Sen. Ram Villivalam

Creates the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure and Policy. Provides for the membership of the Commission. Provides for the appointment of a chairperson of the Commission by the Governor. Provides that the members shall be appointed by May 31, 2022. Provides for the meetings and duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall report a summary of its activities and produce a final report of its data, findings, and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 31, 2023. Provides that the Act shall be repealed on February 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

Creates the Mind Strong Act. Requires the Department of Public Health, or a third party contractor with experience in successful public education and awareness campaigns selected by the Department of Public Health, to develop and lead a 2-year educational campaign within each of Illinois' 11 health regions on the availability of adult mobile crisis response services within each region. Requires the Department to work in collaboration with community stakeholders, including certain organizations, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services. Requires the public awareness campaign to begin no later than January 1, 2022. Sets forth certain requirements for the public awareness campaign, including that it be culturally competent and that any written materials be written in plain, easy-to-understand language and available in multiple languages that are representative of the communities in a particular health region. Lists the types of organizations that must be the focus of the educational campaign. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish, subject to appropriation, a grant program for adult mobile crisis response services to any adult age 18 or older experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis regardless of insurance status. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop and implement training and protocols for individuals answering crisis calls to the Crisis and Referral Entry Services (CARES) line. Contains provisions concerning the use of data to strengthen CARES line responses and adult mobile crisis response services, and other matters. Requires the Departments of Public Health, Human Services, and Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules to implement the Act. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Alternatives to Crisis Escalation (ACE) Act. Requires the Department of Public Health, or a third-party contractor with experience in successful public education and awareness campaigns selected by the Department of Public Health, to develop and lead a 2-year educational campaign within each of Illinois' 11 health regions on the availability of adult mobile crisis response services within each region and how to access such services. Requires the Department to develop and implement this public awareness and educational campaign in collaboration with community stakeholders, including certain organizations, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services. Requires the public awareness campaign to begin no later than January 1, 2022 and to take into account crisis services, if any. Sets forth certain requirements for the public awareness campaign, including that it be culturally competent and that any written materials be written in plain, easy-to-understand language and available in multiple languages that are representative of the communities in a particular health region. Lists the types of stakeholders that shall be included as partner-stakeholders in the development of the campaign. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish, subject to appropriation, a grant program for the purposes of providing adult mobile crisis response services to any adult age 18 or older experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis regardless of insurance status. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop and implement training and protocols for individuals answering crisis calls to the Crisis and Referral Entry Services (CARES) line. Contains provisions concerning the use of data to strengthen CARES line responses and adult mobile crisis response services, and other matters. Requires the Departments of Public Health, Human Services, and Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a circuit court enters an order vacating a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or an intoxicating compound more than 30 days after the entry of judgment of conviction, the Secretary of State shall not remove that conviction from the driving record and, with exceptions, may use it for imposing sanctions related to driving privileges. Provides that if a court enters an order rescinding a statutory summary suspension, the Secretary shall not remove the statutory summary suspension from the driving record and may use it for imposing sanctions related to driving privileges.

Creates the Innovations for Transportation Infrastructure Act. Contains a statement of legislative policy. Defines terms. Adds provisions governing: authorization of project delivery methods; preconditions to commencement of procurement; procurement; evaluation and selection of proposals; project records; confidentiality; public disclosure; design-build contracts; construction manager/general contractor contracts; funding and financing; minority, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses; labor agreements; acquisition of property; federal requirements; powers of the Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority; and rulemaking. Makes corresponding changes in the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois; Illinois Finance Authority Act; the Illinois Procurement Code; the Public Construction Bond Act; the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act; the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act; the Toll Highway Act; the Eminent Domain Act; and the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Code. Provides, for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2021, a surcharge is imposed on an Illinois resident's low-taxed investment income. Defines "low-taxed investment income". Provides how the surcharge is calculated. Exempts from the surcharge: (i) resident married individuals filing joint returns, if Illinois taxable income is not more than $250,000; (ii) a resident head of household, if Illinois taxable income is not more than $200,000; and (iii) resident unmarried individuals, resident married individuals filing separate returns, and resident estates and trusts, if Illinois taxable income is not more than $150,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Swimming Facility Act. In provisions regarding rules, provides that seasonal events of religious institutions are exempt from rules adopted by the Department of Public Health requiring the installation of permanent structures. Effective immediately.

Amends the Accountable Care Organization Clinical Laboratory Testing Advisory Board Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that of the federal funds received by the State for purposes related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, 25% of any such funds shall be allocated as grants to businesses with less than 50 employees. Provides eligibility requirements for businesses seeking to receive such grants. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall award grants in the amount of $5,000 to eligible businesses. Provides that a business shall only be eligible for one such grant. Requires the Department to publish the names of the businesses that are awarded grants on its Internet website. Provides for the adoption of rules.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Certified Nursing Assistant Workforce Pipeline Program to recruit, support, and train individuals to work as certified nursing assistants at nursing facilities, with a focus on facilities in disadvantaged communities, those serving residents of color, and high-Medicaid facilities. Requires the program to be administered by a labor-management organization acting on behalf of a partnership between nursing facilities and a labor organization representing nursing home workers. Provides that the labor-management organization must demonstrate the ability to recruit, support, train, and place individuals in a career in healthcare with a specific focus on addressing the staff shortages at nursing facilities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides that the program must utilize a hybrid model of in-person and online instruction for both the lecture and simulation lab component of the nursing assistant curriculum. Requires program training and instruction to meet State and federal education regulations and to provide a pathway for participants to receive certification as nursing assistants. Provides that to ensure financial hardship is not a barrier to successful completion of the program, supportive services may be offered to program participants, including, but not limited to, monetary grants; childcare and transportation stipends; loaned computers, Internet access hotspots, and other digital supports; and academic coaching and counseling. Provides that the program may also provide wage supplements to program graduates. Provides that funds available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 may be used to fund the program in accordance with the permitted purposes under the American Recovery Plan Act and all related federal guidance. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.