Sen. Ram Villivalam

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the computation of taxes related to minority and other specific priority population owned business in the State. Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Sets forth provisions concerning hemp products. Amends the Industrial Hemp Act. Establishes provisions that will enable the State to regulate hemp-derived cannabinoids. Distinguishes the lawful use of hemp-derived cannabinoids. Sets forth the limitation and penalties concerning the unlawful use of hemp cannabinoid. Sets forth other provisions concerning licenses and registration of cultivating industrial hemp, rules, administrative hearings and judicial review, loans and grants, immunity, age verification, packaging and labeling of hemp cannabinoid products, laboratory approvals, testing requirements, violations of State and federal law, licensing and regulation of hemp processors and hemp food establishments, academic research institutions, government demonstration and research entity, and cannabinoid retail tax. Limits home rule powers. Defines terms.

Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Board Act. Establishes the Health Care Availability and Access Board to protect State residents, State and local governments, commercial health plans, health care providers, pharmacies licensed in the State, and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. Contains provisions concerning Board membership and terms; staff for the Board; Board meetings; circumstances under which Board members must recuse themselves; and other matters. Provides that the Board shall perform the following actions in open session: (i) deliberations on whether to subject a prescription drug product to a cost review; and (ii) any vote on whether to impose an upper payment limit on purchases, payments, and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products in the State. Permits the Board to adopt rules to implement the Act and to enter into a contract with a qualified, independent third party for any service necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Board. Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Stakeholder Council to provide stakeholder input to assist the Board in making decisions as required by the Act. Contains provisions concerning Council membership, member terms, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall adopt the federal Medicare Maximum Fair Price as the upper payment limit for a prescription drug product intended for use by individuals in the State. Provides that the Attorney General shall have authority to enforce the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to make a confirming change. Effective 180 days after becoming law.

Creates the Safe Patient Limits Act. Provides the maximum number of patients that may be assigned to a registered nurse in specified situations. Provides that nothing shall preclude a facility from assigning fewer patients to a registered nurse than the limits provided in the Act. Provides that the maximum patient assignments may not be exceeded, regardless of the use and application of any patient acuity system. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules governing the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that all facilities shall adopt written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff and that no registered nurse shall be assigned to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has, among other things, demonstrated competence in providing care in that area. Provides requirements for the Act's implementation. Establishes recordkeeping requirements. Provides rights and protections for nurses. Contains a severability provision and other provisions. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions. Makes changes concerning staffing plans. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Requires the exercise of professional judgment by a direct care registered professional nurse in the performance of his or her scope of practice to be provided in the exclusive interests of the patient.

Amends the Telephone Solicitations Act. Provides that a person, business, or organization may not spoof a caller's information or otherwise misrepresent the origin of a telemarketing call unless the person, business, or organization has the right to use the name and phone number displayed. Requires telephone solicitations placed in a manner other than by a live operator to immediately disclose their identity and the purpose of the call and prompt the recipient of the call to consent to the solicitation. Defines terms.

Creates the School District Impact Note Act. Requires the State Board of Education to prepare a School District Impact Note for every bill or amendment to a bill that direct appropriation, regulates, imposes a mandate upon, or otherwise affects the provision of public education. Specifies the contents of the note and the circumstances under which the note is to be prepared. Clarifies that the preparation of the note does not preclude any State officials or employees from participating in legislative hearings concerning the bill. Provides that the subject matter of bills submitted to the State Board of Education shall be kept in strict confidence, and no information relating to the bill or its anticipated impact on education in the State shall be divulged, before the bill's introduction in the General Assembly, by any State official or employee of the State Board, except to the bill's sponsor or his or her designee. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Illinois PRO Act. Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that the Illinois Labor Relations Board shall determine whether refusing to bargain collectively in good faith with a labor organization that is the exclusive representative of public employees in an appropriate unit, including, but not limited to, the discussing of grievances with the exclusive representative, was of a serious enough nature that it undermined or significantly impacted the collective bargaining process such that other traditional remedies may not remedy the violation if the Board is unable to order a make-whole remedy. Sets forth standards to make the determination and the option to order impasse arbitration. Provides that parties continue to have a duty to engage in good faith bargaining during the pendency of impasse arbitration procedures. Provides that the Board shall have authority to order make-whole relief, including, but not limited to, consequential damages and front pay for injuries suffered by employees or a labor organization as a result of an unfair labor practice. Provides that violators may also be subject to liquidated damages in an amount equal to any monetary make-whole relief ordered by the Board unless the employer can show it acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to believe it was acting in compliance in the Act.

Creates the Electric Vehicle Charging Tax Act. Provides that a tax is imposed on the privilege of engaging in business as an electric vehicle power provider in this State. Provides that, from January 1, 2025 through January 1, 2026, the rate of tax shall be $0.06 per kilowatt hour of electric vehicle power. Provides that the rate of tax shall be increased on January 1 of each year by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index. Amends the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act. Creates a dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging pilot program. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop an expanded informed consent document and expanded informed consent process for all patients scheduled to undergo atherectomy.

Amends the Domestic Violence Shelters Act. Provides that, no later than 180 days following the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Human Services shall establish the Domestic Violence Transportation Assistance Program. Provides that the Program shall consist of 3 parts: (1) the Department shall coordinate with the Suburban Bus Board established under the Regional Transportation Authority Act to create a transportation card that may be given to a victim of domestic violence and the victim's family or household members at a shelter for free transportation on Suburban Bus Board transportation; (2) the Department of Human Services shall create a system where victims of domestic violence may call the Department of Children and Family Services' Domestic Violence Helpline that will connect the caller with a taxi or a rideshare company to transport victims and the victim's family or household members to a safe residence free of charge to get the victim and the victim's family or household members out of a domestic violence situation or from a shelter; and (3) the Program shall provide for reimbursement for shelter employees or volunteers for travel-related expenses after providing transportation services to a victim of domestic violence or the victim's family or household members. Provides that the implementation of the Program is subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Contains other provisions about Program funding and rules that may be adopted to implement the provisions. Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act and the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that subject to the availability of local resources, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, each public middle school, junior high school, and high school shall establish a junior color guard program to promote the value of and honor military personnel. Provides that the junior color guard shall be used at school events, including interscholastic athletic events and other events in which the presenting of the colors is requested. Provides that each school shall allow the junior color guard to participate in community events in which the presenting of the colors may be requested. Provides that each school may work with a civic organization or association to provide adequate training to the members of the junior color guard on the execution of their duties.