Rep. Murri Briel

Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Provides that the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, in furtherance of postsecondary and career expectations, shall jointly develop a Senior Gap Semester Pilot Program. Provides that the Pilot Program shall only be offered to students eligible for grade 12 in school districts located within Regional Office of Education 35. Provides that the Pilot Program shall offer a semester-long program in which a grade 12 student may explore a profession or career within the health care industry, agriculture industry, manufacturing industry, and early childhood education industry. Requires the State Board of Education to consult with statewide organizations representing health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and early childhood education, and publish and maintain on its website a current database of employer champions for work-based learning and career readiness systems and programs in each industry.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a facility or health care professional that offers telehealth services shall not bill or charge a person, group or individual policy of accident and health insurance, or managed care plan for any services or care not rendered during a telehealth visit, including, but not limited to, exams that are not possible to perform on a patient at a remote location. Provides that a violation of the provision is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall require any health care facility receiving State or federal funding to publish the facility's financial records on the facility's publicly accessible website at the end of each fiscal year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that, before transporting a patient to a hospital facility, the hospital must inform the patient of the costs associated with transportation to the facility. Provides that a hospital must also conspicuously list on the hospital's publicly accessible website the cost of transporting a patient to a hospital facility. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act to require the University of Illinois Hospital to comply with those requirements.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Extends the estimated date of completion of a redevelopment project and the retirement of obligations issued to finance redevelopment project costs for an ordinance adopted on July, 31 2006 by the City of Spring Valley. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, in Fiscal Year 2027 and thereafter, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant from the Local Tourism Fund that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 25% of the grant amount (currently, no less than 40% of the grant amount). Amends the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the distribution of moneys under those Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Freedom to Work Act. Provides that any covenant not to compete or covenant not to solicit entered into after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall not be enforceable with respect to individuals employed as health care professionals, regardless of whether an individual is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall develop or approve a course to assist law enforcement officers in identifying and interacting with individuals with epilepsy. Provides that the course must be fully consistent with the best practice guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provides that the Board shall conduct or approve the epilepsy identification and treatment training course no later than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the Board may consult with the Department of Public Health or the Department of Human Services to develop and update the curriculum as needed. Provides that, every 3 years, a law enforcement officer shall complete training on identifying and interacting with individuals with epilepsy.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each required civics class shall guide students through the voter registration process, and if the student is of eligible age, allow students to preregister to vote. Allows a student or the student's parent or legal guardian to opt the student out of preregistration.

Creates the Protective Medical Equipment Freedom Act. Provides that every individual has the right to wear protective medical equipment in any place of public accommodation where they have a lawful right to be without obligation to disclose health status or any other protected information, and no person, entity, or authority shall deny, restrict, or infringe upon this right. Operators and public officials shall not discriminate against or penalize medical device wearers for exercising their right to wear protective medical equipment. Discrimination under this Act includes, but is not limited to: denial of service; eviction from premises; any form of harassment to remove or refrain from wearing such equipment for any amount of time; and specified actions taken by employers. Sets forth provisions concerning protection against retaliation; exceptions for security requirements and operational safety; enforcement by the Attorney General; and penalties for violating the Act. Effective immediately.