Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop statewide guidance for school districts and educators on the use of technology-based learning resources in elementary and secondary education. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop and publish the guidance by July 1, 2027 and provide continuous updates as it deems necessary. Allows the State Superintendent of Education to convene stakeholders for a statewide council to consult on the further development of guidance, resources, and other support for school districts and educators on the use of technology-based learning resources in schools.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code with respect to the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. Provides that a maximum of $2,000 (rather than $1,000) shall be given as monetary assistance and incentives toward the National Board for Professional Teaching standards' renewal application fee. Removes other monetary assistance and incentives. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide an annual stipend of $4,000 for up to 5 years to teachers who hold current National Board for Professional Teacher Standards certification. Provides that to receive the $4,000 annual stipend, the National Board certified teacher must be employed as a public school teacher and must hold a valid National Board for Professional Teacher Standards certificate throughout each year of the stipend. Provides that if there are adequate funds available, mentoring programming must be made available to support qualified educators in their pursuit of National Board certification. Sets forth specific incentives, and provides that funds may also be used for (i) professional development training provided by National Board certified teachers or (ii) instructional leadership training for qualified educators interested in supporting implementation of the Illinois Learning Standards or teaching and learning priorities of the State Board of Education or both. Provides that the selection of teachers who hold both a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation and a current corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be encouraged for other mentoring programs.
Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority shall issue to home builders who build single-family homes in the State (i) certificates of exemption from the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, and the Service Occupation Tax Act and (ii) credit certifications against the taxes imposed under the Illinois Income Tax Act.
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires each hospital licensed under the Act to submit to the Department of Public Health a financial resolution plan with the specified information for the rapid and orderly resolution of finances and operations in the event of material financial distress. Establishes further reporting requirements and penalties. Includes financial resolution plans in the list of information subject to disclosure to the public from the Department. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Sets forth provisions concerning financial reporting requirements for nonexempt hospitals. Provides that, if a hospital has not filed the required information within 45 days after the close of the quarterly reporting period, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall suspend specified authorized payments until the Department receives the required information. Provides that the Department may adopt rules, including emergency rules, necessary to implement financial reporting requirements for nonexempt hospitals. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that any individual or entity that engages in beekeeping at a qualified beekeeping property during the taxable year shall be entitled to an income tax credit equal to the lesser of 100% of the liability insurance premiums paid by that individual or entity during the taxable year in connection with the qualified beekeeping property or $1,000.
Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Provides that in any eviction proceeding in which the trier of fact determines that the tenant has complied with the terms of the last written and signed lease as to the amount and timeliness of rent payments, the proceedings shall be sealed.
Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund. Provides that the Fund is a special fund in the State Treasury that may be used to provide grants to certain eligible people, institutions, and organizations for the purpose of conducting pediatric cancer research, prevention, and treatment. Provides that the Fund shall consist of moneys appropriated by the General Assembly and collected from any donations or other source for the benefit of the Fund. Provides limitations for the distribution of the Fund. Provides that the unspent portions of the Fund shall remain in the Fund and may not revert to any other fund of the State. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly concerning the administration of the Fund. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement a pediatric cancer grant program under the provision.
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide coverage under the medical assistance program for intensive outpatient services delivered via telehealth when the services: (1) are otherwise covered when provided in person; (2) are medically necessary; (3) are delivered by a provider enrolled in the medical assistance program and acting within the scope of the provider's license, certification, or authorization under State law; and (4) comply with all applicable federal and State telehealth requirements. Provides that intensive outpatient services provided via telehealth shall be subject to the same coverage requirements, utilization management, and reimbursement methodologies as intensive outpatient services provided in person. Sets forth standards for telehealth delivery of intensive outpatient services. Provides that implementation of the provisions is subject to any required federal approval. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a withholding credit based on the minimum wage applies on a permanent basis (currently, the credit sunsets on December 31, 2026 for employers with 50 or fewer employees but more than 5 employees, and the credit sunsets on December 31, 2027 for employers with no more than 5 employees). Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that Department has the power to expend moneys appropriated to the Department from the Park and Conservation Fund in the State treasury for furtherance of the Department's programs or for use by the Department for the Department's normal operations and for the construction and maintenance of State owned, leased, and managed sites (rather than the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department). Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer from the Park and Conservation Fund Account in the Build Illinois Fund to the Park and Conservation Fund 1/12 of $10,000,000, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months, for any purposes (rather than Conservation and Park purposes) as enumerated in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law or for the same purposes as specified in any other State general obligation bond Act. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the moneys deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund shall be used as provided for in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (rather than for the development and acquisition of bike paths).
Amends the Crematory Regulation Act. Authorizes the Comptroller to issue citations or fines, or both, to licensees. Requires a cemetery authority to implement (i) a standard operating procedure and provide a copy to all employees; and (ii) a medical waste management plan. Authorizes the Comptroller to impose a fine not to exceed $10,000 for each violation under the Act. Allows the Comptroller to refuse to issue a license or take disciplinary action if the applicant or licensee has failed to pay delinquent taxes or child support. Requires the Comptroller, upon revocation or suspension of a license, to notify the county coroner or medical examiner who is responsible for the area where the crematory is located to immediately make arrangements to take possession of bodies and cremated remains and arrange for final disposition of any decedents in the possession of the suspended licensee after consulting with the authorized agents for those bodies. Provides that if no authorized agent can be contacted, the county coroner or medical examiner shall take possession of bodies and cremated remains within 72 hours of notification from the Comptroller. Requires a crematory authority to perform a cremation no more than 60 days from the date the human remains have been delivered to it unless the crematory authority has received specific instructions to the contrary on its cremation authorization form. Requires the crematory authority to notify the Comptroller and the coroner or medical examiner in the county in which the death occurred as to why the cremation cannot be performed if it is not done within the 60-day period. Provides that pacemakers do not need to be removed in alkaline hydrolysis cremations. Requires that cremated remains must be stored in a place free from exposure to the elements and be responsibly maintained until disposal. Makes other changes. Amends the Cemetery Care Act. Provides that if a cemetery authority owning or operating a privately owned cemetery has accepted care funds and is considered abandoned or seeks dissolution, it allows, if no receiver is available, a circuit court to order a willing unit of local government to take over the cemetery. Makes other changes.
Amends the Transitional Bilingual Education Article of the School Code. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board of Education to establish and implement an English Learner Grant Program to support school districts' English learner programs. Effective immediately.
