Sen. Patrick Joyce

Amends the Weights and Measures Act. Provides continuing education requirements for persons registered to install, service, recondition, or repair a weighing or measuring device used in trade or commerce. Provides for a phase-in process to apply continuing education requirements for persons currently registered to install, service, recondition, or repair a weighing or measuring device used in trade or commerce. Provides that applications and reports shall be filed in a manner prescribed by the Director of Agriculture (currently, in writing). Defines "continuing education course". Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that unless a school building is unsafe, unsanitary, or unfit for occupancy and notice has been served or notice is provided by a licensed entity able to determine the safety of a school building, the school board must hold at least 3 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to close a school building and to receive input from the community. Provides that the notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the board is considering closing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the board's Internet website. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews group accident and health policies providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness entered into on or after January 1, 2022 shall ensure that the insured have timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Provides that network adequacy standards for timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions must satisfy specified minimum requirements. Provides that if there is no in-network facility or provider available for an insured to receive timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions in accordance with the minimum network adequacy standards, the insurer shall provide necessary exceptions to its network to ensure admission and treatment with a provider or at a treatment facility in accordance with those network adequacy standards. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/370c Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 124/10 305 ILCS 5/5-16.8 305 ILCS 5/5-30.1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Sets forth provisions concerning timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Provides that network adequacy standards for timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions must satisfy specified minimum requirements. Provides that if there is no in-network facility or provider available for an insured to receive timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions in accordance with the minimum network adequacy standards, the insurer shall provide necessary exceptions to its network to ensure admission and treatment with a provider or at a treatment facility in accordance with those network adequacy standards. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the medical assistance program shall be subject to provisions of the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act concerning timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. In provisions concerning network adequacy and transparency, provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall require managed care organizations to comply with provisions of the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act concerning timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Effective immediately.

Authorizes the People of the State of Illinois to release specified property located in Peoria County from all dedication and easement rights and interest acquired for highway purposes for the sum of $26,000. Authorizes the People of the State of Illinois to release and restore any rights or easements of access, crossing, light, air, and view from, to, and over specified property located in Bond County for the sum of $8,650. Authorizes the People of the State of Illinois to release and restore any rights or easements of access, crossing, light, air, and view from, to, and over specified property located in St. Clair County for the sum of $8,350. Authorizes the People of the State of Illinois to release specified property located in Grundy County from all dedication and easement rights and interest acquired for highway purposes for the sum of $8,233.33. Authorizes the People of the State of Illinois to release and restore any rights or easements of access, crossing, light, air, and view from, to, and over specified property located in Rock Island County for the sum of $5,000. Authorizes the People of the State of Illinois to release specified property located in Kankakee County from all dedication and easement rights and interest acquired for highway purposes for the sum of $2,800. Authorizes the People of the State of Illinois to release and restore any rights or easements of access, crossing, light, air, and view from, to, and over specified property located in Bond County for the sum of $3,000.00. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Anatomical Gift Act. Deletes language providing that no hospital, physician and surgeon, procurement organization, or other person shall determine the ultimate recipient of an anatomical gift based upon a potential recipient's physical or mental disability, except to the extent that the physical or mental disability has been found by a physician and surgeon, following a case-by-case evaluation of the potential recipient, to be medically significant to the provision of the anatomical gift. Provides instead that a hospital, physician and surgeon, procurement organization, or other person shall not, solely on the basis of an individual's mental or physical disability: deem an individual ineligible to receive an anatomical gift or organ transplant; deny medical and other services related to organ transplantation, including evaluation, surgery, counseling, postoperative treatment, and services; refuse to refer the individual to a transplant center or other related specialist for the purpose of evaluation for or receipt of an organ transplant; refuse to place an individual on an organ transplant waiting list or place an individual at a lower priority position on the waiting list than the position at which the individual would have been placed if not for the individual's disability; or decline insurance coverage for any procedure associated with the receipt of the anatomical gift, including posttransplantation care. Provides that a hospital, physician and surgeon, procurement organization, or other person may take an individual's disability into account when making treatment or coverage recommendations or decisions solely to the extent that the physical or mental disability has been found by a physician or surgeon, following an individualized evaluation of the potential recipient, to be medically significant to the provision of the anatomical gift. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Provides that a hospital, physician and surgeon, procurement organization, or other person shall not, solely on the basis of an individual's mental or physical disability, if an individual has the necessary support system to assist the individual in complying with posttransplant medical requirements, consider the individual's inability to independently comply with posttransplant medical requirements to be medically significant. Provides that a covered entity shall make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures to allow individuals with disabilities access to transplantation-related services, unless the covered entity can demonstrate that making such modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of such services. Provides that a covered entity shall take steps necessary to ensure that an individual with a disability is not denied medical services or other services related to organ transplantation due to the absence of auxiliary aids or services, unless the covered entity demonstrates that taking the steps would fundamentally alter the nature of the medical services or other services related to organ transplantation or would result in an undue burden for the covered entity. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes language providing that: a covered entity shall make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures to allow individuals with disabilities access to transplantation-related services unless the covered entity can demonstrate that making such modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of such services; and a covered entity shall take steps necessary to ensure that an individual with a disability is not denied medical services or other services related to organ transplantation, due to the absence of auxiliary aids or services, unless the covered entity demonstrates that taking the steps would fundamentally alter the nature of the medical services or other services related to organ transplantation or would result in an undue burden for the covered entity. Provides instead that a covered entity shall comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its implementing regulations in making reasonable modifications to its policies or procedures in response to a request from an individual with disabilities regarding access to transplantation-related services. Adds a definition for "covered entity".

Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that a spouse or civil union partner is not required to join in a petition for the adoption of an adult if a petitioner is a former stepparent of that adult. Provides that the residence requirement for adoption shall not apply to: an adoption of a child placed by a State-licensed child welfare agency performing adoption services (rather than an adoption of a child placed by an agency); an adoption of an adult by a former stepparent; and an adoption of a child born in the State who has resided in the State continuously since birth, or a child who has continuously resided in the State for at least 6 months immediately preceding the commencement of the adoption proceeding. Includes additional information for the affidavit of identification to be given by the biological mother in an adoption proceeding. Provides that, in specified proceedings, in the case of a related adoption where the child sought to be adopted is not a youth in care, the court shall have the discretion to waive the appointment of a guardian ad litem. Provides that the ability for the petitioners to apply for judgment of adoption 6 months after the date of any interim order vesting temporary care, custody, and control of a child in the petitioners does not apply to a judgment for adoption of a related child, an adult, or a child as to whose adoption a State-licensed child welfare agency, or person authorized by law, has the right of authority to consent. Deletes language providing that a judgment for adoption of an adult or a child as to whose adoption an agency or person authorized by law has the right of authority to consent may be entered at any time after service of process and after the return day designated therein. Provides instead that a judgment for adoption of: an adult may be entered at any time after the adult has consented to his or her adoption; or a child as to whose adoption a State-licensed child welfare agency, or person authorized by law, has the right of authority to consent may be entered at any time after placement and completion of investigation. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Includes the delivery of covered health care services by way of telephone usage in the definition of "telehealth services". Provides that health care services that are covered under an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance must be covered when delivered via telehealth services when clinically appropriate, subject to specified conditions (rather than requiring an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance to comply with specified conditions if it provides coverage for telehealth services). Provides that patient cost-sharing may be no more than if the health care service were delivered in person. Provides that no excepted benefit policy may deny or reduce any benefit to a patient based on the use of clinically appropriate telehealth services in the course of satisfying the policy's benefit criteria. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning health care services that are covered under an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance that must be covered when delivered via telehealth services when clinically appropriate, provides that reimbursement to a health care provider for telehealth services for behavioral health services provided through an interactive telecommunications system shall be made on the same basis, in the same manner, and at the same rate as would be applied for the same services if they had been delivered in-person and shall include reasonable compensation to a facility that serves as the originating site at the time a telehealth service is rendered. Provides that with respect to telehealth benefits provided in an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance, insurers may not (rather than an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance may not) require patients to use a separate panel of health care providers to receive telehealth service coverage and reimbursement; create geographic or facility restrictions or requirements for telehealth services; require patients or health care providers to prove a hardship or access barrier before the approval of telehealth services for coverage or reimbursement; negotiate different contract rates for telehealth services and in-person services for behavioral health services; or impose upon telehealth services utilization review requirements that are unnecessary, duplicative, or unwarranted or impose any treatment limitations, prior authorization, documentation, or recordkeeping requirements that are more stringent than the requirements applicable to the same health care service when rendered in-person. Provides that health care providers shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to privacy laws. Defines terms. