Sen. Christopher Belt

Creates the Hydrogen Economy Act. Creates the Hydrogen Economy Task Force. Provides for membership of the Task Force. Provides that members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides for meetings of the Task Force. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support to the Task Force. Provides for duties of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year on its activities, findings, and recommendations. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds members to the Hydrogen Economy Task Force. Modifies the duties of the Task Force to specify that the duties include identifying barriers to the widespread development of hydrogen, including within environmental justice communities. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides for the appointment of an additional member to the Hydrogen Economy Task Force. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Adds three members to the Hydrogen Economy Task Force: one member representing a non-profit energy research organization, appointed by the Governor; one representative of a trade association representing the investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities and power generation companies in the State of Illinois, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and one representative of a trade association representing wind and solar electric generators, renewable transmission companies, appointed by the President of the Senate.

Creates the Illinois Support Through Loss Act. Requires an employer to grant to each employee 24 hours of paid leave time on the employee's first workday of each calendar year. Provides that the employee shall use the paid leave time as needed during that calendar year for either (i) an absence resulting from a pregnancy loss; an unsuccessful round of intrauterine insemination or of an assisted reproductive technology procedure; a failed adoption match or an adoption that is not finalized because it is contested by another party; a failed surrogacy arrangement; or a diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy or fertility; or (ii) an absence to care for a spouse or domestic partner who experiences a circumstance described in item (i). Requires paid leave time to be provided upon the oral or written request of an employee. Provides that any paid leave time granted shall not carry over from one calendar year to the next. Provides that any employer with a paid leave policy that is sufficient to meet the requirements of the Act shall not be required to grant an employee additional paid leave time in accordance with the Act. Prohibits an employer from requiring the employee to find a replacement employee to cover the hours during which the employee is using paid leave time. Provides that an employer is not required to provide an employee with reimbursement for granted paid leave time that has not been used. Prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who uses paid leave time or files a complaint alleging a violation of the Act. Exempts from the requirements of the Act an employer who is subject to the Railway Labor Act, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, the Federal Employers' Liability Act, or other comparable federal law. Provides that the Director of Labor shall administer and enforce the Act. Grants an employee the right to bring an action to recover damages. Grants the Department of Labor rulemaking authority. Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: New Act Adds reference to: 820 ILCS 154/1 820 ILCS 154/5 820 ILCS 154/10 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Child Bereavement Leave Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Family Bereavement Leave Act. Provides that all employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of 2 weeks (10 work days) of unpaid bereavement leave to be absent from work due to (i) a miscarriage; (ii) an unsuccessful round of intrauterine insemination or of an assisted reproductive technology procedure; (iii) a failed adoption match or an adoption that is not finalized because it is contested by another party; (iv) a failed surrogacy agreement; (v) a diagnosis that negatively impacts pregnancy or fertility; or (vi) a stillbirth. Provides that the employer may not require that the employee identify which category of event the leave pertains to as a condition of exercising rights under the Act. Changes references from "child" to "covered family members". Defines terms.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the disposal by incineration of any perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance, including, but not limited to, aqueous film forming foam, is prohibited. Provides the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency with rulemaking authority. Provides that if a rule or regulation is published by the USEPA regarding all or part of the subjects of these provisions, the rule or regulation shall be controlling over these provisions. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change. Provides that nothing in the amendatory provisions applies to (i) the combustion of landfill gas from the decomposition of waste that may contain PFAS at a permitted sanitary landfill or (ii) the combustion of landfill gas in a landfill gas recovery facility that is located at a sanitary landfill (rather than providing that, if a rule or regulation is published by the USEPA in the Federal Register regarding all or part of the subjects of the amendatory provisions, one year after its publication the rule or regulation shall be controlling over the provisions of the amendatory provisions and any part of the amendatory provisions conflicting therewith shall be inoperative). Makes other changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Replaces the term "perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" with "Toxic Release Inventory Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances". Provides that "incineration" does not include thermal oxidizers when they are operated as a pollution control or resource recovery device at a facility that is using perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances or chemicals containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (rather than using PFAS-containing chemicals). Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Further amends the Environmental Protection Act. Specifies that the prohibition on the disposal of TRI-PFAS by incineration does not apply to the incineration of waste at a permitted hospital, medical, and infectious waste incinerator that meets the requirements of specified federal provisions or the Board-adopted State Plan requirements for hospital, medical, and infectious waste incinerators, as applicable, or to the incineration of sludges, biosolids, or other solids or by-products generated at or by a municipal wastewater treatment plant or facility. Makes other technical changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall conduct a study on the feasibility of allowing the use of digital electronic license plates on passenger and commercial vehicles registered in the State. Provides that the report shall include information on the following areas: (1) jurisdictions currently offering digital electronic license plates for passenger vehicles and their creation and implementation comments; (2) jurisdictions currently offering digital electronic license plates for commercial vehicles; (3) cost of implementation and issuance in Illinois for both passenger and commercial vehicles; and (4) any benefits or deterrents to electronic vehicle registration. Provides that the report shall also examine and provide jurisdictional information concerning: (i) interaction with law enforcement and automated license plate readers; (ii) oversight of messaging on digital electronic license plates; and (iii) any other information the Secretary deems pertinent to the report. Provides that the Secretary of State shall update the report issued in 2016, pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 11 of the 99th General Assembly, regarding the issuance of an electronic driver's license to eligible drivers. Provides that the report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) advancements in technology since the initial report; (2) production information on other states offering an electronic driver's license to qualified drivers in their jurisdictions; and (3) cost and timeline to implement an electronic driver's license program in Illinois. Requires that the reports be filed with the General Assembly by July 1, 2022. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2023. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 625 ILCS 5/2-130 new Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 140/7.5 605 ILCS 140/3 new 605 ILCS 140/5 605 ILCS 140/90 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that until July 1, 2023, images from cameras are exempt from disclosure. Amends the Expressway Camera Act. Provides that the program conducted by the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to increase the amount of cameras along the expressways in Cook County shall also increase cameras along Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Requires details about the program objectives, counties where the program is operational, and policies under which the program operates to be made publicly available and posted online within 90 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency may use images from an expressway camera to investigate vehicular hijacking, aggravated vehicular hijacking, terrorism, motor vehicle theft, or any forcible felony, including, but not limited to, offenses involving the use of a firearm (instead of only an offense involving the use of a firearm) and to detect highway conditions and facilitate highway safety and incident management. Adds provisions concerning retention of images from cameras, reporting requirements, and prosecutorial jurisdiction. Relocates the definition of "expressway" and defines terms. Changes the Act repeal date to July 1, 2025 (instead of July 1, 2023). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Adds a licensed physical therapist as a person who can verify that a person is a person with disabilities for the purposes of the Code. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 625 ILCS 5/1-159.1 Adds reference to: 605 ILCS 140/5 605 ILCS 140/90 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Expressway Camera Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall work together to conduct a program to increase the amount of cameras along expressways and the State highway system in the counties of Boone, Bureau, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Macon, Madison, McHenry, Morgan, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair, Will, and Winnebago (instead of only Cook County). Provides that any funds needed to conduct the program for use on expressways or State highway system under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation shall be taken from the Road Fund and shall be included in requests for qualification processes. Provides that any funds needed to conduct the program for use on expressways under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall be paid for by funds from the Illinois State Tollway Highway Authority and shall be included in requests for qualification processes. Changes the Act repeal date to July 1, 2025 (instead of July 1, 2023). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that a prescriber shall offer a prescription for naloxone hydrochloride, or another similar drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration, under specified circumstances. Provides for educational information to be provided concerning overdose prevention and the use of naloxone hydrochloride. Provides that a prescriber who does not comply with specified requirements shall be subject to administrative sanctions under the appropriate licensing board. Specifies that the provisions do not create a private right of action against a prescriber, and do not limit a prescriber's liability for the negligent failure to diagnose or treat a patient. Provides that these provisions do apply to a patient receiving hospice care in accordance with the Hospice Program Licensing Act. Contains a purpose provision. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 720 ILCS 570/322 new Adds reference to: 225 ILCS 85/19.1 720 ILCS 570/312 from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1312 720 ILCS 570/313 from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1313 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. In a provision regarding dispensing opioid antagonists, provides that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a licensed pharmacist shall (rather than may) dispense an opioid antagonist in accordance with written, standardized procedures or protocols developed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation with the Department of Public Health and the Department of Human Services and filed at the pharmacy. Provides that before dispensing an opioid a pharmacist shall inform patients that opioids are addictive and offer to dispense an opioid antagonist. Deletes language concerning a training program approved by the Department of Human Services for pharmacists to complete before dispensing an opioid. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that prescribers who issue a prescription for an opioid shall inform the patient that opioids are addictive and that opioid antagonists are available by prescription or from a pharmacy. Provides that in a hospital or institution licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act, all prescribers of an opioid shall inform the patient that opioids are addictive and that opioid antagonists are available by prescription or from a pharmacy. Provides that upon discharge any patient who has overdosed on controlled substances shall be provided with an opioid antagonist. Provides that if the patient is not able to pay for the opioid antagonist, then the State of Illinois shall reimburse the hospital for the opioid antagonist from federal grant funds to address substance use disorder or other State funds for the same purpose. Adds an effective date provision of January 1, 2022. