Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is the public policy of the State to prevent discrimination based on family responsibilities in employment. Defines "family responsibilities" as an employee's actual or perceived provision of care to a family member, whether in the past, present, or future. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for: (1) any employer to refuse to hire, to segregate, to engage in harassment, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of family responsibilities; (2) any employment agency to fail or refuse to classify properly, accept applications and register for employment referral or apprenticeship referral, refer for employment, or refer for apprenticeship on the basis of family responsibilities; and (3) any labor organization to limit, segregate, or classify its membership, or to limit employment opportunities, selection and training for apprenticeship in any trade or craft, or otherwise to take or fail to take, any action which affects adversely any person's status as an employee or as an applicant for employment or as an apprentice, or as an applicant for apprenticeships, or wages, tenure, hours of employment, or apprenticeship conditions on the basis of family responsibilities. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for a person, or for 2 or more persons, to conspire to retaliate against a person because he or she has opposed that which he or she reasonably and in good faith believes to be discrimination based on family responsibilities. Makes conforming changes.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Defines “reproductive health decisions” as any decision by a person affecting the use or intended use of health care, goods, or services related to reproductive processes, functions, and systems. Provides that discrimination based on reproductive health decisions includes unlawful discrimination against a person because of the person's association with another person's reproductive health decisions. Includes discrimination based on reproductive health decisions in the definition of “unlawful discrimination”.
Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that, before commencing construction of a new establishment or an alteration or addition to an existing establishment, the owner or operator of the establishment shall submit architectural drawings and specifications for the construction, alteration, or addition to the Department of Public Health for review and approval. Contains requirements for submissions, review of submissions, and notice provided under the provisions. Provides fees based upon the estimated dollar value of the proposed constructions. Requires fees collected under the provisions to be deposited into the Health Facility Plan Review Fund and used by the Department to pay only the costs of conducting reviews under the provisions. Allows the Department to assess a civil penalty not to exceed $15,000 (rather than $5,000) against any establishment subject to the Act for violations of the Act. Makes conforming changes in the Nursing Home Care Act and the MC/DD Community Care Act.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning Medicare supplement policy minimum standards, provides that if an individual is at least 65 years of age but no more than 75 years of age and has an existing Medicare supplement policy, then the individual is entitled to an annual open enrollment period lasting 45 days, commencing with the individual's birthday, and the individual may purchase any Medicare supplement policy with the same issuer or any affiliate authorized to transact business in the State (instead of only the same issuer) that offers benefits equal to or lesser than those provided by the previous coverage.
Amends the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act. Provides that the information regarding loans shall be provided to borrowers and cosigners (instead of just borrowers). Sets forth provisions for cosigner disclosure and notice, cosigner release, cosigner rights, what happens in the event of the bankruptcy or death of a cosigner, the total and permanent disability of a borrower or cosigner, refinancing, and modified or flexible repayment plans. Effective immediately.
Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Requires the governing board of each public university and community college district to pay employees and contractors their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a city, county, or State declaration of a winter weather emergency.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Data Security on State Computers Act by creating an Office of the Inspector General within the Department of Human Services. The new office is tasked with investigating and reporting on allegations of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation against individuals receiving mental health or developmental disability services. Key provisions establish clear definitions for terms like "employee," "neglect," and "material obstruction of an investigation" to guide these inquiries. The legislation applies to a wide range of service providers, including state-operated facilities, licensed community agencies, and various staff members such as contractors and volunteers. Effective January 1, 2025, the changes aim to strengthen oversight and protect vulnerable populations from harm within the state's human services system.
Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning early childhood construction grants, removes a provision that specifies that grants made in fiscal year 2024 may be made only to public school districts. Provides that a not-for-profit early childhood entity that rents or leases from another not-for-profit entity shall be considered an eligible entity. Effective immediately.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Removes a requirement that the Department of Children and Family Services notify the public when a child care institution, maternity center, or group home licensed by the Department undergoes a change in the area within the facility used by children or a change in the age of children served.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that beginning with the operation of a State-based exchange in plan year 2026, a pregnant individual has the right to enroll in a qualified health plan through a special enrollment period at any time after a qualified health care professional certifies that the individual is pregnant. Amends the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Provides that notice of a health insurance issuer's election to uniformly modify coverage, uniformly terminate coverage, or discontinue coverage in a marketplace shall be sent by certified mail to the Department of Insurance 45 days (instead of 90 days) in advance of any notification of the company's actions sent to plan sponsors, participants, beneficiaries, and covered individuals. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning flat-dollar copayment structures for prescription drug benefits. Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to an individual or group policy for excepted benefits or short-term, limited-duration health insurance coverage (instead of an individual or group policy for dental or vision insurance or a limited health service organization) with a network plan, except to the extent that federal law establishes network adequacy and transparency standards for stand-alone dental plans, which the Department shall enforce. Provides that if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services establishes minimum provider ratios for stand-alone dental plans in the type of exchange in use in this State for a given plan year, the Department shall enforce those standards for stand-alone dental plans for that plan year. Requires the Department of Insurance to enforce certain appointment wait-time standards, time and distance standards, and other standards if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services establishes those standards for plans in the type of exchange in use in this State. Makes other changes.