Illinois

Amends the Personnel Code. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services may consider relevant work experience if the Department determines that it is equivalent to a college degree when appropriate. Effective immediately.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Makes changes to assessments for admission to establishments and service plan requirements. Requires an establishment to notify the resident and the resident's representative when there is a significant change in the resident's condition that affects the establishment's ability to meet the resident's needs. Prohibits an establishment from terminating or reducing any service without the consent of the resident or the resident's representative for the purpose of making it more difficult or impossible for the resident to remain in the establishment. Adds new requirements for establishments and the Department of Public Health regarding the involuntary termination of residency. Provides that a resident has the right to not be unlawfully transferred or discharged. Makes other changes. Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Prohibits a resident from being transferred or discharged in violation of the Act. Provides that a resident has the right not to be unlawfully transferred or discharged. Provides for the assessment of a $2,500 fine for a facility that fails to comply with an order to readmit a resident who wishes to return to the facility and is appropriate for that level of care and services provided. Requires a facility that complies with an order to readmit a resident that has been deemed to have been unlawfully discharged to notify the Department within 10 business days after the resident has been readmitted to the facility. Provides that a facility may involuntarily transfer or discharge a resident because the facility is unable to meet the medical needs of the resident, as documented in the resident's clinical record by the resident's physician. Provides that the Department maintains jurisdiction over the transfer or discharge irrespective of the timing of the notice and discharge. Provides that if the Department determines that a transfer or discharge is not authorized, then the Department shall issue a written decision stating that the transfer or discharge is denied. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code by adding the Dual Language Education Article. Requires, by December 15, 2026, the State Board to adopt comprehensive guidance for school districts regarding the establishment of new dual language education programs and the expansion of existing dual language education programs. Requires, by July 1, 2029, the State Board of Education's Equity Journey Continuum to integrate into the comprehensive strategic plan dual language education into the broader framework of student learning to ensure it is considered an essential part of educational equity and excellence and specific provisions for dual language teachers, focusing on recruitment, professional development, and retention of bilingual educators. Requires, by July 1, 2027, the State Board to establish recognition pathways for biliteracy at various levels before high school. Allows school districts to choose to participate in the pathways to biliteracy program.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any group or individual policy of accident or health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for laser hair removal if the procedure is prescribed medical treatment in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical care. Provides that the coverage shall apply to individuals with conditions including, but not limited to, body dysmorphia, hidradentis suppreativa, polycystic ovary syndrome, or other similar skin conditions. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid code to require coverage under those provisions.

Amends the Judicial Privacy Act. Adds administrative law judges to the definition of judicial officer in the Judicial Privacy Act.

Authorizes Bethalto Community Unit School District No. 8, Madison County to prepare a quitclaim deed to release any and all interest in the real property that was conveyed by Public Act 90-71 and to release the covenant and condition previously recorded as a lien against the property.

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning third party non-instructional services, allows a board of education to enter into a contract, of no longer than 3 months in duration, with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by an employee or bargaining unit member for the purpose of augmenting the current workforce in an emergency situation that threatens the safety or health of the school district's students or staff, provided that (i) the school board meets all of its obligations under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act and (ii) the board of education posts all vacant positions used for augmenting the current workforce on the school district's website, in a manner that is easily accessible to the affected bargaining unit and the general public, as well as on all other platforms on which the board of education advertises its vacancies (rather than just provided that the school board meets all of its obligations under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act); defines "emergency situation". Provides that the board of education must post all vacant positions in the manner described in the amendatory provisions for the entirety of an emergency contract and the entirety of any reviewed emergency contract until the emergency contract expires. Provides that a board of education that attempts to renew or enter into any new contract of any type whatsoever for any reason whatsoever with a third party for non-instructional services to augment the current workforce for a group of employees in an emergency situation 2 times must follow specified steps or obtain mutual agreement with the affected bargaining unit, if any. The mutual agreement must be separate from the collective bargaining agreement that the affected bargaining unit has with the board of education. Provides that a board of education that attempts to renew or enter into any new contract of any type whatsoever for any reason whatsoever with a third party for non-instructional services to augment the current workforce for a group of employees in an emergency situation 3 times or more is required to obtain mutual agreement with the affected bargaining unit. Provides that the mutual agreement must be separate from the collective bargaining agreement that the affected bargaining unit has with the board of education. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the School Code. Creates the Chronic Absence Task Force within the State Board of Education to study chronic absenteeism and to support the development of a State strategy to address the ongoing challenges presented by chronic absenteeism for students in early childhood education and care programs and students in grades kindergarten through 12. Sets forth provisions concerning membership, compensation, meetings, administrative support, and public testimony. Requires the Task Force to identify strategies, mechanisms, and approaches to help families, educators, principals, superintendents, and the State Board of Education address and mitigate the high rates of chronic absence of students in State-funded early-childhood programs and public-school students in grades kindergarten through 12. Requires the Task Force to submit a report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than December 15, 2027. Dissolves the Task Force and repeals these provisions on January 31, 2028. Effective September 1, 2025.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Corrects grammatical, typographical, terminology, and formatting errors. Further amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Grants the Board of Higher Education the power and duty: to accept gifts, grants, or legacies from any source when made for higher education purposes; to create and participate in the conduct and operation of any corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or other organizational entity that has the power (i) to acquire land, buildings, and other capital equipment for the use and benefit of higher education and students in the State; (ii) to accept gifts and make grants for the use and benefit of higher education and students in the State; (iii) to aid in the instruction and education of students in the State; and (iv) to promote activities to acquaint residents of the State with the facilities of the various institutions of higher education; and to distribute such other grants as may be authorized or appropriated by the General Assembly for which the Board may adopt any rules necessary for the purposes of implementing and distributing funds pursuant to an authorized or appropriated grant. Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the definition of "third-party restaurant reservation service" does not include any reservation distribution channel that is authorized to distribute reservations through a contract with either a food service establishment or an entity authorized to distribute reservations through a contract with the food service establishment. Removes a provision prohibiting indemnity agreements with a third-party restaurant reservation service.

