Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching and to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher no later than June 1, 2025 or no later than June 1 each year thereafter. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1, 2025 and no later than July 1 each year thereafter and all eligible students shall be participants in the stipend program. Provides that no later than August 1, 2025 and no later than August 1 each year thereafter, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that the educator preparation program shall distribute stipend funds using the standard methods for allocating State-based financial aid or as wages for employment to each eligible student in monthly installments. Sets forth additional provisions concerning the distribution of funds. Provides for rulemaking.

Amends the Court of Claims Act. Deletes language regarding the amount a court shall award to a person for time unjustly served in prison when the person imprisoned received a pardon on the ground of innocence of the crime for which he or she was imprisoned or he or she received a certificate of innocence. Provides instead that the court shall award $50,000 per year during which the person was wrongfully imprisoned and shall prorate that amount for a fraction of a year that the person was wrongfully imprisoned, including the number of years the person was awaiting trial. Provides that the court shall award attorney's fees in an amount not to exceed 25% of the award granted. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to all claims pending or filed on or after the effective date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Provides that a network plan shall, at least annually, audit (instead of audit periodically) at least 25% of its provider directories for accuracy, make any corrections necessary, and retain documentation of the audit. Provides that the network plan shall submit the audit to the Department of Insurance (instead of to the Director of Insurance upon request). Provides that the Department shall make the audit publicly available. Provides that a network plan shall include in the print format provider directory (i) a detailed description of the process to dispute charges for out-of-network providers or facilities that were incorrectly listed as in-network prior to the provision of care and (ii) a telephone number and email address to dispute those charges. Makes changes to the information that must be provided in a network plan's electronic and print directory. Requires the Director to conduct random audits of the accuracy of provider directories for at least 10% of plans each year. Provides that a consumer who incurs a cost for inappropriate out-of-network charges for a provider, facility, or hospital that was listed as in-network prior to the provision of services may file a verified complaint with the Department, and the Department shall conduct an investigation of the verified complaint and determine whether the complaint is sufficient. Provides that, upon a finding of sufficiency, the Director shall have the authority to levy a fine for not less than the cost incurred by the consumer for inappropriate out-of-network charges for a provider, facility, or hospital that was listed in-network. Provides that the fines collected by the Director shall be remitted to the consumer.

Amends the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award grants of up to $5,000 per school site on a competitive basis to eligible school districts, regional superintendents of schools, or entities approved by the State Board of Education for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating a school breakfast after the bell program. Sets forth what the grants may be used for and who gets preference for a grant.

Creates the Pretrial Success Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services has grant making, operational, and procurement authority to distribute funds to local government health and human services agencies, community-based organizations, and other entities necessary to execute the functions under the Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department shall issue grants to local governmental agencies and community-based organizations to maximize pretrial success each year. Provides that grants shall be awarded no later than October 1, 2024. Provides that grants in subsequent years shall be issued on or before September 1 of the relevant fiscal year and shall allow for pre-award expenditures beginning July 1 of the relevant fiscal year. Provides that each judicial circuit with a population of at least 250,000 constitutes a service area. Provides that each judicial circuit with populations of less than 250,000 shall be combined with at least one other geographically contiguous judicial circuit to constitute a service area with a population of at least 250,000. Provides that resources for each service area shall be distributed based on maximizing the total potential pretrial success. Subject to appropriation, the minimum annual grant amount awarded in each service area shall be $300,000. Provides that beginning in fiscal year 2027 and subject to appropriation, grants shall be awarded for a project period of 3 years, contingent on Department requirements for reporting and successful performance. Provides that organizations receiving grants under the Act shall provide the following services directly or through subgrants to other organizations:(1) case management for mental health and substance use disorders; (2) detoxification or referral to detoxification when clinically indicated and available in the community; (3) medication assisted treatment or referral to medication assisted treatment when clinically indicated and available in the community; (4) child care to remove barriers to court appearances; and (5) transportation to court appearances if not available through the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services or other court stakeholders. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. In provisions concerning the State Aviation Program Fund, provides that grant moneys in excess of $30,000,000 shall be distributed by the Department of Transportation to airports for capital development purposes for projects identified on Transportation Improvement Plans submitted by airports on a discretionary basis by the Illinois Division of Aeronautics. Makes changes concerning the transfer of surplus moneys from the Aviation Fuel Sales Tax Refund Fund to the State Aviation Program Fund and the General Revenue Fund. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes changes concerning the distribution of proceeds from sales of aviation fuel.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the memory of Ruth Ann Bush-McGaskey, who passed away in April 2024, and offers condolences to her surviving family members. The document outlines her life history, including her career as a nurse and her volunteer work, while listing her surviving children, grandchildren, and other relatives. It formally records the Illinois Senate's grief and directs that a copy of the resolution be given to her family as a gesture of sympathy.

Creates the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act. Provides that owners of qualified low-income housing developments are eligible for credits against the taxes imposed by the Illinois Income Tax Act or taxes, penalties, fees, charges, and payments imposed by the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Insurance Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $578,000 to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for costs associated with the Creating Healing of Inside Community Educators program at Pinckneyville and Menard Correctional Centers. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that insurers shall cover all services for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care that are rendered by perinatal doulas or licensed certified professional midwives, including home births, home visits, and support during labor, abortion, or miscarriage. Provides that the required coverage includes the necessary equipment and medical supplies for a home birth. Provides that coverage for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care shall include home visits by lactation consultants and the purchase of breast pumps and breast pump supplies, including such breast pumps, breast pump supplies, breastfeeding supplies, and feeding aids as recommended by the lactation consultant. Provides that coverage for postpartum services shall apply for at least one year after birth. Provides that certain pregnancy and postpartum coverage shall be provided without cost-sharing requirements. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that post-parturition care benefits shall not be subject to any cost-sharing requirement. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover home visits for lactation counseling and support services. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover counselor-recommended or provider-recommended breast pumps as well as breast pump supplies, breastfeeding supplies, and feeding aids. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall limit the number of lactation encounters, visits, or services; breast pumps; breast pump supplies; breastfeeding supplies; or feeding aids a beneficiary is entitled to receive under the program. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.