Rep. Cynthia Soto

Amends the Illinois Prison Inspection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Abolishes the Real Estate Education Advisory Council. Transfers functions of the Council to the Real Estate Administration and Disciplinary Board or the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Allows the Department to make continuing education requirements for licensed leasing agents without the advice of the Advisory Council and Board. Makes changes to the membership and terms of the Board. Allows the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to establish temporary or permanent committees of the Board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Requires the Department of Labor to publish, by July 15 of each year on its official website, a prevailing wage schedule for each county in the State based upon the prevailing rate of wages investigated and ascertained by the Department during the month of June. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision concerning the Community Care Program, establishes the following rate increases in the wages paid by vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services: on July 1, 2018, rates shall be increased to $19.89 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; on July 1, 2019, rates shall be increased to $21.49 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; on July 1, 2020, rates shall be increased to $23.09 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; and on July 1, 2021, rates shall be increased to $24.69 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, any paid time off or payments for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases established in this provision. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the textbook block grant program, provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must accurately portray the diversity of our society, including the role and contributions of people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act, and must be non-discriminatory as to certain characteristics under the Act. Provides that the teaching of history of the United States in public schools shall include a study of the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the significant role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in society. Specifies instruction requirements. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to monitor a school district's compliance with the curriculum requirements. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that licensed medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities (MC/DD) (rather than licensed long-term care facilities for persons under 22 years of age) that serve severely and chronically ill patients (rather than pediatric patients) shall have a specific reimbursement system designed to recognize the characteristics and needs of the patients they serve. Sets forth certain reimbursement rates for MC/DD facilities for date of services starting July 1, 2018. Requires MC/DD facilities to document within each resident's medical record the conditions or services using the minimum data set documentation standards and requirements to qualify for exceptional care reimbursement. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be responsible for reimbursement calculations and direct payment for services. Imposes an assessment and licensing fee on MC/DD facilities. Creates the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Provider Fund for the purpose of receiving and disbursing assessment moneys, including making payments to intermediate care facilities for persons with a developmental disability that are also licensed as MC/DD facilities and making payments of any amounts which are reimbursable to the federal government. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Provider Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no candidate for President or Vice-President of the United States shall appear on the official ballot for the general election if that candidate has not released his or her tax returns at least 5 days prior to the date set for certification of the ballot for the general election. Defines "released his or her tax returns" to mean that the tax returns filed with the federal Internal Revenue Service for the 5 most recent years in which tax returns have been filed by the candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States have been filed with the Secretary of State. Requires the Secretary of State to post the tax returns on the Secretary of State's website and to certify that the tax returns have been filed to the State Board of Elections. Allows the Secretary of State to adopt rules to implement the provisions.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax checkoff for the Illinois Hunger Coalition Income Tax Checkoff Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund may only be used by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of making grants to the Illinois Hunger Coalition to alleviate hunger for children and families in Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal date of the Nurse Practice Act from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2028. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Eliminates the position of Assistant Nursing Coordinator. Eliminates the Advanced Practice Nursing Board. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may provide notice to a licensee or applicant by certified or registered mail to the address of record or by email to the email address of record. Provides provisions for change of address of record and email address of record, application for license, confidentiality of any information collected by the Department in the course of an examination or investigation of a license or applicant, and disposition by a consent order. Changes references to "advanced practice nurse" to references to "advanced practice registered nurse" throughout the Act and other Acts. Changes references to "Illinois Center for Nursing" to references to "Illinois Nursing Workforce Center". Makes changes concerning definitions, application of the Act, unlicensed practice, prohibited acts, Department powers and duties, nursing delegation, qualifications for LPN, RN, and APRN licensure, RN education program requirements, grounds for disciplinary action, intoxication and drug abuse, the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund, investigations, notices, hearings, use of stenographers and transcripts, review under the Administrative Review Law, certification of records, the Center for Nursing Advisory Board, and medication aide licensure requirements. Removes provisions concerning registered nurse externship permits, rosters, liability of the State, hearing officers, and orders for rehearings. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.