Sen. Graciela Guzmán

Amends the County Shelter Care and Detention Home Act, the Illinois Local Library Act, the Public Library District Act of 1991, the Village Library Act, the Libraries in Parks Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the Child Care Act of 1969, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act to require the placement of contact information for the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Amends the School Code. With respect to the comprehensive health education program, provides that a school board shall require each public school serving students in any of grades 6 through 12 to assess courses and seminars available to those students through their regular academic experiences and implement age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention curricula if opportunities for integration exist. Further amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In provisions concerning an inmate's successful transition to the community, provides that release planning shall include access to suicide prevention resources.

Creates the Equitable Access to Education, Employment, and Training for Incarcerated Individuals with Disabilities Act. Provides that reasonable accommodations for incarcerated individuals with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability shall include a waiver of any requirement that the individual take the Test of Adult Basic Education and receive a passing score, or take and receive a passing score on any other examination or test that the Department may require to determine academic achievement or access to educational programs, work assignments, and vocational programs. Provides that participation in these programs through the Test of Adult Basic Education waiver and other reasonable accommodations shall qualify individuals with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability to earn earned sentence credit, consistent with opportunities provided to other incarcerated individuals. Provides that Department of Corrections staff, including educational personnel, shall receive annual training on: (1) identifying individuals who have an intellectual disability or a developmental disability; (2) providing accommodations and supports to an individual with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability in educational, employment. and vocational settings; and (3) administering appropriate alternative assessments. Provides that staff training programs shall be developed in collaboration with disability advocacy organizations and educational institutions. Provides that the Department shall ensure compliance with federal disability laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act of 1973, through the implementation of the Act. Provides that individuals with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability who are denied access to programs or accommodations under the Act may file a grievance through the Department's established grievance procedures. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that, in proceedings under the Minors Requiring Authoritative Intervention, Addicted Minors, or Delinquent Minors Article, initiated in a county, other than the county in which the minor who is subject of the proceedings resides, the court in which the proceedings were initiated may at any time before or after adjudication of wardship transfer the case to the county of the minor's residence. Provides that not later than 15 working days after the date an order of transfer is entered, the clerk of the court transferring a proceeding shall send to the clerk of the receiving court in the county to which the transfer is being made an authenticated copy of the court record, including all documents, petitions, and orders filed therein, and the minute orders and docket entries of the court. Provides that the clerk of the receiving court shall set a status hearing within 10 business days after receipt of the case and shall notify the judge of the receiving court and all parties. Provides that the receiving court shall review the court record immediately upon receipt. Provides that within 20 business days after receipt of the record, the reviewing court shall send a notice to the transferring court indicating it has accepted the case and scheduled a status date. Provides that until the transferring court receives this notice it continues to have jurisdiction over the case. Provides that if for any reason the receiving court does not accept the transfer, the receiving court shall, within 20 business days after receiving the case, send a notice to the transferring court indicating its reasons. Provides that the transferring court will continue its jurisdiction of the case and shall set the matter for status within 20 business days. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In provisions regarding environmental laboratory certification assessment, repeals provisions establishing the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee and deletes references to the Committee.

Amends the Adult Education Act and the Public Community College Act. With respect to the annual report on adult education for the preceding school year by the Illinois Community College Board, removes the requirement to include a summary of State reimbursement for adult basic education, adult secondary education, English language acquisition, high school credit, integrated English literacy and civics education, and bridge and integrated education and training programs in coordination with vocational skills training. Provides that any public community college district maintaining adult educations classes for the instruction of those persons who, among other requirements, are 17 (rather than 16) years of age or older are entitled to claim an apportionment of State reimbursement. Allows classes in adult education to include digital literacy. Removes language providing that the maximum generation rate for reimbursement per credit hour or per unit of instruction shall be equal to the community college system reimbursement rate for adult education divided by one-third. Provides that State adult education funds, other than matching funds, are not subject to the authorizing federal law. Removes language providing that approved programs for adult education may assess students up to $6 per credit hour or unit of instruction per semester per student. Removes language requiring an education plan to be established for each adult learning participating in the instructional programs. Requires each adult learner participating in the instructional programs to complete an assessment of foundational skills to appropriately place the adult learner in an instructional program. Makes other and conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning biomarker testing: makes changes to defined terms; requires applicable health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to update and make publicly available medical policies and coverage guidelines within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act; provides that, if a health insurer or nonprofit health service plan denies a claim for coverage of testing that is supported by any specified evidence, the insurer or nonprofit health service plan shall provide to the requesting entity specific written justification explaining in detail why the claim for coverage was denied as it pertains to the individual for whom the test was ordered; sets forth provisions concerning utilization review and prior authorization; provides that the Department of Insurance may conduct periodic audits and reviews to ensure entity compliance; and makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning the payment of nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers, makes changes to defined term, removes jurisdictional provisions, and provides that, for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers owned and operated by (instead of subject to) a unit of local government, a rate shall be paid that is equal to the rate established or approved by the governing body of the unit of local government providing the ground ambulance service. Establishes a rate of pay for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers that are not owned and operated by (instead of subject to the jurisdiction of) a unit of local government. Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Replaces provisions concerning coverage for emergency transportation by ambulance with provisions concerning coverage for ground ambulance service.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that in the Articles governing employment, financial credit, and public accommodations it is a civil rights violation to use criteria or methods including practices, policies, and groups of practices or policies that has the effect of subjecting individuals to discrimination prohibited under the Act. Changes the definition of "unlawful discrimination" to mean discrimination against a person, whether by purpose or effect, because of his or her actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, reproductive health decisions, or unfavorable discharge from military service as those terms are defined in the Act.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall compile and make available to the public a report that contains the following information for all institutions of higher learning: (1) the number of credit hours taught by full-time faculty, organized by institution, tenure status, degree, and certificate program; and (2) the number of credit hours taught by part-time faculty, organized by institution, degree, and certificate program.

Amends the Clerks of Court Act. Authorizes a circuit court clerk of any county to develop and maintain a will depository. Provides a procedure for the clerk to accept for safekeeping a testamentary instrument executed in compliance with the Probate Act of 1975, including a will, codicil, trust, or trust and one or more trust amendments. Allows a depositor to deposit a will with the clerk if the depositor certifies in writing that the depositor is unable to locate the testator after a diligent search. Creates a procedure for the clerk to follow in accepting, keeping, and returning these documents. Allows the clerk to charge a fee of $25 for each will deposited, and the clerk may not collect a separate fee for additional documents concurrently deposited in relation to a single testator or for a single joint will prepared for a husband and wife.