Rep. Suzanne Ness

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Required the Department of Human Services to provide informational materials about the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program to: persons who are placed in a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act, the MC/DD Act, or the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013; persons with disabilities who receive services funded by or administered in conjunction with the Department, including, but not limited to, home and community based services, home-based support services, PUNS services, home care services, and services at a Center for Independent Living. Provides that the informational materials shall be provided when a person first enrolls for such services and as part of any annual process required for the person to maintain eligibility for such services. Requires the Office of the State Treasurer to prepare and deliver the informational materials in an electronic format to the Department and distribute the materials to eligible persons.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall ensure that a committed person and the committed person's correspondents are not charged any fee, surcharge, or cost for mail communication or mail scanning services that exceed the standard postage rate set by the United States Postal Service. Provides that the Department shall not charge the committed person or correspondent any fee, surcharge, or cost for any incoming mail addressed to and received by the committed person, including any material received through mail scanning services. Provides that the Department shall not charge the committed person any fee, surcharge, or cost for outgoing mail delivery or mail scanning services that exceeds the postage rate set by the United States Postal Service for any outgoing mail. Provides that the Department or any third-party vendor that the Department contracts with, shall not impose any fee, surcharge, or cost to the committed person above the United States Postal Service rate for mail communication, including the delivery or scanning of mail. Provides that the Department shall not use the provision of voice communication services, mail communication, mail scanning services, or any other communication services to supplant in-person contact visits. Provides that the Department shall not receive revenue, directly or indirectly, from the provision of voice communications, mail communication, mail scanning services, or other communication services to a person in custody in any institutions and facilities of the Department. Provides that beginning July 1, 2027, the Department shall annually report to the General Assembly on the status of any communication services contracts and plans to consolidate contracts to maximize purchasing power for voice communication services, mail communication services, and all other communication services. Provides that the Department shall post the report on its website. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Pet Insurance Article of the Code. Defines terms. Requires a pet insurer to disclose coverage exclusions, limitations, waiting periods, and other information. Provides that pet insurance applicants shall have the right to examine and return the policy, certificate, or rider to the company or an agent or insurance producer of the company within 30 days of its receipt and to have the premium refunded if, after examination of the policy, certificate, or rider, the applicant is not satisfied for any reason. Provides that a pet insurer may issue policies that exclude coverage on the basis of one or more preexisting conditions with appropriate disclosure to the consumer. Provides that a pet insurer may issue policies that impose waiting periods upon effectuation of the policy that do not exceed 30 days for illnesses or orthopedic conditions not resulting from an accident. Prohibits waiting periods for accidents. Provides that no pet insurer or insurance producer shall market a wellness program as pet insurance. Sets forth provisions concerning wellness programs sold by a pet insurer or insurance producer.

Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act and the Public Funds Investment Act. Provides that the State Treasurer or any public agency may consider the current and historical ratings that a financial institution has received under the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act when deciding whether to deposit State or public funds in that financial institution. Provides that, effective January 1, 2026, no State or public funds may be deposited in a financial institution subject to the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act unless either (i) the institution has a current rating of satisfactory or outstanding under the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act or (ii) the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has not yet completed its initial examination of the institution pursuant to the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Creates the Charitable Organization Beneficiary Act. Requires a holder of property in which a charitable organization that is exempt from taxation as a 501(c)(3) entity is a designated beneficiary in a nonprobate instrument (excluding wills or trusts) to notify each charitable organization within 30 business days that it may have a right to the property. Creates a process in which the charitable organization may request that it be given information about the property or that the property be delivered to the charitable organization or both. Provides duties and obligations of the holder of the property. Provides the holder of the property protection from liability for a good faith reliance on the information it receives from a designated beneficiary. Provides remedies against a holder of property for a failure or refusal to provide the requested information or transfer of property if the provisions of the Act are followed. Defines terms.

Amends the Ticket Sale and Resale Act. Provides that a ticket seller or ticket reseller shall display the full price of a ticket, including all assessed fees, to a consumer when the price of a ticket is first shown to the consumer and shall not increase that price during the transaction with the consumer. Provides that a ticket reseller shall not sell or offer to sell a ticket that the ticket reseller does not possess or have a contract to purchase. Provides that the Attorney General shall set up a complaint system for consumers to report violations. Defines terms.

Maddy summaryHB 228 makes a technical change to the Consumer Legal Funding Act. It amends a section within the Act specifically concerning its short title.

Creates the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act. Requires health information exchanges to implement policies and technical capabilities by July 1, 2027, to segregate medical information related to abortion care, restrict access by out-of-state entities, and limit disclosure. Provides enforcement through private actions and civil actions by the Attorney General, including injunctive relief and civil penalties. Defines terms. Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act to clarify patient privacy rights and allow segregation of abortion-related information in health information exchanges. Provides for severability.

Creates the Disposable Food Service Container Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2030, a person may not sell or distribute in this State a disposable food service container that is composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam. Specifies that the prohibition does not apply to any activity authorized under an ordinance or resolution adopted by a unit of local government on or before January 1, 2024 or with respect to sales made to a unit of local government for use by the unit of local government for its internal operations. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Acknowledges the accomplishments and implementation progress of the Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act. Urges the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to aggressively continue implementation of the KIND Act to deliver permanency to more children and to keep families together even when reunification is not possible. Urges DCFS to execute needed revisions to Rule 415 one year after all statutory provisions went into effect. Urges DCFS to actively pursue the recently announced federal funding opportunities by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children & Families to support kinship navigator services and to bolster the implementation of the KIND Act. Urges DCFS to provide continual, updated training opportunities and resource materials for staff. Urges the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to provide effective statewide judicial education on the KIND Act. Supports the judiciary's efforts to diligently implement the components of the KIND Act.