Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may not set the annual eligibility level for energy assistance higher than 60% of the State median income as established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Requires the Department to ensure that households with children under the age of 6 years old are offered a priority application period. Provides that the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative charge-backs, or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that would in any way transfer any amounts from the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund into any other fund of the State. Contains provisions concerning certain unspent funds being utilized for weatherization expenses; allowances to Local Administrative Agencies for administrative expenses; incremental changes to the monthly energy assistance charges billed to utility customers; Department reports on monies collected and allocated to utilities for implementation of their Percentage of Income Payment Plans; and other matters. Provides that all energy assistance programs under the Act shall be available to eligible residents regardless of immigration status. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Changes the date upon which each public utility, electric cooperative, and municipal utility shall begin assessing a monthly Energy Assistance Charge on customer accounts from January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022. Restores a provision providing that the Percentage of Income Payment Plan is created as a mandatory bill payment assistance program for low-income residential customers of utilities serving more than 100,000 retail customers. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Removes language that provides that the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative charge-backs, or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that would in any way transfer any amounts from the Fund into another fund of the State.
Sen. Christopher Belt
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Requires the Department of Central Management Services to submit an annual report concerning certifications issued to veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Requires the Department to conduct a minimum of 2 outreach events per year to ensure that veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses know about the procurement opportunities and certification requirements with the State. Adds additional requirements concerning the certification program for veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services, in consultation with the Department of Veteran Affairs, may develop programs and agreements to encourage cities, counties, towns, townships, and other certifying entities to adopt uniform certification procedures and certification recognition programs. Provides that a business shall be certified by the Department of Central Management Services as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business or a veteran-owned small business if the Department determines that the business has been certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business or a veteran-owned small business by the Vets First Verification Program of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and the business has provided to the Department with specified information. Provides that the policies of the Department of Central Management Services regarding recognition of the Vets First Verification Program shall be reviewed annually. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a restrictive covenant modification to an unlawful restrictive covenant may be filed by: (1) the holder of an ownership interest in property that is subject to the unlawful restrictive covenant; or (2) a common interest community association, a condominium association, a unit owners' association, or a master association of a parcel of property subject to the association's declaration and the parcel is subject to an unlawful restrictive covenant. Includes requirements for a restrictive covenant modification and the petition to modify. Provides that, on receipt of a restrictive covenant modification, the recorder shall submit the restrictive covenant modification together with a copy of the original instrument referenced in the restrictive covenant modification to the State's Attorney. Once submitted to the State's Attorney, the State's Attorney shall make a determination within 30 days if the original document contains an unlawful restrictive covenant. Provides that the recorder may not record the modification unless the State's Attorney determines an unlawful restrictive covenant exists and shall record the modification if the State's Attorney finds an unlawful restrictive covenant. Limits liability of the county for unauthorized modifications. Defines terms. Contains other provisions. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: modifies the type of association or cooperative that may execute and file a restrictive covenant modification; provides that, when a parcel of property subject to an unlawful restrictive covenant is in a common interest community association, condominium association, unit owners' association, residential housing cooperative, or master association, only the board, acting through a majority vote, may execute and file a restrictive covenant modification under the Section; provides that removal of an unlawful restrictive covenant will not require approval of the owners or members of such association or cooperative, notwithstanding any provision of the governing documents to the contrary; provides that, if the board receives a written request by an owner or member of the association or cooperative that the board exercise its authority to execute and file a restrictive covenant modification under the Section, the board shall, within 90 days, investigate any claim of an unlawful restrictive covenant and, if determined to be an unlawful restrictive covenant, shall file a restrictive covenant modification as provided under the Section; provides for a cause of action against the association or cooperative by an owner or member for failure to file a restrictive covenant modification after a request to do so and for attorneys' fees and costs if the owner or member prevails; and requires the board to give notice and a copy of the of the restrictive covenant modification to owners and members. Provides that the recorder may impose a fee for filing a restrictive covenant modification to an unlawful restrictive covenant in an amount not to exceed $10.
Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act, the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, and the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that an unused portion of a facility-provided medication required for continuing treatment must be provided to a patient upon discharge when the facility-provided medication is ordered at least 24 hours in advance for surgical procedures. Requires facility-provided medications to be consistent with labeling requirements under specified provisions of the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that if a facility-provided medication is used in an operating room or emergency department setting, the prescriber is responsible for counseling the patient on its proper use and administration and the requirement of pharmacist counseling is waived. Defines "facility-provided medication". Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that when a facility-provided medication is administered to a patient at the facility, any unused portion of the facility-provided medication must be offered to the patient upon discharge when it is required for continuing treatment. Requires facility-provided medications to be consistent with labeling requirements under specified provisions of the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that if a facility-provided medication is used in an operating room or emergency department setting, the prescriber is responsible for counseling the patient on its proper use and administration and the requirement of pharmacist counseling is waived. Defines "facility-provided medication". Effective July 1, 2021. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 In provisions amending the Pharmacy Practice Act, provides that when a facility-provided medication is ordered at least 24 hours in advance for a surgical procedure and is administered (instead of only is administered) to a patient at the facility, any unused portion of the facility-provided medication must be offered to the patient upon discharge when it is required for continuing treatment.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a company authorized to transact life insurance in this State may not: (1) cancel, terminate, or refuse to renew an individual's life insurance policy because of that individual's participation in a substance use disorder treatment or recovery support program; (2) charge an individual a different rate for life insurance coverage because of that individual's participation in a substance use disorder treatment or recovery support program; (3) deny a claim by a beneficiary because of an individual's participation in a substance use disorder treatment or recovery support program; or (4) ask an insured whether he or she is participating or has participated in a substance use disorder treatment or recovery support program. Contains provisions regarding confidentiality. Provides that the new provisions do not prohibit a company authorized to transact life insurance in this State from: (1) refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure, limiting the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available to an individual, or charging a different rate for the same coverage on the basis of that individual's physical or mental condition regardless of the underlying cause of such condition; or (2) inquiring about a physical or mental condition, even if that condition was caused by or is related in any manner to a substance use disorder. Contains provisions regarding liability. Provides that the new provisions do not require a company authorized to transact life insurance to issue a life insurance policy to an applicant. Provides that the new provisions do not apply to a life insurance policy issued to an individual who is abusing drugs, is not seeking any form of treatment, and is not taking part in a substance use disorder treatment or recovery support program. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/155.22c Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/155.47 new 215 ILCS 5/155.48 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a company authorized to transact life insurance in the State may not, based solely on whether an individual has participated in a substance use treatment or recovery support program no less than 5 years before application or whether an individual has been prescribed or has obtained through a standing order an opioid antagonist, deny coverage to an individual; limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available to the individual; or charge the individual or a group to which the individual belongs a rate that is different from the rate charged to other individuals or groups for the same coverage unless the charge is based on sound underwriting or actuarial principles reasonably related to actual or anticipated loss experience for a particular risk.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Includes the delivery of covered health care services by way of telephone usage in the definition of "telehealth services". Provides that health care services that are covered under an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance must be covered when delivered via telehealth services when clinically appropriate, subject to specified conditions (rather than requiring an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance to comply with specified conditions if it provides coverage for telehealth services). Provides that patient cost-sharing may be no more than if the health care service were delivered in person. Provides that no excepted benefit policy may deny or reduce any benefit to a patient based on the use of clinically appropriate telehealth services in the course of satisfying the policy's benefit criteria. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning health care services that are covered under an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance that must be covered when delivered via telehealth services when clinically appropriate, provides that reimbursement to a health care provider for telehealth services for behavioral health services provided through an interactive telecommunications system shall be made on the same basis, in the same manner, and at the same rate as would be applied for the same services if they had been delivered in-person and shall include reasonable compensation to a facility that serves as the originating site at the time a telehealth service is rendered. Provides that with respect to telehealth benefits provided in an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance, insurers may not (rather than an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance may not) require patients to use a separate panel of health care providers to receive telehealth service coverage and reimbursement; create geographic or facility restrictions or requirements for telehealth services; require patients or health care providers to prove a hardship or access barrier before the approval of telehealth services for coverage or reimbursement; negotiate different contract rates for telehealth services and in-person services for behavioral health services; or impose upon telehealth services utilization review requirements that are unnecessary, duplicative, or unwarranted or impose any treatment limitations, prior authorization, documentation, or recordkeeping requirements that are more stringent than the requirements applicable to the same health care service when rendered in-person. Provides that health care providers shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to privacy laws. Defines terms. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new 225 ILCS 150/5 225 ILCS 150/15 325 ILCS 20/3 from Ch. 23, par. 4153 325 ILCS 20/3b new 325 ILCS 20/11 from Ch. 23, par. 4161 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that a health insurer shall reimburse a network provider for behavioral health services delivered through telehealth on at least the same basis and at the same rate as if delivered in-person. Provides that a health insurer may establish reasonable requirements and parameters for telehealth services. Further amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force to review and study the use of telehealth services in the State with respect to payment and reimbursement parity for health care providers providing such services. Sets forth provisions concerning election of a chairperson, compensation, and appointments of members of the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force. Provides that the task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2021. Provides that the task force is dissolved on January 1, 2023. Amends the Telehealth Act. In provisions concerning use of telehealth, provides that services provided by telehealth shall be consistent with all federal and State privacy, security, and confidentiality laws. Provides that health care professionals shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to specified privacy laws. Provides that health care professionals shall maintain documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Permits an early intervention provider to deliver via telehealth any type of early intervention services authorized under the Act to the extent of his or her scope of practice as established in his or her respective licensing Act consistent with the standards of care for in-person services. Requires parents to be informed of the availability of early intervention services provided through telehealth. Provides that parents shall make the final decision as to whether accepted early intervention services are delivered in person or via telehealth. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.8 new 225 ILCS 150/10 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall cover telehealth services, e-visits, and virtual check-ins rendered by a health care professional when clinically appropriate and medically necessary to insureds, enrollees, and members in the same manner as any other benefits covered under the policy. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance may provide reimbursement to a facility that serves as the originating site at the time a telehealth service is rendered. Sets forth provisions with which coverage for telehealth services shall comply. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance shall notify health care professionals and facilities of any instructions necessary to facilitate billing for telehealth services, e-visits, and virtual check-ins. Provides that the Department of Insurance and the Department of Public Health shall commission a report to the General Assembly and shall submit the report by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Department of Insurance may adopt rules to implement the provisions. Provides that specified provisions are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Removes provisions concerning the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force. Defines terms. Further amends the Telehealth Act. Changes a reference to "telehealth" to "telehealth services." Removes language that provides that health care professionals shall maintain documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to ensure that every youth in care who is entering his or her final year of high school has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, if applicable, or an application for State financial aid on or after October 1, but no later than November 1, of the youth's final year of high school. Requires the Department to assist a youth in care in identifying and obtaining all documents necessary to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, if applicable, or an application for State financial aid.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In provisions requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to submit annual reports to the General Assembly concerning youth in care who are awaiting placement or psychiatric hospitalization (rather than placement), provides that the reports are to be submitted no later than December 31 of each year (rather than on December 31 of each year through December 31, 2023). Requires the reports to be posted on the Department's website and to include specified information, including: (i) the number of youth in care placed in out-of-state residential treatment facilities, whether each youth was referred to any in-state programs for placement and, if so, the number of in-state referrals for each youth prior to referring the youth to out-of-state programs; (ii) the number of youth not in the temporary custody or guardianship of the Department who are the subjects of open child protection cases, intact family cases, or any other types of child welfare case, including, but not limited to, those youth for whom the Department is required to make medical assistance payments because they were hospitalized in inpatient psychiatric hospitals or units and were beyond medical necessity during the Department's involvement with the case; and (iii) the number of youth in care who remain in emergency rooms for longer than 24 hours waiting for admission to a psychiatric hospital bed. Effective immediately.
Amends the Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act. Changes the definition of "solar storage mechanism" to include batteries. Provides that the entity may determine the specific configuration of the elements of a solar energy system on a given roof face, provided that it may not prohibit elements of the system from being installed on any roof face and that any such determination may not reduce the production of the solar energy system by more than 10% (rather than specific location where a solar energy system may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or within 45 degrees east or west of due south provided that the determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar energy system). Provides that within 60 (rather than 120) days after a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association receives a request for a policy statement or an application from an association member, the association shall adopt an energy policy statement. Provides that whenever approval is required for the installation or use of a solar energy system, the application for approval shall be processed by the appropriate approving entity of the association within 60 (rather than 90) days of (rather than after) the submission of the application. Provides that the Act shall not apply to any building that is greater than 60 (rather than 30) feet high. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that within 90 (rather than 60) days after a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association receives a request for a policy statement or an application from an association member, the association shall adopt an energy policy statement. Provides that whenever approval is required for the installation or use of a solar energy system, the application for approval shall be processed by the appropriate approving entity of the association within 75 (rather than 60) days of the submission of the application. Provides that the Act shall not apply to any building that has a shared roof and is subject to a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 765 ILCS 165/10 765 ILCS 165/20 765 ILCS 165/30 765 ILCS 165/45 Adds reference to: 765 ILCS 5/0.01 from Ch. 30, par. 0.01 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Conveyances Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's short title. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 765 ILCS 5/0.01 Adds reference to: 735 ILCS 5/13-226 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, no unit of local government or school district may file or become a party to opioid litigation against an opioid defendant that is subject to a national multistate opioid settlement unless approved by the Attorney General. Provides that if counties representing 60% of the population of the State, including all counties with a population of at least 250,000, have agreed to an intrastate allocation agreement with the Attorney General, then the Attorney General has the authority to appear or intervene in any opioid litigation, and release with prejudice any claims brought by a unit of local government or school district against an opioid defendant that are subject to a national multistate opioid settlement and are pending on the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that this does not affect the Attorney General's authority to appear, intervene, or control litigation brought in the name of the State of Illinois or on behalf of the People of the State of Illinois. Defines "national multistate opioid settlement", "opioid defendant", "opioid litigation", and "unit of local government". Denies home rule powers. Effective immediately.
Amends the Intergenerational Poverty Act. Provides that the Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security shall have 2 members of the judiciary (rather than a member of the judiciary or a designee) who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. Effective immediately.