Rep. Murri Briel

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals licensed under the Act to employ and schedule enough hospital workers to provide quality patient care and ensure patient safety. Establishes requirements concerning the reporting of staffing metrics for hospitals and the Department of Public Health. Sets forth provisions concerning competency validation credentials for each hospital worker hired; assignment despite objection forms and procedures; and an assignment despite objection resolution process. Provides that a hospital may not assign a certified nursing assistant or patient care technician to more than 7 patients at a time during a day or evening shift or more than 11 patients at a time during a night shift. Sets forth provisions concerning direct-care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and deviations from the ratio; complaint procedures; the Department's duties concerning complaints; meal and rest periods; investigations for violating staffing requirements; penalties and violations; recordkeeping requirements of a hospital; and rulemaking by the Department.

Congratulates the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on the 50th anniversary of the dedication of Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve. Commends its ongoing commitment to conservation, education, and stewardship.

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the amount of credits awarded under the affordable housing tax donation program is limited to $41,831,227 in State fiscal year 2027 and shall increase by 10% each fiscal year thereafter (currently, $32,850,352 in State fiscal years 2022 and 2023 increased by 5% each fiscal year thereafter). Provides that the affordable housing donation income tax credit applies through the taxable year ending on December 31, 2036 (currently, December 31, 2026). Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate degree program and confer a bachelor's degree if specified conditions are met. Requires the board of trustees to demonstrate that the community college district has the expertise, the resources, and sufficient student demand to offer a baccalaureate degree. Sets forth the application requirements. Prohibits a community college district from using semester credit hours generated in a baccalaureate degree program for certain grants. Sets forth limitations on community college districts for establishing baccalaureate programs. Requires a community college district that offers a baccalaureate degree program to submit an annual report to the Illinois Community College Board. Requires the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to conduct a statewide evaluation of all baccalaureate degree programs established under the amendatory Act and report the results of the evaluation on or before 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, in addition to being made publicly available online. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a member who is eligible to receive an alternative retirement annuity may elect to receive an estimated payment that shall commence no later than 30 days after the later of either the member's last day of employment or 30 days after the member files for the retirement benefit with the System. Provides that the estimated payment shall be the best estimate by the System of the total monthly amount due to the member based on the information that the System possesses at the time of the estimate. Provides that if the amount of the estimate is greater or less than the actual amount of the monthly annuity, the System shall pay or recover the difference within 6 months after the start of the monthly annuity. Excludes a benefit increase resulting from the amendatory Act from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. In the Abused, Neglected, or Dependent Minors Article of the Act, provides that an environment is injurious to the minor's welfare if conditions in the child's environment create a real, significant and imminent likelihood of harm to the child's health, well-being, or welfare and the parent or caretaker blatantly disregarded his or her parental responsibility to prevent or mitigate such harm consistent with the health, safety, and best interests of the minor to remain in the custody of a parent, guardian, or custodian who experienced domestic violence unless the court determines the parent, guardian, or custodian who experienced domestic violence has committed acts or omissions unrelated to domestic violence against that parent, guardian, or custodian resulting in a determination of abuse or neglect under the Act. Provides that in making a custody determination, the court shall presume that it is consistent with the health, safety, and best interests of the minor to remain in the custody of a parent, guardian, or custodian who experienced domestic violence, unless the court has determined that the parent, guardian, or custodian who experienced domestic violence has committed acts or omissions unrelated to domestic violence against that parent, guardian, or custodian that is sufficient to independently support a determination of abuse or neglect under the Act. Defines "domestic violence".

Creates the Limitations on Facility Fees Act. Provides that no health care provider shall charge, bill, or collect a facility fee, except for: (i) services provided on a hospital's campus; (ii) services provided at a facility that includes a licensed hospital emergency department; or (iii) emergency services provided at a freestanding emergency center. Provides that, except as specified, no health care provider shall charge, bill, or collect a facility fee for: (i) outpatient evaluation and management services; or (ii) any other outpatient, diagnostic, or imaging services identified by the Department of Public Health. Requires the Department to annually identify services subject to the limitations on specified facility fees that may reliably be provided safely and effectively in settings other than hospitals. Sets forth provisions concerning reporting, rulemaking, and enforcement of the Act. Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act to make a conforming change. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who violates the Limitations on Facility Fees Act commits an unlawful practice.

Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Changes the name of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired to the Illinois School for the Blind. Makes conforming changes to the Personnel Code, the School Code, the School Safety Drill Act, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, and the MRSA Prevention, Control, and Reporting Act.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that neither a county nor a municipality may impose a tax on businesses calculated based on the number of employees of the business. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of torture. Provides that a person commits torture when that person knowingly and cruelly engages in a course of conduct that torments a victim under the age of 18 years. Provides that proof that a victim suffered physical, mental, or emotional impairment is not an element of the offense. Provides that torture does not include: (1) reasonable parental discipline or (2) any medical examination or procedure that is conducted by a physician, nurse, medical or hospital personnel, parent, or caretaker for purposes and in a manner consistent with reasonable medical standards and care. Provides that a victim under the age of 18 years cannot consent to torture. Provides that torture is a Class X felony. Provides that an offender under the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offense shall be sentenced under the provisions of the Unified Code of Corrections concerning the sentencing of individuals under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of an offense. Defines "course of conduct" and "cruelly".