Sen. Daniel Biss

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, if a deviation from the requirements for petitions under this Code is minor or technical in nature and does not (1) defeat the thrust, purpose, and effect of the Code or affect the intent to guarantee a fair and honest election or (2) prejudice public interests, the defect in the petitions shall not render the petition invalid. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prisoner records maintained by the Department of Corrections.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for all recipients of medical assistance who are enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care Entity, information concerning sensitive health services, including information concerning consultations, examinations, and treatments, shall not be divulged directly or indirectly to any person, including by sending a bill for such services or by sending an explanation of benefits provided by the Medicaid Managed Care Entity, unless the recipient who received the sensitive health services requests the information from the Medicaid Managed Care Entity. Provides that the term "Medicaid Managed Care Entity" includes, but is not limited to, Care Coordination Entities, Accountable Care Entities, Managed Care Community Networks, and Managed Care Organizations. Defines "sensitive health services". Provides that nothing in this provision shall be construed to relieve a Medicaid Managed Care Entity or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services of its duty to report incidents of sexually transmitted infections to the Department of Public Health or to the local board of health in accordance with regulations adopted under a statute or ordinance, or to report incidents of sexually transmitted infections as necessary to comply with certain requirements under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or as otherwise required by State or federal law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate firefighters.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that the boundaries of Legislative and Representative districts may be separate. Requires that both types of districts, in addition to being compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population, must reflect minority voting strengths, promote competition, and consider political boundaries. Replaces the current method of redistricting of the Senate and House of Representatives with the following: an 8-member Independent Redistricting Commission, appointed by the Chief Justice and the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court who is not affiliated with the same political party as the Chief Justice, shall hold at least 15 public hearings throughout the State before adopting any redistricting plan; requires the Commission to adopt a report explaining the compliance of the proposed redistricting plan with the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions; and provides for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court who is not affiliated with the same political party as the Chief Justice to appoint a ninth member to the Commission, if the Commission fails to adopt and file a redistricting plan by the required date. Specifies the schedule for redistricting activities. Effective upon being declared adopted and applicable to redistricting beginning in 2021 and to the election of General Assembly members beginning in 2022.

The amount of $76,220,000, or so much of that amount as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the implementation of energy-efficiency related rebate agreements, grants, contracts, or other programs created under certain provisions of the Public Utilities Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Repeals provision that committed persons shall be responsible to reimburse the Department of Corrections for the expenses incurred by their incarceration at a rate to be determined by the Department. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to make conforming changes.

Amends the Special Service Area Tax Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a county or a municipality may establish a green special service area. Provides that those green special service areas shall include only property for which each owner of record has executed a contract or agreement with the county or municipality consenting to the inclusion of the property within the green special service area. Provides that counties and municipalities may levy property taxes in connection with green special service areas. Provides that counties and municipalities may issue bonds in connection with green special service areas and may sell, assign, or pledge those bonds to the Illinois Finance Authority. Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code to provide that each county or municipality shall have the power and authority to engage in specified activities that relate to green special service areas. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Illinois Finance Authority has the power to purchase special service area bonds and to accept assignments or pledges, or both, of special service area bonds or agreements relating to green special service area projects. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision concerning the Community Care Program, establishes the following rate increases for the purpose of increasing the wages paid by vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services: on July 1, 2016, rates shall be increased to $19.27, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; on July 1, 2017, rates shall be increased to $21.39, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; on July 1, 2018, rates shall be increased to $23.52, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; and on July 1, 2019, rates shall be increased to $25.22, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour. Requires the Department to pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees consistent with the mandates of Public Act 95-713; and that for State fiscal year 2017, the enhanced rate shall be $1.77 per hour and shall be adjusted using actuarial analysis based on the cost of care. Effective July 1, 2016.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish reimbursement rates which build toward livable wages for front line personnel in residential and day programs serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including but not limited to intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities, community integrated living arrangements, developmental training programs, employment, and other residential and day programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. Provides that the Department shall increase rates and reimbursements so that direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $15 per hour and so that other front line personnel earn a commensurate wage. Defines "front line personnel". Effective immediately.