Amends the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules specifying the standards for registration of certain signs under the Act. Provides that if an application for a permit has been denied, written notice of the decision shall cite the specific federal law, State law, Illinois Administrative Code section, or Code of Federal Regulations section related to the denial and state in detail why the application was denied (rather than only state in detail why the application was denied). Adds the failure of the Department to act upon any permit within the designated time limit under the Act or the rules adopted by the Department to reasons a person can appeal a decision by the Department. Provides that proceedings for an appeal shall commence within 30 days after the receipt of the appeal request. Adds requirements for a hearing conducted under the Act and requires an administrative law judge to present a written proposal that contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for a final decision to the Secretary of Transportation within 30 days after conclusion of a hearing. Adopts and incorporates the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules regarding the implementation and enforcement of the Act (rather than permits the Department to establish rules and regulations). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act and the Public Community College Act. Provides that a student member who serves on the Board of Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board shall receive a scholarship award of $500 for each semester in which the student member is enrolled and serving.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Changes the repeal date of the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2028. Amends the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act. Provides that an applicant for a license to dispense, test, select, recommend, fit, or service prescription hearing aids may take the written licensing examination no more than 4 times in any consecutive 12-month period. Allows a trainee license to be renewed once for an additional 6 months (was non-renewable). Provides that the changes to the Regulatory Sunset Act are effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that the Illinois Gaming Board shall (1) allow sworn law enforcement personnel employed by the Board who retire in good standing to keep their previously issued Board identification cards or (2) issue photographic identification cards to sworn law enforcement personnel employed by the Board who retire in good standing that indicate their separation from service and identify the person as having been employed by the Board as sworn law enforcement personnel. Provides that, if a Board-issued identification card is lost or stolen, the Board shall immediately reissue a replacement identification card upon written request by the retired sworn law enforcement personnel. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Construction Bond Act. Provides that, before the completion of 50% of the contract for public works, the State or a local governmental unit, except for the Department of Transportation, may not withhold retainage from any payment to a contractor who furnishes the bond or bond substitute required by the Act in an amount in excess of 10% of any payment made before the date of completion of 50% of the contract for public works. Provides that, when a contract for public works is 50% complete, the State or the local governmental unit, except for the Department of Transportation, shall reduce the retainage so that no more than 5% is held. Allows a State agency, subject to these limitations, to withhold as retainage a portion of the moneys from the payment of a contract that is entered into on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act if and only if the State agency determines that satisfactory progress has not been achieved by a contractor or subcontractor during any period for which a payment is to be made. Requires satisfactory progress to be clearly provided for in the contract between the State agency and the contractor or subcontractor. Provides that retainage may not be used as a substitute for good contract management, and the State agency may not withhold funds without cause. Provides that determinations to retain and the specific amount to be withheld must be made by the State agency on a case-by-case basis based on the performance of milestones under the current contract as provided for in the contract between the State agency and the contractor. Prohibits a contractor from withholding retainage from a subcontractor except to the extent a State agency has withheld retainage from the contractor which is attributable to that subcontractor's subcontract. Defines "retainage". Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act may be construed to modify any provision of the State Prompt Payment Act or the Local Government Prompt Payment Act. Effective June 1, 2027.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that any person who files or causes to be filed a deed or instrument that is recorded in the grantor's index or the grantee's index that is fraudulent, unlawfully altered, or intended to unlawfully cloud or transfer the title of any real property may be held liable to the rightful property owner affected in an action brought in a court of competent jurisdiction for such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to enforce the Code. Requires every county to establish and maintain a property fraud alert system. Requires every recorder to establish a fraud referral and review process to review deeds and instruments.