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Changes the effective date of the bill from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Provides that in a hospital or institution licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act, all prescribers of an opioid shall inform the patient that opioids are addictive and that opioid antagonists are available by prescription or from a pharmacy. Provides that upon discharge, any patient who has overdosed on controlled substances shall be provided with an opioid antagonist in accordance with written, standardized procedures or protocols developed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health and filed at the pharmacy before implementation and are available to the Department of Human Services upon request. Defines "opioid antagonist". Senate Floor Amendment No. 5 Deletes reference to: 720 ILCS 570/313 Deletes provisions of the bill, as amended by Senate Amendment No. 2, that relate to prescriptions of opioids in hospitals or institutions licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act and requirements for providing opioid antagonists to patients who are being discharged after having overdosed on controlled substances.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "care and custody". House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 405 ILCS 5/1-102 Adds reference to: New Act 50 ILCS 705/6 from Ch. 85, par. 506 50 ILCS 705/6.8 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the First Responder Mental Health Grant Program Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, there is created within the Department of Human Services a First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Program to provide grants to the following recipients: (1) units of local government; (2) law enforcement agencies; (3) fire protection districts; (4) school districts; (5) public or private hospitals; or (6) ambulance services that employ first responders. Creates a First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Fund in the State treasury, which shall be used by the Secretary of Human Services to make grants to eligible recipients. Provides that recipients eligible for grants shall use the grants for expenses related to behavioral health care services for first responders, including, but not limited to, telehealth services. Provides that an employer may not reduce behavioral health care provided through a first responder's employee benefit package as a result of the receipt of grant funds under the Act. Provides that all records, notes, and conclusions by a treatment provider providing behavioral health care to first responders whose employers receive grants under the Act shall not be shared with the employer unless otherwise mandated by law. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Replaces provisions stating that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board has the power and duty to establish statewide standards regarding regular mental health screenings of probationary and permanent police officers with provisions giving the Board the power and duty to establish statewide minimum standards regarding: (1) psychological screenings of recruit officers hired after the standards go into effect and annual psychological screenings of probationary and permanent officers; and (2) regular, confidential mental health counseling for probationary and permanent police officers in addition to the mental health counseling related to an officer's fitness for duty examinations. Lists specific items required to be included in the standards relating to psychological screenings and mental health counseling. Provides that records of psychological screenings and mental health counseling sessions, as well as any portions of documents referencing the psychological screenings or mental health counseling sessions that contain a personally identifiable information of an officer who underwent the screening or counseling session, are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 405 ILCS 5/1-102 Adds reference to: New Act Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the First Responder Mental Health Grant Program Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, there is created within the Department of Human Services a First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Program to provide grants to the following recipients: (1) units of local government; (2) law enforcement agencies; (3) fire protection districts; (4) school districts; (5) public or private hospitals; or (6) ambulance services that employ first responders. Creates a First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Fund in the State treasury, which shall be used by the Secretary of Human Services to make grants to eligible recipients. Provides that recipients eligible for grants shall use the grants for expenses related to behavioral health care services for first responders, including, but not limited to, telehealth services. Provides that an employer may not reduce behavioral health care provided through a first responder's employee benefit package as a result of the receipt of grant funds under the Act. Provides that all records, notes, and conclusions by a treatment provider providing behavioral health care to first responders whose employers receive grants under the Act shall not be shared with the employer unless otherwise mandated by law. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new Makes changes to the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 2 to provide that the First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Fund is a special fund in the State treasury. Adds provisions amending the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. With respect to the Comprehensive Health Education Program, requires that the instruction on mental health and illness discuss how and where to find mental health resources in this State. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 110/5.5 new Adds provisions regarding instruction on mental health and illness to include how to find a mental health provider and how to access the mental health system. Creates the Student Mental Health Council to evaluate mental health among students, how mental health resources are being used, and the effect of COVID-19 on students' mental health. Provides that the Council shall meet at least once per quarter. Provides that the Council shall advise and make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor regarding: (i) the dissemination of information to schools, including agency websites, informational materials, and outreach personnel; (ii) available services to students and any gaps; and (iii) how to improve state policy concerning student mental health. Provides guidelines for appointing members. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative support. Defines which members serve for compensation, and the amount of the compensation. Provides that the Council shall deliver annual reports to the General Assembly and the Governor's Office. Provides that the Council is dissolved, and the Section creating the Council is repealed, on January 1, 2026. