Creates the Department of Early Childhood Act. Creates the Department of Early Childhood to begin operation on July 1, 2024 and transfers to it certain rights, powers, duties, and functions currently exercised by various agencies of State Government. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 the Department of Early Childhood shall be the lead State agency for administering and providing early childhood education and care programs and services to children and families including: home-visiting services; early intervention services; preschool services; child care services; licensing for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes; and other early childhood education and care programs and administrative functions historically managed by the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services. Makes conforming changes to various Acts including the Department of Human Services Act, the Illinois Early Learning Council Act, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Early Intervention Services System Act and the Children and Family Services Act. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for the purpose of removing barriers to the timely treatment of serious mental illnesses, prior authorization mandates and utilization management controls shall not be imposed under the fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs on any FDA-approved prescription drug that is recognized by a generally accepted standard medical reference as effective in the treatment of conditions specified in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. Provides that the following shall be permitted for prescription drugs covered under the amendatory Act: (i) clinically appropriate drug utilization review (DUR) edits, including, but not limited to, drug-to-drug, drug-age, and drug-dose; (ii) generic drug substitution if a generic drug is available for the prescribed medication in the same dosage and formulation; and (iii) any utilization management control that is necessary for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to comply with any current consent decrees or federal waivers. Defines "serious mental illness".
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.
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.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Requires a summons issued in an action to collect a debt to include a separate notice containing specified language. Provides that the amount of wages that may be applied toward a judgment is limited to the lesser of 10% (rather than 15%) of gross weekly wages or the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed the total of 80 (rather than 45) times the State minimum hourly wage or the federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is greater. Provides that the amount of payment owed to or received by the judgment debtor under an independent contractor relationship that may be applied toward a judgment is limited to the lesser of 10% of gross weekly wages or the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed the total of 100 times the State minimum hourly wage or the federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is greater. Provides that when assets or income of the judgment debtor not exempt from the satisfaction of a judgment, deduction order, or garnishment are discovered, the court may order the unfreezing or return of wages or assets to the debtor under specified circumstances. Provides that a consumer debt judgment may not (rather than may) be revived and shall expire after 7 years from the date of entry. Provides that every individual is entitled to an estate of homestead to the extent in value of the modern homestead exemption (rather than $15,000) as applied to his or her interest in specified property. Defines "modern homestead exemption" as the greater of $260,000 and the most recently available median sales price of a home in the debtor's metropolitan statistical area or county. Expands the list of personal property that is exempt from judgment, attachment, or distress for rent, including an increase in the value of the property. Provides that with respect to any consumer debt judgment, no person or entity may recover interest accumulated on any indebtedness that the person or entity knew or should have known the cause of action accrued, if an action on that indebtedness is not brought within 5 years after the cause of action accrued. Makes conforming and other changes in the Act and the Illinois Wage Assignment Act.
Creates the Appliance Standards Act. Directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to adopt minimum efficiency standards for covered products: (1) automatic irrigation controllers; (2) computers and computer monitors; (3) faucets; (4) gas fireplaces; (5) portable electric spas; (6) residential ventilating fans; (7) showerheads; (8) spray sprinkler bodies; (9) state-regulated battery charger systems; (10) urinals; (11) water closets; (12) water coolers; or (13) any other products as may be designated by the Director of the Agency. Provides for testing, certification, and labeling of covered products. Contains provisions concerning enforcement of the Act's requirements. Provides for administrative rulemaking by the Agency. Makes findings. Defines terms.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not consider as an expense of any public utility, for the purpose of determining any rate or charge, any amount expended for contributions or gifts to political candidates, political parties, political or legislative committees, or any committee or organization working to influence referendum petitions or elections or contributions to a trade association, chamber of commerce, or public charity, including, but not limited to, a charity managed by the public utility or affiliated interest. Provides that the Commission shall not consider as an expense of any public utility, for the purpose of determining any rate or charge, any amount expended by the public utility for director and officers liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance. Provides that in determining whether other types of insurance purchased by the public utility are recoverable, the Commission shall determine whether the insurance is of financial benefit to ratepayers of the public utility or its shareholders. Provides that if the Commission determines the insurance purchased by the public utility is of benefit to its shareholders, then it shall not be a recoverable expense. Provides that, if a gas, electric, water, or sewer utility requests a general rate increase, the Commission shall hold at least one public hearing for the public to provide input on the proposed increase in rates. Provides that the public hearing shall be held in the service area of the public utility that is requesting the general rate increase at a time and location determined by the Commission. Makes changes in provisions definitions; donations made by a public utility for energy assistance; consideration of attorney and expert compensation as an expense; and the Consumer Intervenor Compensation Fund.
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, the Election Code, the Children and Family Services Act, the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the Township Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the Public Library District Act of 1991, the School Code, the Home Medical Equipment and Services Provider License Act, the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, the Illinois Gambling Act, the Liquor Control Act of 1934, and the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes changes in these Acts to provisions concerning whether a conviction for certain criminal offenses disqualifies an individual from serving in one of the specified public offices or on one of the specified boards and commissions. Makes conforming changes.
Creates the Minor User of Social Media Protection Act. Provides that a social media company that has Illinois account holders shall develop a written policy, made available to the public, that complies with the procedures set forth in the Act and establish a reporting function that permits account holders to report that an Illinois account holder is a minor. Provides that a social media company that receives a report that an Illinois account holder is a minor shall verify the age of that account holder and, if a reasonable age verification reveals that the reported account holder is a minor, the social media company shall take down the reported account holder's account. Sets forth provisions concerning liability for social media companies and liability for commercial entities or third-party vendors.
Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, not later than 270 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Director of Labor shall direct the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to issue non-mandatory guidance to employers on: (1) acquiring and maintaining opioid overdose reversal medication; and (2) training employees on an annual basis on the usage of such medication. Provides that, not later than 270 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Director of Labor shall direct the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to adopt rules to require each State agency to: (1) acquire and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication; and (2) train employees on an annual basis on the usage of such medication.