Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the rules promulgated by the supervising authority concerning electronic monitoring and home detention shall provide that travel to and from approved employment shall not be denied based solely on the transient or mobile nature of the employment, provided that the participant gives the supervising authority sufficient notice and the employer confirms the exact routes or locations, or both, of employment at least 24 hours in advance. Provides that travel to and from approved employment shall not be denied solely for failure to provide the supervising authority with timely notice, provided that the participant gives the supervising authority sufficient notice at least 24 hours in advance of travel.
Amends the General Provisions, Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, Chicago Police, Chicago Firefighter, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), State Employees, and State Universities Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. With regard to police officers, firefighters, and similar public safety employees, removes Tier 2 limitations on the amount of salary for annuity purposes; provides that the automatic annual increases to a retirement pension or survivor pension are calculated under the Tier 1 formulas; and provides that the amount of and eligibility for a retirement annuity are calculated under the Tier 1 provisions. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, each fiscal year, the Comptroller shall pay to each unit of local government that makes a certification of certain employer costs under the Illinois Pension Code or under a specified provision of the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act an amount equal to 40% of the total amount certified by the unit of local government. Creates a continuing appropriation of that amount. Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Provides that a unit of local government that provides health insurance to police officers and firefighters shall maintain the health insurance plans of these employees after retirement and shall contribute toward the cost of the annuitant's coverage under the unit of local government's health insurance plan an amount equal to 4% of that cost for each full year of creditable service upon which the annuitant's retirement annuity is based. Makes other and conforming changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Law. Provides that the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange shall allow a special enrollment period for an uninsured taxpayer and the uninsured taxpayer's qualified dependents, if applicable, if the uninsured taxpayer requested health insurance benefit information through the easy enrollment program under the Illinois Income Tax Act and the uninsured taxpayer and the uninsured taxpayer's qualified dependents, if applicable, are eligible to enroll in a qualified health plan through the Exchange. Establishes notification requirements for the Exchange. Provides that the uninsured taxpayer and the uninsured taxpayer's dependents shall have 60 days from the date of the letter to select and enroll in a qualified health plan. Provides that coverage shall be effective the first day of the month that follows the plan selection. Grants the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services rulemaking authority to implement an easy enrollment special enrollment period. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that, by no later than January 1, 2026, the Department of Central Management Services shall, by rule, establish a program to allow the active members of TRS and their dependent beneficiaries to participate in the program of group health benefits made available under the Act to TRS benefit recipients and TRS dependent beneficiaries, including the program of group health benefits for Medicare-primary members and their Medicare-primary dependents, in lieu of health benefits otherwise provided by the school district. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the program, including, but not limited to, the manner of electing to participate in the program, eligibility for participation in the program, and contributions for coverage through the program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to intimidate, threaten, coerce, use violence or force, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or use violence or force against: (1) an election worker in the performance or discharge of his or her election-related duties; or (2) an individual who is lawfully present at a polling place or a location where a canvass of votes is conducted. Provides that any person who violates the provision is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense committed within 3 years of a previous conviction for the same offense.
Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, if a petitioner's claim is contested and enters arbitration proceedings, the Arbitrator shall include in its award pre-award interest at the rate of 6% per annum to a prevailing petitioner from the date of the contested injury, provided that no interest shall accrue if, within 12 months after the date of the injury, the respondent concedes that the claim is compensable. Provides that the non-prevailing party is responsible for any costs incurred in deposing a medical practitioner. Provides that all attorney's fees for representation of an employee or the employee's dependents shall be the responsibility of the non-prevailing employer (rather than only recoverable from compensation actually paid to such employee or dependents). Provides that, within 60 days after receipt of service of notice of preliminary proceedings before an Arbitrator, an employer shall disclose documents sufficient to calculate a petitioner's average weekly wage
Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a policeman who applies for disability benefits under the Article and has been denied reinstatement as a policeman by his or her employer because of a physical or mental incapacity shall be presumed to be disabled as that term is used in the Article. Provides that no policeman who otherwise meets the requirements for a disability benefit shall be denied a disability benefit unless and until the policeman's employer reinstates him or her as a policeman or offers him or her a limited-duty position. Provides that any policeman who has been denied a disability benefit without an offer of reinstatement or a limited-duty position after the effective date of the amendatory Act is entitled to disability benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Uniform Arbitration Act. Exempts from the definition of "employer" any person who is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Allows a party to serve upon another party a demand for arbitration or a notice of intention to arbitrate, specifying the agreement under which arbitration is sought and the name and address of the party serving the notice and stating that unless the party served applies to stay the arbitration within 20 days after service the party shall be precluded from objecting that a valid agreement was not made or has not been complied with and from asserting in court the bar of a limitation of time. Provides that in an arbitration brought by a consumer or employee that requires the drafting party to pay certain fees and costs before the arbitration can proceed, if the fees or costs to initiate an arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the arbitration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and waives its right to compel arbitration. Sets forth various actions a party may take if the drafting party materially breaches the arbitration agreement. Includes sanctions an arbitrator or court may impose for materially breaching the agreement. Provides that, if a party is represented by an attorney, papers to be served on the party shall be served upon the attorney for that party, and any agreement which discriminates against or penalizes a party for retaining the services of counsel in an arbitration is null and void. In a provision regarding venue, provides that: if the name of the county is not specified, the application shall be brought in the county where the party seeking arbitration resides or is doing business, and other proceedings affecting arbitration are to be brought in the county where at least one of the parties resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; if there are multiple parties seeking arbitration against the same party or parties, the proceeding may be brought in any court and county where any of the parties seeking arbitration resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; and if there is no county in which the proceeding may be brought, the proceeding may be brought in any county.
Amends the Lodging Services Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act. Provides that a unit of local government regulating an employer or a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over an employer may, in the course of its regulatory or enforcement duties, monitor and enforce compliance with the Act. Provides that, upon the discovery of a violation of the Act, the unit of local government or law enforcement agency shall provide the employer with a reasonable notice of noncompliance that informs the employer that if the employer does not cure the violation within 30 days after notice the employer is subject to a civil penalty. Provides that, if the unit of local government regulating an employer or a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over an employer verifies that the violation was not corrected within the cure period, the Attorney General or State's Attorney may bring a civil action against that employer. Provides that an employer that violates the Act is guilty of a business offense and may be fined not more than $1,500 for each offense. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
Amends the School Code. Provides that any public school employee who is a member of a statewide association and is appointed to a State board, advisory council, committee, commission, or task force to represent the association in State work may spend up to 10 days during a school term representing the association in State work. Provides that no deduction of wages may be made for such absence. Effective immediately.
