Sen. Ram Villivalam

Creates the Right to Shop Act. Requires a carrier offering a health plan to develop and implement a program that provides incentives for enrollees in a health plan who elect to receive a comparable health care service from a provider that collects less than the average in-network allowed amount paid by that carrier to a network provider for that comparable health care service. Provides how incentives may be calculated, distributed, and offered. Requires the carrier to file a description of the health care service incentive program with the Department of Insurance. Requires a carrier to establish an interactive mechanism on its website to enable an enrollee to request the estimated amount the carrier would pay to a network provider for a comparable health care service. Requires the Director of Central Management Services to conduct an analysis on the cost effectiveness of implementing an incentive-based program for current enrollees and retirees of the State group health benefits plan. Requires a program found to be cost effective to be implemented as part of the next open enrollment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to increase rates and reimbursements to fund a minimum of a $0.58 per hour wage increase, for front-line personnel for services provided in the City of Chicago, and $0.62 per hour, for front-line personnel for services provided in the rest of the State, above the wage rates published by the Department effective July 2019. Provides that the Department shall publish an annual mandatory wage chart with wage requirements for direct service personnel containing either a single statewide wage for all direct support personnel or one wage each for direct support personnel in Chicago and the rest of the State. Provides that future wage requirements shall be no less than the percent increased by the consumer price index-u. Includes compliance provisions for service providers. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act. In a Section containing the short title, makes a technical change.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that certain socially disadvantaged persons are considered minority persons under the Act. Provides that a "socially disadvantaged person" means a person individually certified by the Business Enterprise Council for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities as having been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of his or her identity as a member of a group and without regard to his or her individual qualities.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State employees.

Amends the State Finance Act. Changes the name of the Partners for Conservation Fund to the Partners for Nutrient Loss Reduction Fund and makes conforming changes throughout the Act. Provides that moneys in the Fund may be used to implement the State's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, including funding for specified needs. Provides that the State Comptroller shall automatically transfer moneys to the Fund through June 30, 2026 (currently, 2021). Provides that the amount of moneys transferred from 2021 through 2026 (currently, only for 2021) shall be $35,075,000 (currently, $14,000,000). Specifies amounts and uses for moneys to be used by the Fund through specified years. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who employ individuals working within the engineering sector who graduated from an accredited institution of higher learning with a Bachelor's degree or higher. Provides that the credit shall be equal to 10% of the compensation paid for the first through fifth years of employment in the engineering sector if the qualified employee graduated from an institution located in Illinois or 5% of the compensation paid for the first through fifth years of employment in the engineering sector if the qualified employee graduated from an institution not located in Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

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.