Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer that provides coverage for medically necessary epinephrine injectors shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a twin-pack of medically necessary epinephrine injectors at an amount not to exceed $60, regardless of the type of epinephrine injector. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents an insurer from reducing an insured's cost sharing by an amount greater than the specified amount. Provides that the Department of Insurance may adopt rules as necessary to implement and administer the provisions.

Amends the Illinois State Collection Act of 1986. Provides that except in the case of fraud, if a State agency fails to provide a debtor with written notice and a demand for payment of any debt, accounts, or claims owed to the State agency with 5 years of when the State agency's right to collect the debt first accrued, then the State agency is barred from attempting to collect such debt, accounts, or claims owed to it by the debtor. Amends the Personal Actions Part of the Limitations Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that except in the case of fraud or where facts material to the State agency's right to collect the debt were not known nor could reasonably have been known by the State agency's official charged with the responsibility to discover and collect the debt, an action by a State agency may not be conducted more than 5 years after the State agency's right to collect the debt first accrued.

Amends the School Code to create the Rural Education Advisory Council. Provides that the purpose of the council is to exchange thoughtful dialogue concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural districts and to provide policy recommendations to the State. Sets forth the functions and membership of the council. Contains provisions concerning expenses, meetings, and administrative support.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop a policy which ensures the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on roadways within the State. Establishes that improvements will be made during routine maintenance and within a distance of 1,000 feet of the maintenance work on any State road within a municipality to include high visibility signage, crosswalk improvements, curb bump outs, barrier protected bike lanes, and bus shelters.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Repeals the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 on January 1, 2029 (rather than January 1, 2024). Amends the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004. Adds provisions concerning an email address of record and for electronic delivery of certain notices to an email address of records. Provides for instances in which telehealth may be used. Provides that a veterinarian shall not substitute telehealth, teleadvice, telemedicine, or teletriage when a physical examination is warranted or necessary for an accurate diagnosis of any medical condition or creation of an appropriate treatment plan. Makes changes to provisions concerning: application for licensure; reports; procedures for refusal to license or issue certificate; and hearing officers, reports, and review. Removes provisions concerning: refusing to issue or renew, or revoking, suspending, placing on probation, reprimanding, or taking other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action for a conviction by any court of competent jurisdiction, either within or outside this State, of any violation of any law governing the practice of veterinary medicine; and certifying exhibits without cost. Repeals a provision requiring the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to maintain a roster. Makes corresponding and other changes. Provisions amending the Regulatory Sunset Act are effective immediately.

Amends the Employee Blood Donation Leave Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Employee Blood and Organ Donation Leave Act. Provides that an employee may use up to 10 days of leave in any 12-month period to serve as an organ donor or bone marrow donor. Defines terms. Makes corresponding changes.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year fishing license. Provides that the fee for a 5-year fishing license is $62.50. Provides that for residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year fishing license. Provides that for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year fishing license. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents holding a license and to the same hunting privileges as residents holding a license to hunt all species under the Wildlife Code. Provides that the 5-year sportsmen's combination license fee shall be $112.50. Provides that a sportsmen's combination license shall not be issued to any individual who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting license separately. Provides that for residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year sportsmen's combination license. Provides that for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year sportsmen's combination license. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year hunting license to hunt all species for $52. Provides that for residents age 65 or older and resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year hunting license.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district must create, implement, and maintain an age-appropriate policy on race-related harassment and discrimination. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that the required policy on bullying shall also include age-appropriate information about the definitions of harassment and sexual harassment, the procedures for reporting harassment, and the protections and relief available under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that harassment by an elementary, secondary, or higher education representative or the failure of an institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education to take remedial action or appropriate disciplinary action against a student or an elementary, secondary, or higher education representative employed by the institution (if the institution knows that the student or representative committed or engaged in harassment) is a civil rights violation. Provides that each institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education shall establish, implement, and maintain a continuing race-related discrimination and harassment program. Sets forth requirements concerning policies and procedures, a model training program, and reporting. Makes other changes. Effective August 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the operator of the ambulance or rescue vehicle shall have documented, specified, training in the operation of an ambulance or rescue vehicle prior to operating that vehicle. In municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or under, requires the siren and lamp or lamps on an ambulance or a rescue vehicle to be in operation at all times when pedestrians and other drivers are present (instead of when it is reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof) during a trip or journey when the ambulance or rescue vehicle is either responding to a bona fide emergency call or specifically directed by a licensed physician to disregard traffic laws in operating the ambulance during and for the purpose of the specific trip or journey that is involved. Provides an ambulance or rescue vehicle shall be operated in complete conformance with other motor vehicle laws and regulations when the speed of the ambulance or rescue vehicle exceeds 25 miles per hour (instead of 40 miles per hour).

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning kindergartens, provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each school board must establish a kindergarten with full-day attendance (instead of allowing a school board to establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance or with full-day attendance); makes related changes. Repeals another provision concerning kindergartens on July 1, 2023. Effective immediately.