Sen. Heather A. Steans

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Freedom of Choice Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning payment rates for nursing facilities, provides that facility-specific staffing levels and wages paid (rather than regional wage adjusters based on the Health Service Areas (HSA) groupings and adjusters in effect on April 30, 2012) shall be one of the factors in determining the new nursing services reimbursement methodology utilizing the RUG-IV 48 grouper model. Sets forth the calculation of the facility-specific RUG-IV nursing component per diem rate for dates of service beginning July 1, 2017. Provides that certain staffing and wage adjusters must be updated each quarter using the staffing hours and wage data from Payroll Benefit Journal data collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the same time period of Minimum Date Set data used to calculate the RUG-IV acuity case weight. Sets forth how to calculate each facility's "total per resident per day staffing wage cost". Provides that the levels used to assign certain staffing and wage adjusters shall be calculated using the staffing ratios required under the Nursing Home Care Act multiplied by the Illinois mean hourly wage for the equivalent occupational code and title assigned by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and reported in the May 2014 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Illinois. Provides that beginning July 1, 2017 and quarterly thereafter, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may adjust, by administrative rule and within certain parameters established under the Code, a specific staffing and wage adjuster described in the Code for the purpose of keeping liability created by the facility-specific RUG-IV nursing component per diem rates stable. Permits the Department to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. For provisions concerning hospital stroke care, defines "stroke" as brain, spinal cord, or retinal cell death attributable to ischemic or hemorrhagic infarction that is consistent with the most current nationally-recognized, evidence-based stroke definitions. Provides that the Department of Public Health's certification criteria for Primary Stroke Centers shall be consistent with the most current nationally-recognized, evidence-based stroke guidelines that include the use of thrombolytic therapy and anticoagulation reversal medications to reduce (rather than the most current nationally-recognized, evidence-based stroke guidelines related to reducing) the occurrence, disabilities, and death associated with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke (rather than associated with stroke). Makes similar changes to provisions concerning the criteria for Comprehensive Stroke Centers. Provides that the criteria for the Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital designation of hospitals shall include the ability of a hospital to create written acute care protocols related to emergent ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke care (rather than emergent stroke care) and administer thrombolytic therapy and anticoagulation reversal medications (rather than administer thrombolytic therapy). Provides that the Department shall maintain an educational reference on the Department's website with the most current nationally-recognized and evidence-based guidelines for the management of hemorrhagic stroke and anticoagulation reversal.

Appropriates $11,692,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago for the State's contribution for retirement contributions under a specified provision of the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that if an officer or employee objects to a request for information by an Executive Inspector General based on any applicable rights or protections under State or federal law, the officer or employee may seek resolution of the objection by the Executive Ethics Commission. Provides that if an officer or employee refuses or fails to provide information requested by an Executive Inspector General, the Executive Inspector General may notify the Executive Ethics Commission and seek an order compelling the officer or employee to produce the information requested by the Executive Inspector General.

Amends the Counties Code. Changes the application of provisions allowing management and mitigation of the effects of urbanization on stormwater drainage in metropolitan counties located in the area served by the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission to those located in the area served by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Authorizes all counties (rather than specified counties) to adopt stormwater management plans. Provides that counties' minimum standards for floodplain and stormwater management should have an emphasis on the use of cost-effective, nature-based solutions, and provides examples of such solutions. Provides that the stormwater management plans shall evaluate water quality and flooding problems caused by urban flooding. Defines "urban flooding" as the flooding of public and private land in urban areas that results from stormwater or snowmelt runoff overwhelming the existing drainage infrastructure, unrelated to the overflow of any river or lake, whether or not that land is located in or near a floodplain. Provides that a stormwater management planning committee may make grants to units of local government and landowners under specified conditions.

Creates the Economic Development Act of 2017. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Interior Design Title Act. Provides that a registered interior designer shall have a seal or stamp containing his or her name, registration number, and the words "Registered Interior Designer of Illinois". Provides that the registered interior designer shall be responsible for his or her seal and signature. Provides that the seal may be generated by the computer for technical submissions. Provides that the use of a registered interior designer's seal on technical submissions constitutes a representation by the registered interior designer that the work has been prepared by or under the personal supervision of the registered interior designer or developed in conjunction with the use of accepted interior design standards. Provides that it is unlawful to affix one's seal to technical submissions if it masks the true identity of the person who actually exercised direction, control, and supervision of the preparation of work. Effective January 1, 2019.