Sen. Laura Fine

Amends the Zoning Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that decisions by the corporate authorities of a municipality in regard to any petition or application for a special use, variance, rezoning, or other amendment to a zoning ordinance shall be subject to judicial review (rather than de novo judicial review as a legislative decision, regardless of whether the process in relation thereto is considered administrative for other purposes). Provides that principles of substantive and procedural process that apply in all states of the decision-making and review of zoning decisions includes protection against arbitrary or capricious action and protection against disregard of the decision-making body's own ordinances or regulations.

Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Access to Affordable Insulin Act. Sets forth provisions concerning an insulin urgent-need program. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish procedures and applications for the insulin urgent-need program. Sets forth provisions concerning insulin urgent-need program exceptions, eligibility, forms, applications, claims and reimbursement, copayments, information sheets, and navigators. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs, provides that an insurer that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs under the terms of a health coverage plan the insurer offers shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a 30-day supply of covered prescription insulin drugs at an amount not to exceed $35 (rather than $100). Effective immediately.

Congratulates Ron Melka on his retirement, express heartfelt gratitude for his exceptional service, leadership, and contributions to behavioral health, and wishes him a joyful and fulfilling retirement, knowing his impact will be felt for years to come.

Condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel, expresses deepest sorrow to all innocent people impacted by this terrorist attack and for all the innocent lives lost in Israel and Gaza, calls for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the region, demands the release of the hostages being held by Hamas, prays for all deployed Americans, and opposes all organizations that use terror as a tactic, victimize innocent civilians, and intentionally undermine peace throughout the world.

Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act. Requires all hearing instruments offered for sale to be accompanied by a 30-business day return privilege. Requires the receipt or contract provided to the consumer to state that the consumer has a right to return the hearing instrument for a refund within 30 business days of the date of delivery. Provides that if a nonrefundable dispensing fee or restocking fee, or both, will be withheld from the consumer in event of return, the terms must be clearly stated on the receipt or contract provided to the consumer. Defines terms. Makes technical changes. Effective January 1, 2024.

Declares November 2023 as Illinois Epilepsy Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.

Creates the Second Chance Public Health and Safety Act and amends the Freedom of Information Act, the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Contains declarations and findings. Creates the Department of Returning Resident Affairs and sets forth its powers in relation to returning residents (residents who have been detained, are defendants in criminal prosecutions, are incarcerated, or have been incarcerated) and other matters. Provides that the Department shall develop and administer the Second Chance State Program for returning residents and provides for the establishment of hub sites to provide specified services to eligible individuals and other elements of the Program. Provides for the appointment of a Director of Returning Resident Affairs who has experience working with or for a community-based organization and was incarcerated in an Illinois Department of Corrections facility for not less than one year, as well as an Assistant Director and a General Counsel. Contains provisions regarding other matters. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that all agency rules establishing procedures for contested cases may include procedures for requesting language assistance. Provides that, in a contested case, all parties shall be afforded an opportunity for an administrative hearing after reasonable notice in the preferred spoken language of the parties, if known by the agency. Provides that notice for the administrative hearings shall include instructions at the top of the notice, written in, at a minimum, English, Spanish, Polish, Gujarati, Urdu, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Tagalog, for assistance in translating the contents of the notice, and a statement written in those languages. Defines "language assistance". Provides that the administrative law judge has the duty to inquire and determine if a participant in the hearing needs language assistance to participate in or understand the hearing. Provides that if an individual for whom English is a second language knows some English, it should not prohibit that individual from being allowed to receive language assistance. Provides that the examination of the individual believed to be in need of language assistance must be done on the record, and the conclusion of the administrative law judge must be stated on the record. Provides that any party or witness has the right to request language assistance to participate in or understand the hearing at any time during the course of the hearing. Creates qualifications for the certification of administrative hearing interpreters.