Creates the Individual Market Fairness Reform Law. Provides that a managed care entity shall (1) fairly and affirmatively offer all of its managed care plans that are sold to all individuals in each service area in which the managed care entity provides or arranges for the provision of health care services and (2) may not reject an application for an individual managed care plan if certain requirements are met. Provides that the Division of Insurance of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall develop a system to categorize all managed care plans offered and sold to individuals pursuant to this Law into 5 coverage choice categories. Creates the Minimum Medical Loss Ratio Law. Provides that any company selling a health benefit plan in the individual or small group market shall expend in the form of health care benefits no less than 85 percent of the aggregate dues, fees, and premiums received by the company. Creates the Health Sure Illinois Law to establish a program for the purpose of making managed care plans affordable and accessible to small employers and individuals. Provides that the program is limited to active managed care entities. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates new Articles in the Code establishing the Office of Patient Protection and the Illinois Health Carrier External Review Law. Amends the Small Employer Health Insurance Rating Act, Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act in provisions concerning small employers, individuals, review, and rates. Repeals a provision of the Small Employer Health Insurance Rating Act concerning establishment of a class of business. Makes other changes.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the sale or delivery of alcoholic liquor in public buildings.
Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Requires the Chairpersons of the House of Representatives' Committee on Elementary & Secondary Education and the Senate's Committee on Education to each appoint 5 members to a Special Joint Chicago Education Facilities Subcommittee. Requires the Joint Subcommittee, with the help of independent experts, to analyze past school district experience with respect to the closing or opening of schools, school repairs, school additions, school phase-outs, school consolidations, and school boundary changes; to consult widely with stakeholders about these facility issues; and to examine relevant best practices from other school systems for dealing with these issues systematically and equitably. Provides for a draft policy and a final proposed policy. Provides that there shall be a moratorium on school closings, consolidations, and phaseouts in the school district in the 2009-2010 school year, and provides that any of these actions that are subsequently appropriate shall be carried out no sooner than the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that it shall be the policy of the Department of Human Services to provide TANF aid to all qualified persons who seek assistance and to conduct outreach efforts to educate the public about the program. Makes changes concerning the disregard of earned income. Requires that financial aid be provided no more than 15 days after the date of application. Requires that an applicant undergo a thorough employability assessment within the first 30 days after the date of application for aid. Adds a definition of "domestic or sexual violence", and adds references to domestic or sexual violence in provisions concerning crisis assistance and development of a personal plan for achieving self-sufficiency. Effective immediately.
Amends the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act. Changes the short title to the Energy Efficient Building Act. Provides a definition of "building". Applies the Act to residential and commercial buildings (now, all commercial buildings). Provides that the Capital Development Board must adopt the specified energy conservation code as the minimum requirements for commercial buildings and as the minimum and maximum requirements for the construction of residential buildings. Provides that units of local government may not regulate energy efficient building standards for residential buildings in a manner that is either less or more stringent than the standards in the Act. Provides that units of local government may not enact any annexation ordinance or resolution, or require or enter into any annexation agreement, that imposes energy efficiency building standards for residential buildings that are either less or more stringent than the energy efficiency standards in effect throughout the unit of local government. Provides that any unit of local government that has adopted any previously published editions of the International Energy Conservation Code on or before January 1, 2009 may continue to regulate energy efficient building standards under that Code and any supplements the unit of local government has adopted prior to January 1, 2009. Preempts home rule powers. Effective immediately.
Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that $3,500,000 shall be transferred each month to the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (instead of $2,250,000). Provides that, of the moneys transferred to the Grade Crossing Protection Fund, not less than $12,000,000 (instead of $6,000,000) shall be used for the construction or reconstruction of rail highway grade separation structures. Increases the amount transferred to the Transportation Regulatory Fund beginning in fiscal year 2010. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission may order up to $2,000,000 per year in Grade Crossing Protection Fund moneys for the improvement of grade crossing surfaces and up to $300,000 per year for the maintenance and renewal of four-quadrant gate vehicle detection systems located at non-high speed rail grade crossings. Effective immediately.
Amends provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code requiring the recording of specified information when a uniform traffic citation or warning citation is issued and providing for analysis of the information and a traffic stop statistical study. Deletes the July 1, 2010 repeal date of those provisions.
Amends the School Code. Subject to an appropriation or the availability of funding for such purposes, requires the State Board of Education to make grants available to fund community schools (which are traditional schools that actively partner with their community to leverage existing resources and identify new resources to support the transformation of the school to provide enrichment and additional life skill opportunities for students, parents, and community members at-large) and to enhance programs at community schools. Requires a request-for-proposal process to be used in awarding grants. Provides that proposals may be submitted on behalf of a school, a school district, or a consortium of 2 or more schools or school districts. Requires a school to have certain components in order to qualify for a grant. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to appoint a 9-member Advisory Council on Community Schools. Effective immediately.
Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides for the issuance or renewal of a retail license authorizing the sale of alcoholic liquor at a premises located within a municipality in excess of 1,000,000 inhabitants and is within 100 feet of a church if certain conditions are met. Effective immediately.
Creates the Local Farm and Food Products Act. Contains only a short title provision.