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new 225 ILCS 150/5 225 ILCS 150/15 325 ILCS 20/3 from Ch. 23, par. 4153 325 ILCS 20/3b new 325 ILCS 20/11 from Ch. 23, par. 4161 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that a health insurer shall reimburse a network provider for behavioral health services delivered through telehealth on at least the same basis and at the same rate as if delivered in-person. Provides that a health insurer may establish reasonable requirements and parameters for telehealth services. Further amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force to review and study the use of telehealth services in the State with respect to payment and reimbursement parity for health care providers providing such services. Sets forth provisions concerning election of a chairperson, compensation, and appointments of members of the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force. Provides that the task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2021. Provides that the task force is dissolved on January 1, 2023. Amends the Telehealth Act. In provisions concerning use of telehealth, provides that services provided by telehealth shall be consistent with all federal and State privacy, security, and confidentiality laws. Provides that health care professionals shall determine the appropriateness of specific sites, technology platforms, and technology vendors for a telehealth service, as long as delivered services adhere to specified privacy laws. Provides that health care professionals shall maintain documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Permits an early intervention provider to deliver via telehealth any type of early intervention services authorized under the Act to the extent of his or her scope of practice as established in his or her respective licensing Act consistent with the standards of care for in-person services. Requires parents to be informed of the availability of early intervention services provided through telehealth. Provides that parents shall make the final decision as to whether accepted early intervention services are delivered in person or via telehealth. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/356z.43 new Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.8 new 225 ILCS 150/10 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall cover telehealth services, e-visits, and virtual check-ins rendered by a health care professional when clinically appropriate and medically necessary to insureds, enrollees, and members in the same manner as any other benefits covered under the policy. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance may provide reimbursement to a facility that serves as the originating site at the time a telehealth service is rendered. Sets forth provisions with which coverage for telehealth services shall comply. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance shall notify health care professionals and facilities of any instructions necessary to facilitate billing for telehealth services, e-visits, and virtual check-ins. Provides that the Department of Insurance and the Department of Public Health shall commission a report to the General Assembly and shall submit the report by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Department of Insurance may adopt rules to implement the provisions. Provides that specified provisions are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Removes provisions concerning the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force. Defines terms. Further amends the Telehealth Act. Changes a reference to "telehealth" to "telehealth services." Removes language that provides that health care professionals shall maintain documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with specified provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to prohibit an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or Paramedic from completing an initial Occupational Safety and Health Administration Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire on behalf of fire service personnel, as permitted by his or her Region's EMS Medical Directors Committee, Regional EMS Advisory Committee, or local EMS System. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to prohibit an EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, or PHRN (rather than an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or Paramedic) from completing an initial Occupational Safety and Health Administration Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire on behalf of fire service personnel, as permitted by his or her EMS System Medical Director (rather than his or her EMS Region's EMS Medical Directors Committee, Regional EMS Advisory Committee, or local EMS System).

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as Hayli's Law. Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Public Health, the health department of a unit of local government, or a public health district may not regulate the sale of lemonade or nonalcoholic drinks or mixed beverages by a person under the age of 16. Effective January 1, 2022.

Mourns the death of Rev. Louis A. Barnes of Pembroke Township.