Sen. Terri Bryant

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that an association or other entity that promotes, sponsors, regulates, or in any manner provides for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within the State may not adopt or maintain in effect any bylaw, rule, regulation, or policy which does not allow equal access for participation in interscholastic athletics or athletic competitions by a student based upon whether the student attends a public school, nonpublic school, or home school if the association or other entity receives any membership or other dues or fees from the governing body of any public elementary or public secondary school in the State. Effective immediately.

Creates the Dignity for Aborted Children Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any State law or administrative rule to the contrary, any physician after performing an abortion shall provide the patient with an informed consent form, provided by the Department of Public Health, offering the patient specified options for disposal of the human fetal tissue from the abortion. Provides that it is unlawful for any physician, after performing an abortion in which the patient elects to release the human fetal tissue to the physician, to fail to provide for the final disposition of the human fetal tissue through interment or cremation, consistent with State law regarding the disposal of human remains, not later than 7 days after the date on which the abortion procedure was performed. Requires physicians who perform abortions and persons, not including patients, to whom human fetal tissue are transferred to submit annual reports to the Department containing specified information. Contains provisions specifying civil penalties, criminal designations, and consideration of action by the Illinois State Medical Board. Provides that a patient upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted in violation of the Act may not be prosecuted under the Act or for a conspiracy to violate the Act. Provides that the Department shall submit to the General Assembly an annual report on the number of abortions, procedure type, and method of disposal of human fetal tissue under the Act.

Amends the General Provisions and State Employee Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the alternative retirement annuity under the State Employee Article applies to a security employee of the Department of Human Services subject to the Tier 2 provisions. Provides that a security employee of the Department of Human Services subject to the Tier 2 provisions may convert up to 8 years of service credit established before the effective date of the amendatory Act as a security employee of the Department of Human Services under the State Employee Article into eligible creditable service by filing a written election with the Board under that Article, accompanied by a specified payment. Excludes a benefit increase resulting from the amendatory Act from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code and the School Code. Provides for 5 additional members of the State Board of Education to be elected at the general election in 2028 and every 4 years thereafter. Provides that one member shall be elected from each judicial district. Provides that the 5 members shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis. Provides that a petition for nomination of a candidate for member of the State Board shall be signed by at least 0.5% of the total number of registered voters in the judicial district. Provides that beginning on the date when the 5 members initially elected take office, a majority of the State Board shall constitute a quorum. Makes related changes.

Amends the Illinois Antitrust Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Strengthening Mental Health and Substance Use Parity Act. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, or any third-party administrator administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer, shall cover all out-of-network medically necessary mental health and substance use benefits and services (inpatient and outpatient) as if they were in-network for purposes of cost sharing for the insured. Provides that the insured has the right to select the provider or facility of their choice and the modality, whether the care is provided via in-person visit or telehealth, for medically necessary care. Sets forth minimum reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health benefits. Sets forth provisions concerning responsibility for compliance with parity requirements; coverage and payment for multiple covered mental health and substance use services, mental health or substance use services provided under the supervision of a licensed mental health or substance treatment provider, and 60-minute individual psychotherapy; timely credentialing of mental health and substance use providers; Department of Insurance enforcement and rulemaking; civil penalties; and other matters. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Creates the Patient Access to Pharmacy Protection Act. Defines terms. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may deny, restrict, prohibit, condition, or otherwise interfere with, either directly or indirectly, the acquisition of a 340B drug by, or delivery of a 340B drug to, a 340B covered entity or a 340B contract pharmacy authorized to receive 340B drugs on behalf of the 340B covered entity unless such receipt is prohibited by federal law. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may impose any restriction on the ability of a 340B covered entity to contract with or designate a 340B contract pharmacy including restrictions relating to the number, location, ownership, or type of 340B contract pharmacy. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may require or compel a 340B covered entity or 340B contract pharmacy to submit or otherwise provide ingredient cost or pricing data pertinent to 340B drugs; institute requirements in any way relating to how a 340B covered entity manages its inventory of 340B drugs that are not required by a State or federal agency, including requirements relating to the frequency or scope of audits of inventory management systems of a 340B covered entity or a 340B contract pharmacy; or require a 340B covered entity or its 340B contract pharmacy to submit or otherwise provide data or information that is not required by State or federal law. Sets forth provisions concerning enforcement of this Act; preemption of this Act; and severability of this Act. Effective immediately.

Declares November 2024 as Epilepsy Awareness Month in the State of Illinois to encourage Illinois residents to take action together so no one faces epilepsy alone.

Declares November 20, 2024 as Utility Scam Awareness Day in the State of Illinois.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the portion of Route 51 passing through St. Johns as the "LCpl. Drew M. Uhles Memorial Highway" to honor Marine Lance Corporal Drew M. Uhles, who died in Iraq in 2004. The measure requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to install signs at appropriate locations to display the new name of the road. Copies of the resolution will be presented to Uhles' family, the mayor of St. Johns, and the state transportation secretary. This action is a commemorative gesture that does not alter traffic laws or funding but serves to recognize the service and sacrifice of the fallen Marine.