Sen. Laura Fine

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Defines terms. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a retail establishment may not sell or distribute in this State a disposable food service container that is composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam. Exempts specified entities from the prohibition until one year after the amendatory Act's effective date. Effective immediately.

Recognizes and applauds the historic significance of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the sovereign and independent State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people. Reaffirms bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States, Illinois, and Israel and commits to strengthening these bonds. Commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements. Reaffirms support for Israel's right to defend itself against threats to its security and existence. Reaffirms enduring support for Israel as the country pursues peace. Extends best wishes to the State of Israel and its people for a peaceful and prosperous future.

Congratulates the people of the Republic of Bulgaria as they celebrate the 145th anniversary of their liberation on March 3, 2023. Declares March of 2023 as Bulgarian American Heritage Month in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Requires an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State to allow a student for whom it is determined that special education services are needed under the School Code to participate in interscholastic athletics and other forms of athletic competition for as long as the student is eligible for such special education services, which, for purposes of the School Code, means through the day before the student's 22nd birthday.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that coverage for self-management training and education, equipment, and supplies for diabetes treatment shall include insulin pumps and medical supplies required for the use of an insulin pump when medically necessary and prescribed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

Amends the Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, and Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a municipality with a population that has fallen below 5,000 inhabitants as determined by both of the preceding 2 federal decennial censuses, or that has a population of less than 5,000 inhabitants that approved a referendum creating a pension fund, may terminate its participation in a pension fund created under the Downstate Police or Downstate Firefighter Article with regard to persons who first become police officers or firefighters after a specified proposition is adopted and enroll in IMRF police officers or firefighters hired after the adoption of that proposition. Provides the required notice and form of the proposition. Provides that a municipality may elect to terminate its participation under the Article and dissolve the fund if certain conditions are met. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Removes language exempting insurers that are issuing a long-term care policy from specified provisions. Provides that, with regard to any policy, contract, or plan offered, entered into, issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 by a health insurer, life insurer, or long-term care insurer authorized to transact insurance in this State, a health insurer, life insurer, or long-term care insurer may not: (1) cancel, limit, or deny coverage or establish differentials in premium rates based on a person's genetic information; or (2) require or solicit an individual's genetic information, use an individual's genetic test results, or consider an individual's decisions or actions relating to genetic information or a genetic test in any manner for any insurance purpose. Provides that the provisions may not be construed as preventing a life insurer or long-term care insurer from accessing an individual's medical record as part of an application exam. Provides that nothing in the provisions prohibits a life insurer or long-term care insurer from considering a medical diagnosis included in an individual's medical record, even if the diagnosis is based on the results of a genetic test. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act and the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. Provides that during State Fiscal Years 2023, 2024, and 2025, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall allow individuals a one-time waiver of fees imposed under relevant provisions of the Acts. Provides that no individual may benefit from such a waiver more than once. Effective immediately.

Creates the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Act. Requires the Department of Employment Security to establish and administer a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program that provides family and medical leave insurance benefits to eligible employees. Sets forth eligibility requirements for benefits under the Act. Contains provisions concerning disqualification from benefits; premium payments; the amount and duration of benefits; the recovery of erroneous payments; hearings; defaulted premium payments; elective coverage; employment protection; coordination of family and medical leave; defined terms; and other matters. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Account Fund. Provides phase-in periods for the collection of money and making of claims for benefits under the Act. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Requires hospitals to screen patients for health insurance and financial assistance. Prohibits the sale of a patient's medical debt by a hospital. Prohibits hospitals from offering a payment plan to an uninsured patient without first exhausting any discount available to the uninsured patient under the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act and from entering into a payment plan for a bill that is eligible to be discounted by 100% under the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Makes other changes. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that hospital may not make the availability of a discount and maximum collectible amount contingent upon an uninsured patient's eligibility for specified programs if the patient declines to apply for a public health insurance program on the basis of concern for immigration-related consequences to the patient, which shall not be grounds for the hospital to deny financial assistance under the hospital's financial assistance policy.