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Adds provisions regarding requiring instruction on how and where to find mental health resources and specialized treatment in the State. Creates the Student Mental Health Council to evaluate: mental health; how mental health resources are being used; and the effect of COVID-19 on students' mental health, substance use disorders, and other mental health conditions. Provides that the Council shall meet at least once per quarter. Provides that the Council shall advise and make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor regarding: (i) the dissemination of information to schools, including agency websites, informational materials, and outreach personnel; (ii) available services to students and any service gaps; and (iii) how to improve State policy concerning student mental health. Provides guidelines for appointing members. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative support. Describes which members serve for compensation and the amount of the compensation. Provides that the Council shall deliver annual reports to the General Assembly and the Governor's Office. Provides that the Council is dissolved, and the Section creating the Council is repealed, on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill, as amended by Senate Amendment No. 2, with the following changes. Removes a provision providing for a stipend for certain members. Provides that no member of the Council, including the chairperson, shall receive any compensation for services on the Council but shall be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Council. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 110/5.5 new Adds reference to: 405 ILCS 49/5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: With respect to the Comprehensive Health Education Program, requires that the Program include instruction on how and where to find mental health resources and specialized treatment in the State (rather than on mental health and illness discuss how and where to find mental health resources in the State). Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Provides that the Children's Mental Health Partnership shall also include an adjunct council. Defines membership and qualifications of the adjunct council. Provides that the adjunct council will make recommendations to the Partnership regarding youth mental health, including, but not limited to, identifying barriers to youth feeling supported by and empowered by the system of mental health and treatment providers, barriers perceived by youth in accessing mental health services, gaps in the mental health system, available resources in schools, including youth's perceptions and experiences with outreach personnel, agency websites, and informational materials, methods to destigmatize mental health services, and how to improve State policy concerning student mental health. Provides that the council shall meet at least 4 times annually. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that the Partnership shall include an adjunct council comprised of no more than 6 youth aged 14 to 25 and (rather than no more than) 4 representatives of 4 different community-based organizations (instead of 3 representatives of 3 different community based organizations) that focus on youth mental health. Provides that, of the community-based organizations that focus on youth mental health, one of the community-based organizations shall be led by an LGBTQ-identified person, one of the community-based organizations shall be led by a person of color, and one of the community-based organizations shall be led by a woman (instead of each community-based organization shall be led by an LGBTQ-identified person, a person of color, or a woman). Provides that, of the representatives appointed to the council from the community-based organizations, at least one representative shall be LGBTQ-identified, at least one representative shall be a person of color, and at least one representative shall be a woman.

Amends the Driver Education Act of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Illinois High School & College Driver Education Association, to adopt course content and learning standards for the classroom and laboratory phases of driver education for novice teen drivers under the age of 18 years based on the national Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards (rather than requiring the State Board, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to adopt course content standards for driver education for those persons under the age of 18 years). Provides that the course content and learning standards shall be adapted to meet Illinois licensing and educational requirements including the cognitive, physiological, and psychological aspects of the safe operation of a motor vehicle (rather than requiring course content standards to include the operation and equipment of motor vehicles). House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Driver Education Act of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of State, an association representing teachers of driver education, students, education practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers in colleges of education, administrators, and regional superintendents of schools (rather than in consultation with the Secretary of State), to adopt rigorous learning standards (instead of course content standards) for the classroom and laboratory phases of driver education for novice teen drivers under the age of 18 years, including, but not limited to, the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards developed and written by the Association of National Stakeholders in Traffic Safety Education in affiliation with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (rather than for driver education for those persons under the age of 18 years, which shall include the operation and equipment of motor vehicles). Provides that the learning standards may be adapted to meet Illinois licensing and educational requirements, including the cognitive, physiological, and psychological aspects of the safe operation of a motor vehicle and equipment of motor vehicles. Requires the Board to update the learning standards as national standards are updated. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that the national learning standards may be adapted to meet Illinois licensing and educational requirements, including classroom and behind-the-wheel hours and the cognitive, physiological, and psychological aspects of the safe operation of a motor vehicle and equipment of motor vehicles (rather than the learning standards may be adapted to meet Illinois licensing and educational requirements, including the cognitive, physiological, and psychological aspects of the safe operation of a motor vehicle and equipment of motor vehicles).

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the alternative retirement annuity provisions apply to a Tier 2 investigator for the Office of the Attorney General. Authorizes a Tier 2 investigator for the Office of the Attorney General to convert up to 8 years of certain service credit established before the effective date of the amendatory Act into eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions upon application and payment of a specified contribution. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.