Reinserts the provisions of House Amendment No. 1, except deletes or changes various data collection elements.

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act and the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that any authorized employee (instead of an advanced practice registered nurse, practical nurse, registered nurse, or physician) of an organization that provides hospice services to a hospice patient or that provides home health services to a person may receive a patient's prescription orders, including controlled substances, and deliver the prescription orders to the patient.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes language increasing the maximum civil penalty for offering fire sprinkler contractor services without being licensed or exempt from licensure or for practicing as a fire sprinkler inspector without being licensed or exempt from licensure.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as Air Medal plates to residents of this State who meet the eligibility requirements prescribed by the Secretary of State. Provides that the plates shall display the Air Medal. Provides that in all other respects, the design, color, and format of the plates shall be within the discretion of the Secretary.

Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. Authorizes a credit union to furnish information to any person on a list submitted and periodically updated by a member who is an elderly person or person with a disability or to specified other persons, if there is suspicion by the credit union that the member has been or may become a victim of financial exploitation. Provides that the board of directors of a credit union with a composite rating of either 1 or 2 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System known as the CAMELS supervisory rating system and a management rating under such composite rating of either 1 or 2 may meet not less than 4 (instead of 6) times annually. Provides that the supervisory committee of a credit union with assets of less than $10,000,000 may, at its option, engage (instead of a credit union with assets of $5,000,000 or more, but less than $10,000,000 shall engage) a licensed certified public accountant or licensed certified public accounting firm to perform specified auditing and other services. Permits the merger of credit unions, without meeting certain voting and notice requirements, where supervisory concerns exist and upon agreement of the boards of directors of the merging and continuing credit unions, as confirmed by a majority vote of the directors present at a meeting of each board at which a quorum is present. Makes other changes.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change. Adds a provision which specifies that the provisions of the Act that are being amended by the introduced bill shall not be construed to affect the protection of or access to records under the Illinois School Students Records Act or the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In a provision concerning the requirements that a health care professional must meet before he or she can have his or her license placed on volunteer status (rather than being granted a volunteer license), provides that a health care professional must possess an active license that is not currently subject to discipline or under investigation by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (rather than satisfaction of all requirements of the State licensing Act that applies to his or her health care profession and the rules adopted under the Act). Removes the volunteer licensure fee and removes references to volunteer licenses. Provides that a health care professional whose license is in volunteer status may request that the Department change the status of the license to active as long as the request for the change is made during the same renewal period in which the license was previously active or the license is renewed in the same manner, at the same time, and with the same conditions as an active license. Provides that a health care professional who holds an active license that was previously a volunteer license is subject to the requirements of the State licensing Act that applies to his or her health care profession and the rules adopted under the relevant Act. Provides that the Department may adopt rules for the administration of the provisions regarding volunteer licenses (rather than determining by rule the total number of volunteer licenses to be issued). Makes conforming and other changes.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following additional changes: Provides that a service member whose employment with an employer is interrupted by a period of active service shall be permitted, upon request of that service member, to use during such period of service any vacation, annual, or similar leave with pay accrued by the service member before the commencement of such period of active service. In a provision concerning concurrent compensation for public employees who are members of a reserve component, provides that such public employees may receive concurrent compensation for both annual training orders and orders in lieu of annual training in the same calendar year; however, the combined total of their concurrent compensation shall not exceed 30 days in a calendar year. In a provision concerning differential compensation, provides that after a public employee is absent from his or her employment for a consecutive period of 365 days while performing voluntary active service, the employee's entitlement to differential compensation shall be terminated. Further provides that the public employee's right to differential pay shall be reinstated upon the employee's return to work with his or her employer for more than 90 calendar days. Provides that public employees are not entitled to differential pay for periods of unpaid active service including, but not limited to: travel to and from military orders, rest periods immediately before or after military orders, and military service in which the public employee does not receive pay from the military. Provides that "work days" are tabulated up to 24 continuous hours in a shift, regardless if the shift extends into the next calendar day; and a shift that extends beyond 24 continuous hours will be calculated as an additional work day. Makes the bill effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Removes the Governor as a member of the Climate Displacement Task Force Act. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides for the dissolution of the Task Force. Repeals the Act on December 31, 2028. Effective immediately.