Sen. Laura Fine

Declares May of 2023 as "BPD Month".

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that persons shall not be determined ineligible for cash assistance provided under the General Assistance Article of the Code based upon a conviction for any drug-related felony under State or federal law. In provisions concerning General Assistance, provides that a local governmental unit may provide assistance to households under its General Assistance program following a disaster proclamation issued by the Governor if the local governmental unit is within the area designated under the proclamation. Provides that a local governmental unit may provide assistance under its General Assistance program under a service that complies with a specified provision of the Township Code. Provides that before a local government provides assistance, the board of the local government shall approve the expenditures of such assistance in accordance with the provisions of the General Assistance Article of the Code. Amends the Township Code. In provisions concerning the expenditure of township funds, expands the type of health services that may be provided with township funds to include mental, behavioral, eye, dental, or other healthcare. Provides that the township board may approve the application of a different, publicly available, professionally or academically recognized standard of need in determining eligibility for subsidized day care.

Appropriates $25,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Supreme Court to be distributed to counties for expenses for direct mental health services provided to individuals and families participating in mental health courts, or on standard adult and juvenile probation caseloads. Appropriates $9,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Supreme Court for the establishment and maintenance of crisis intervention mental health care units for regional use and availability by probation departments for adults and juveniles in need of immediate care and placement. Effective July 1, 2023.

Appropriates $15,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for costs associated with the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. Effective July 1, 2023.

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of making a grant to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA for program and operating expenses for youth development-based sports initiatives. Effective July 1, 2023.

Creates the Tickborne Disease Prevention and Protection Act. Presents legislative findings. Requires the Department of Public Health, in conjunction with the medical entomology lab of the Prairie Research Institute's Illinois Natural History Survey and a statewide association representing physicians, to develop protocols and best practices for identifying, diagnosing, and treating tickborne diseases in Illinois and a mandatory accredited continuing medical education course that describes those protocols and best practices. Provides that the Department shall require health care professionals and laboratories to report cases of tickborne disease to each other and the Department. Directs the Department to train local health departments to respond to tickborne disease-related inquiries. Requires the Department to prepare a report of all efforts undertaken by the Department under the Act.

Makes various appropriations from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for family and community services and related distributive purposes. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the School Code. Provides that all school districts shall provide instruction on relaxation activities such as yoga or meditation for at least one half-period of the school day to enhance both mental and physical health of students.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that if the respondent to an order of protection issued is required to surrender any firearms, the order of protection shall also include an order to surrender firearms. Requires the respondent to surrender any firearms under an order to surrender on the day the respondent is served with the order of protection. Requires the law enforcement agency receiving any surrendered firearms to provide a statement of receipt of any firearm to the respondent and the court. Provides that the failure to surrender any firearm within 24 hours to the individual or law enforcement agency under an order to surrender firearms shall constitute contempt of court for the violation of the terms of the order of protection. Requires the Supreme Court to adopt a form for an order to surrender firearms and update any existing forms for an order of protection to reflect the changes made by the amendatory Act. Provides that if any Firearm Owner's Identification Card of the respondent is surrendered, the period of surrender shall be for the duration of the order of protection. Provides that if any Firearm Owner's Identification Card of the respondent is revoked, the period of surrender shall be for the duration of the order of protection or 2 years, whichever is longer. Restricts a respondent who has surrendered a firearm from purchasing, possessing, or having access to a firearm for the period of surrender. Provides that, upon expiration of the period of surrender, any surrendered firearm may only be returned to a respondent if a judicial officer has signed an order to release firearms stating that the order of protection is no longer in effect and the period of surrender has expired. Makes conforming changes in the Act, the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.