Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that it shall be a matter of State policy that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall set nursing facility rates by rule utilizing an evidenced-based methodology that rewards appropriate staffing, quality-of-life improvements for nursing facility residents, including the cessation of payments for rooms with 3 or more people residing in them by January 1, 2027, and the reduction of racial inequities and health disparities for nursing facility residents enrolled in Medicaid. Provides that the new nursing services reimbursement methodology taking effect January 1, 2022, upon federal approval, shall utilize the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) (rather than the RUG-IV 48 grouper model). Sets the statewide base rate for dates of service on and after January 1, 2022 at $85.25. Requires the Department to establish, by rule, a multiplier based on information from the Payroll Based Journal. Provides that, beginning on and after January 1, 2022, the Department shall allocate funding, by rule, for per diem add-ons to the PDPM methodology for each resident with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Contains provisions concerning funds allocated for certain incentive payments to nursing facilities; emergency rules; payments to improve the quality of care delivered by nursing facilities; long-term care provider assessments; and other matters. Amends the Nurse Agency Licensing Act. Prohibits nurse agencies from entering into covenants not to compete with certified nurse aides. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Permits the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt emergency rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the earned income tax credit shall be: (i) 20% of the federal tax credit for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2023 and prior to January 1, 2024; (ii) 22% of the federal tax credit for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2024 and prior to January 1, 2025; and (iii) 25% of the federal tax credit for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1 2025. Provides that the earned income tax credit is available to persons who have attained the age of 18 but have not yet attained the age of 25 and to persons who are 65 years of age or older, without regard to any age requirements that would otherwise apply to individuals without a qualifying child under federal Internal Revenue Code. Extends the earned income tax credit to individuals filing a return using an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Creates a credit for child dependent tax credit that shall be not less than $600 when combined with the taxpayer's earned income tax credit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Allows specified medical cannabis dispensing organizations to change locations within the same medical district and BLS Region as the location of the existing registered medical cannabis dispensary associated with the Early Approval Adult Use Dispensing Organization License. Provides conditions for relocation and requirements for the applicant to submit to the Department of Public Health. Requires the Department to approve any application provided under the provisions upon receipt by the Department of the materials that meet the requirements. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that registered professional nursing practice is a scientific process founded on a professional body of knowledge; it is a learned profession based on the understanding of the human condition across the life span and environment and includes all nursing specialties and means the performance of any nursing act based upon professional knowledge, judgment, and skills acquired by means of completion of an approved professional nursing education program. Provides that registered professional nurses may delegate nursing interventions and tasks (rather than nursing interventions) to other registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses based on a comprehensive nursing assessment. Provides that registered professional nurses may delegate tasks to unlicensed personnel based on a comprehensive nursing assessment. Provides that a registered professional nurse is prohibited from delegating work requiring nursing knowledge, assessment, judgment, inference, decision making (including medication administration), the development of a plan of care, and the evaluation of a plan of care to unlicensed non-nurse personnel. Removes provisions concerning delegation of nursing interventions and administration of medications in community-based or in-home care settings. Makes other changes. Effective August 1, 2021.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are caregivers of a veteran with a disability. Provides that the credit shall be in an amount equal to 5% of the costs incurred in caring for the veteran, not to exceed $1,000 in credits in any taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall establish a portal for use by federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies, including Offices of the State's Attorneys and the Office of the Attorney General to capture a report of persons whose Firearm Owner's Identification Cards have been revoked or suspended. Provides that the portal is for law enforcement purposes only. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that each applicant for the issuance of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card may include a full set of his or her fingerprints in electronic format to the Illinois State Police. Provides that a Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a licensee under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act shall not expire during the term of the licensee's concealed carry license. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall deny an application or shall revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued under the Act if the Illinois State Police finds that the applicant or person to whom such card was issued is or was at the time of issuance subject to a civil no contact order or a stalking no contact order. Provides for email notifications from the Illinois State Police upon request of an applicant or Card holder. Create expanded rule making authority for the Illinois State Police concerning the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Makes conforming changes in various other Acts.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that no less than 30 days before the issuance of a warrant of arrest for nonpayment of a fine or an installment of a fine, a notice shall be mailed to the offender by first class mail to the most recent address which the offender has provided to the court. Provides that the notice shall contain the following information: (1) the amount of the fine which is due and owing; (2) the docket number of the case in which the fine was assessed; (3) the due date for payment of the fine; (4) instructions as to how payment of the fine may be made; (5) an explanation that willful refusal to pay the fine may result in imprisonment; and (6) instructions as to how the offender may request a hearing to present evidence that the offender did not willfully refuse to pay the fine, and that failure to pay was the result of the offender's inability to pay the fine. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/6-308 Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that for purposes of a provision concerning procedures for traffic violations, a violation shall be deemed resolved if the person has appeared in court and the court entered any final disposition, including: (i) a final order regarding the person's guilt or innocence; or (ii) an order granting a request by the State or local governmental body that initiated the charges for permission not to prosecute the charges. Further amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if the prosecutor shows that default was due to an intentional refusal to pay, and due to a failure on the offender's part to make a good faith effort to pay, rather than the offender demonstrating the absence of these factors, the court may order the offender imprisoned for a term not to exceed 6 months if the fine was for a felony, or 30 days if the fine was for a misdemeanor, a petty offense or a business offense. Adds an immediate effective date to the bill.

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

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American history; contains provisions governing this instruction. Provides that the teaching of history of the United States shall include the study of the wrongful incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the heroic service of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army during World War II.