Sen. Daniel Biss

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that the term "student" within the definition of "educational employee" or "employee" as used in the Act includes (rather than excludes) graduate students who are teaching assistants primarily performing duties that involve the delivery and support of instruction and all other graduate students. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Lorraine Morton of Evanston.

Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. In provisions concerning transition of services, provides that the health care plan shall not modify an enrollee's coverage of a drug during the plan year if the drug has been previously approved for coverage by the plan for a medical condition, the plan's prescribing provider continues to prescribe the drug for the medical condition, and the patient continues to be an enrollee of the health care plan. Provides specific prohibited modifications of drug coverage in the health plan. Provides that the provisions do not prohibit a health care plan from requiring a pharmacist to effect generic substitutions of prescription drugs. Provides that the provisions do not prohibit the addition of prescription drugs to a health care plan's list of covered drugs during the coverage year. Provides that the provisions do not apply to a health care plan as defined in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 or medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Effective immediately.

Creates the Bridge Program for Underrepresented Students Act. Defines terms. Provides that each public university in this State may establish a Bridge Program for underrepresented students. Specifies program requirements. Provides that a public university that establishes a Bridge Program shall, on or before September 1, 2019 and on or before September 1 of each subsequent year, publish on its website and make available to the public a report on the Program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that disenrollment of a Medicaid enrollee from a managed care organization under contract with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be in accordance with specified federal requirements whenever a contract is terminated between a Medicaid managed care health plan and a primary care provider that results in a disruption to the Medicaid enrollee's provider-beneficiary relationship. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates the Broadband Advisory Council Article in the Act. Creates the Broadband Advisory Council to explore ways to expand broadband access throughout the State, including unserved and underserved areas. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Development shall provide administrative, personnel, and technical support. Provides for the voting and nonvoting membership of the Council. Provides for the powers and duties of the Council. Provides that the Council shall report to the General Assembly annually concerning actions the Council took during the previous year.

Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Adds various provisions concerning requirements for hospitals and pediatric health care facilities in relation to pediatric sexual assault care. Provides that a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or operated under the University of Illinois Hospital Act (rather than licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act) that provides general medical and surgical hospital services shall provide either transfer services to all sexual assault survivors, medical forensic services to all sexual assault survivors, or transfer services to pediatric sexual assault survivors and medical forensic services to sexual assault survivors 13 years old or older (rather than transfer services or hospital emergency services and forensic services in relation to injuries or trauma resulting from sexual assault). Provides that a pediatric health care facility may provide medical forensic services to pediatric sexual assault survivors. Adds provisions concerning requirements placed on the Department of Public Health; consent to jurisdiction for pediatric health care facilities; storage, retention, and dissemination of photo documentation relating to medical forensic services; sexual assault services vouchers; pediatric sexual assault care; and requirements placed on the Attorney General. Makes other changes.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall not deny a sealing or expungement petition because the petitioner has not satisfied an outstanding financial obligation established, imposed, or originated by a court, law enforcement agency, or a municipal, State, county, or other unit of local government, including, but not limited to, any cost, assessment, fine, or fee. Makes changes to the definition of "terminate". Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that course material and instruction in a sex education course shall include, with an emphasis on the workplace environment and life on a college campus, material and discussion on what constitutes sexual consent and what may be considered sexual harassment or sexual assault. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the unlawful sale of public conveyance travel tickets to a minor.