|
Dear Neighbor,
This email update shares with you information about the bills I passed through the legislature this session. I am always particularly pleased to work on issues that come to me from residents in the district, so if you have a pressing concern you believe needs to be addressed through a state law change, please let
me know.
Human Services Commission (SB 278). This bill makes the Human Services Commission permanent. The Human Services Commission, which Gov. Quinn created by executive order in 2009, is a vehicle for stakeholders from government, non-profits, and private service providers to systematically review the effectiveness of the state's human services. Without this law, it would have expired at the end of 2012. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Department of Human Services Finances (SB 348). The Department of Human Services is tasked with providing certain services, such as printing and payroll, to some other state agencies in exchange for fees. This law will allow money in the Mental Health Fund, where the fees are currently deposited, to be used to pay expenses associated with these services, as well as for mental health-related expenses. This bill was signed into law January 13, 2012.
Alternative Teaching Certification (SB 638). Changes the deadline for implementation of new alternative certification programs for teachers from September 1, 2012, to September 1, 2013, and clarifies that candidates for alternative certification may be placed in charter schools. The alternative certification community has requested the extra time to develop and gain approval for new alternative certification programs. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Early Childhood Intervention (SB 820). Makes changes to the Early Intervention Service System Act in order to bring Illinois into compliance with new federal rules, such as requirements that a child receive services in his or her natural environment whenever possible and that children begin to transition to preschool by age three. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Saving Medicaid Access and Resources Together - SMART Act (SB 2840). This bill reduces the state's Medicaid costs by $1.6 billion by making a number of changes to eligibility, reductions and utilization controls for programs and services, enhanced eligibility verification, and strategic provider reimbursement rate cuts. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Equal Pay Act Liability (SB 2847). This bill allows for individual liability under the Equal Pay Act so a company's officers or agents cannot evade a judgment or award by dissolving the company. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Public-Private Partnerships Trailer (SB 3216). This legislation makes a variety of changes to the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act, including allowing the Toll Highway Authority to participate in the program, shifting profits to the Road Fund, and establishing public hearing requirements. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Raven Theatre Zoning (SB 3262). This bill allows the City of Chicago to issue a liquor license to The Raven Theatre on North Clark Street. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Reinstatement of Lapsed Teaching Certificates (SB 3393). Allows teachers with lapsed certificates to have their licenses reinstated immediately by paying all back fees and either meeting certain educational requirements or paying a $500 fine. This bill was signed into law May 8, 2012.
Medicaid Provider Payment Reforms (SB 3397). Cuts up the "Medicaid credit card" by ending the practice of under-appropriating for Medicaid expenses and paying one year's bills with the next year's funds. Only $700 million in medical assistance bills may be delayed in this fashion in Fiscal Year 2013 and only $100 million starting in FY 2014. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act Fees (SB 3602). Changes the amount paid under the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act for late payment of fines and fees from $4 per $40 of fines to flat fees based on the type of crime. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month (SR 624). Designates September 2012 as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. In Illinois, 34.9% of children ages 10 to 17 are overweight or obese. The resolution encourages policies aimed at increasing access to healthy foods, decreasing the marketing of low-nutrition foods to children, promoting healthy lifestyles in schools, making physical education available to all students, and ensuring that pedestrians and cyclists have safe access to communities' streets.
Revolving Loans for Child Healthcare Providers (HB 442). Empowers the Illinois Finance Authority to establish a revolving loan fund for non-profit child healthcare providers that furnish services on behalf of the state. The law will allow existing agreements to be converted to permanent capital in order to leverage additional private capital. This bill was signed into law January 13, 2012.
CHIP Eligibility (HB 3462). Expands Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) coverage to individuals under 19 who cannot obtain health insurance. Currently, eligibility for CHIP requires a rejection letter from a private insurer, indicating the child cannot be insured for health reasons. Now, however, most Illinois insurance companies no longer offer any individual health policy for children, so they do not issue rejection letters; this legislation waives the rejection letter requirement if the child is not eligible to obtain any health coverage. This bill was signed into law January 13, 2012.
So Gong Dong Tofu House Zoning (HB 4324). Makes corrections to legislation passed last year allowing the City of Chicago to grant a liquor license to the So Gong Dong Tofu House. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Environmental Controls for Dry Cleaners (HB 4526). Starting January 1, 2013, dry-cleaning machines that use perchloroethylene ("perc") are required to have both primary and secondary control systems. Types of machines now in service may be used until they need to be replaced. Licensees must officially certify that they properly store and transport hazardous waste properly. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Regulation of Intellectual Disability/Developmental Disability Facilities (HB 4563). Requires developmental and intellectual disability facilities to provide 30 days' written notice of their intent to reduce the number of beds at a facility or their intent to close a facility. Under this legislation, several provisions of the Health Facilities Planning Act will not apply to DD/ID facilities, which have argued that they differ significantly from other facilities such as nursing homes, and that "one size fits all" regulation does not work for them. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Radon Testing in Day Care Facilities (HB 4606). Requires licensed day cares to test for radon every three years or when applying for an initial or reduced license and requires them to post the results where parents and other caregivers can see them. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
University Pension Reforms for Retirees Returning to Work (HB 4996). Starting in the 2013-14 academic year, whenever a state university or community college hires a SURS retiree for more than 40% of his or her previous salary and for more than 18 weeks, the college or university must reimburse the State University Retirement System for the cost of the employee's pension during the time of employment. This measure creates a financial disincentive for universities to hire SURS annuitants for an extended period of time at a high salary. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
School Immunization Data (HB 5013). School districts must currently report to the State Board of Education the number of their students who have been immunized and the number exempt on medical or religious grounds. This legislation will make the data public so parents will be aware of the likelihood of an outbreak. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Regulation of Electric Car Charging Stations (HB 5071). Creates guidelines for the certification of people or businesses that install, repair, or maintain electric car charging stations. The legislation also clarifies that charging electric vehicles does not make a business subject to regulation as a public utility or electric supplier. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Economic Data Task Force (HB 5444). Creates an Economic Data Task Force to study the costs and benefits of giving the public access to the state employment data currently produced by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The task force would study the possibility of a web-based program that would allow job-seekers to search Illinois employers by size, wage range, location, and industry classification, while posting their qualifications on the site for potential employers to view. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Budgetary Flexibility for Developmental Disability Facility Transfers (HB 5679). Requires the Department of Human Services to inform the General Assembly within 30 days of making a decision to reduce the population at a state developmental disability facility. The legislation then gives DHS flexibility to transfer funds from that facility to a new venue of care. HB 5679 enables the implementation of PA 97-0626, passed last year, so that the Illinois Finance Act does not prevent the kind of budgetary transfers DHS needs to make when clients are transferred from one facility to another. This bill awaits the governor's signature.
Please contact me if you have questions on these or any other items. You can reach me phone at 773-769-1717 or by email at hsteans@senatedem.ilga.gov.
Best regards,
Heather A. Steans | 
