Sen. Christopher Belt

Creates the Water Heater Safety Valve Act. Provides that a manufacturer or supplier of a hot water heater for use in a residential home or facility must supply or attach a temperature mixing valve or other safety valve to the hot water heater or tank that prevents water with a temperature above 130 degrees Fahrenheit from coming from any faucet or other source of water into direct contact with a person. Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law to provide that a person engaged in plumbing who installs a hot water heater for use in a residential home or facility must supply or attach a temperature mixing valve or other safety valve to the hot water heater or tank that prevents water with a temperature above 130 degrees Fahrenheit from coming from any bathtub faucet, shower faucet, sink faucet, or any other source of water into direct contact with a person. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Replaces "hot water heater or tank" with "water heater or tank". Provides that a manufacturer or supplier of a water heater or tank for use in a residence or residential facility located in Illinois (rather than a residential home or facility) must supply or attach a temperature mixing valve or other safety valve that prevents water with a temperature above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (rather than 130 degrees Fahrenheit) from coming into direct contact with a person. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall administer and enforce the provisions of the Act. Provides that any person or entity who violates the Act's provisions shall be liable for a civil penalty of $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation.

Creates the Illinois Hazardous Materials Workforce Training Act. Contains only a short title provision. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.891 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Illinois Hazardous Materials Workforce Training Act. Provides that the Department of Labor shall develop by rule a curriculum of approved advanced safety training for workers at high hazard facilities. Provides that an owner or operator, when contracting for the performance of construction work at the stationary source, shall require that its contractors and any subcontractors use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all onsite work within an apprenticeable occupation in the building and construction trades. Provides a penalty for violation of the Act. Creates the Illinois Hazardous Materials Workforce Training Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Makes corresponding changes in the State Finance Act. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that activities described in Code 324110, 325110, 325193, and 325199 (currently, only 324110 and 325110) of the 2017 North American Industry Classification System are within the meaning of "owner or operator". Land Conveyance Appraisal Note (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in Senate Bill 1407; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Correctional Note (Dept of Corrections) There is no fiscal or population impact on the Department of Corrections. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 1407, as engrossed, would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 1407 will not impact any public pension fund or retirement system in Illinois. Judicial Note (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) This legislation would neither increase nor decrease the number of judges needed in the State of Illinois. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate. Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. Balanced Budget Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Office of Management and Budget) The Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 1407 (H-AM 1) as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence.

Creates the Grow Your Own STEM and Vocational Education Teachers Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education shall, if funds are appropriated to the Board of Higher Education under the Act, waive any tuition, fees, and on-campus housing costs for a student who (i) agrees to pursue a minimum of a bachelor's degree in agriculture, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics for certain teaching occupations, (ii) agrees to attend a public institution of higher education to pursue an undergraduate degree or an advanced degree in one of those concentrations, (iii) agrees to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the Board of Higher Education, (iv) maintains a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (or its equivalent) at all times, and (v) agrees to fully reimburse the public institution of higher education for any waived tuition, fees, or costs if the student fails to teach at least 3 years at a high school located in this State or at least 5 years at a public institution of higher education or a public community college located in this State. Provides that a public institution of higher education shall, if funds are appropriated to the Board of Higher Education under the Act, waive any tuition and fees for a student who is a licensed Illinois teacher with a master's degree and who (i) agrees to pursue up to a maximum of 18 graduate hours necessary to qualify the student to teach dual credit consistent with applicable accreditation and State standards for dual credit faculty and (ii) agrees to fully reimburse the public institution of higher education for any waived tuition or fees if the student fails to teach at least 5 years at a high school located in this State after the completion of the graduate hours. Requires the Board of Higher Education to adopt rules. Effective July 1, 2020.

Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Provides that every health insurance carrier that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall ensure that no fewer than 25% of certain individual and group plans offered shall apply a pre-deductible, flat-dollar copayment structure to the entire drug benefit. Provides that the flat-dollar copayment structure for prescription drugs must be reasonably graduated and proportionately related in all tier levels such that the copayment structure as a whole does not discriminate against or discourage the enrollment of individuals with significant health care needs. Requires the health insurance carriers to clearly and appropriately name the plans to aid in consumer or plan-sponsor plan selection. Requires the health insurance carriers to market the plans in the same manner as their other plans. Provides that if a health insurance carrier offers fewer than 4 plans, the health insurance carrier shall ensure that one plan shall use the drug benefit structure, including cost-sharing requirements. Requires the Department of Insurance to adopt rules necessary to implement and enforce the provisions. Effective January 1, 2020. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 134/45.3 new Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 80/4.32 5 ILCS 80/4.31 rep. 20 ILCS 687/6-7 20 ILCS 3855/1-130 50 ILCS 750/3 from Ch. 134, par. 33 50 ILCS 750/15.3 from Ch. 134, par. 45.3 50 ILCS 750/15.3a 50 ILCS 750/15.6b 50 ILCS 750/30 50 ILCS 750/99 220 ILCS 5/13-1200 220 ILCS 5/21-401 220 ILCS 5/21-1601 415 ILCS 98/55 625 ILCS 57/34 770 ILCS 60/6 from Ch. 82, par. 6 P.A. 101-221, Sec. 99-99 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Extends the repeal of the following by one year: the Crematory Regulation Act; the Cemetery Oversight Act; the Illinois Health Information Exchange and Technology Act; the Radiation Protection Act of 1990; the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997; a provision of the Illinois Power Agency Act concerning home rule preemption; the Emergency Telephone System Act; the Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act; provisions of the Cable and Video Competition Article of the Public Utilities Act; the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act; and the Transportation Network Providers Act. Further amends the Emergency Telephone System Act to delay the required implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 service until December 31, 2021 (rather than July 1, 2020) and to make conforming changes throughout the Act. Further amends the Cable and Video Competition Article of the Public Utilities Act to extend State-issued authorizations to provide cable or video service by one year. Amends the Mechanics Lien Act. In provisions concerning fixing or stipulating time for the completion of a contract or a time for payment in a contract in order to obtain a lien, extends the date that certain provisions are operative for one year. Amends Public Act 101-221. Delays, from July 1, 2020 until March 1, 2021, the effective date of the Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Todd D. Hill.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that the State Treasurer shall establish the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program for the purpose of expanding access to higher education through savings. Provides for enrollment in the Program. Provides further duties and requirements of the Treasurer regarding the Program. Creates the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program Fund as a fund held outside of the State treasury to be the official repository of all contributions, appropriations, interest, and dividend payments, gifts, or other financial assets received by the State Treasurer in connection with the operation of the Program or related partnerships. Provides for audits and reports concerning the Program. Allows the Treasurer to adopt any rules that may be necessary to implement the Program. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to provide an exemption for information that is exempt from disclosure under the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that notwithstanding any court order which would otherwise prevent the release of information, the Department of Public Health is authorized to release specified information to the State Treasurer for the purposes of the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Fiscal Note (Office of the Treasurer) Based upon Illinois' current birth rate of 155,000 to 165,000 newborns per year, the annual cost for this program is expected to be $9-10 million per year, beginning in FY21. This includes approximately $8 million for the initial seed funding of $50 per child and an estimated $1.5 million to develop local savings incentive partnerships, engage parents and children in related financial literacy initiatives, and administer the program. Because unclaimed and unused funds will remain with the program for future use, the need for annual appropriations will decline after year 10 of the program as unclaimed and unused funds are recycled. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Modifies the definition of "eligible child".

Amends the Election Code. Provides that political committee funds may be used for certain child care expenses that are necessary for the fulfillment of political, governmental, or public policy duties, activities, or purposes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer, health maintenance organization, independent practice association, or physician hospital organization may not attempt a recoupment or offset until all appeal rights of a health care professional or health care provider are exhausted. Provides that no recoupment or offset may be requested or withheld from future payments 6 months or more after the original payment is made (rather than 18 months or more after the original payment is made). Effective January 1, 2021.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who may claim a qualifying student as a dependent is allowed a credit of up to $2,000 for qualified tuition and fee expenses paid by the taxpayer. Provides that the term qualifying student means a person who (i) is a resident of the State, (ii) is under the age of 24 at the close of the school year for which a credit is sought, and (iii) during the school year for which a credit is sought, is a full-time student enrolled in a program at a qualifying college or university.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Makes changes to the definitions of "branches of dentistry" and "teledentistry". Provides that a dentist may administer vaccinations to patients 18 years of age and older if it is a general policy or recommendation published by the Centers for Disease Control or the Director of Public Health. Effective immediately.