for evidence collection, or upon the request of the survivor. In provisions regarding the prohibition on billing sexual assault survivors directly for certain services, changes references to the Office of the Attorney General to references to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Maddy summaryHB 2196 makes a technical amendment to the Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals Act. This change specifically modifies a section related to the short title of the act.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the MC/DD Act, the ID/DD Community Care Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the administrator of a facility or establishment under any of those Acts shall ensure that the facility or establishment has an automated external defibrillator and policies and procedures for the rendering of automated external defibrillation in the facility or establishment. Provides course requirements for persons certified to provide automated external defibrillation. Provides that a facility or establishment shall contract with or employ a physician who shall be the automated external defibrillation medical director for the facility or establishment and who shall oversee and coordinate specified requirements.