LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM EQUIP FOR EQUALITY
March 11, 2022
The following are disability-related bills and/or issues pending in the Illinois General Assembly that are scheduled to be heard in committee during the week of March 14, 2022:
Joint Hearing of the House Appropriations-Human Services Committee and House Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
March 15, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Racial Disparities in DCFS.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
March 15, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
HB 5468, Representative William Davis
Appropriates $350,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for education funding. Effective July 1, 2022.
House Ethics & Elections Committee
March 15, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 4 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 829, Representative Katie Stuart
Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall provide a certified remote accessible vote by mail system for the General Election of November 8, 2022 and all subsequent elections, through which a vote by mail ballot can be delivered by electronic transmission to voters with print disabilities and through which voters with print disabilities are able to mark and verify their ballots using assistive technology. Provides that election authorities shall permit voters with a print disability to receive and mark their vote by mail ballots (i) through that certified remote accessible vote by mail system or (ii) through a certified remote accessible vote by mail system provided by the election authority. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
House Insurance Committee
March 15, 202, 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 3819, Representative Robyn Gabel
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after on or after January 1, 2024 shall provide shall provide coverage for community-based pediatric palliative care and hospice care and that the care shall be delivered to any qualifying child with a serious illness by a trained interdisciplinary team that allows a child to receive community-based pediatric palliative and hospice care while continuing to pursue curative treatment and disease-directed therapies for the qualifying illness. Defines “palliative care” and “serious illness”. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act.
- To read the full text of SB 3819: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3819: Click
House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
March 16, 2022, 8:00 a.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 5468, Representative William Davis
Appropriates $350,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for education funding. Effective July 1, 2022.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee
March 16, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
HB 5096, HCA 1, Representative Michelle Mussman
Amends the School Code. Provides that the removal of a student with a disability for disciplinary reasons, violations of the student code of conduct, or other inappropriate behavior shall conform with the applicable provisions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and certain administrative rules. Provides that removal of a student for any part of a school day constitutes a day of removal. Provides that a directive by school administration to a parent or guardian not to send the student to school on a school day that results in the student not attending school for any part of that school day constitutes a day of removal. Provides that, for each removal, the parent or guardian of the student must be provided with a written notice that includes the action taken, the duration of the action, and the reasons for the action. Provides that the written notice to the parent or guardian and any written or recorded information concerning a removal of the student shall be made part of the student’s school records.
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 5096, HCA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 5096, HCA 1: Click
SB 3474, Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, requires a school district to provide informational material about the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program to the parent or guardian of a student at the student’s annual individualized education program review meeting. Requires the Office of the State Treasurer to prepare and deliver the informational material to the State Board of Education, and provides that the State Board of Education shall distribute the informational material to school districts. Effective immediately.
SB 3990, Representative Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.
Amends the School Code. Provides that school counseling services may include the promotion of career and technical education by assisting each student to determine an appropriate postsecondary plan based upon the student’s skills, strengths, and goals and assisting the student to implement the best practices that improve career or workforce readiness after high school. Provides that the school counseling services of developing individual career plans with students and assisting all students with a college or postsecondary education plan includes planning for postsecondary education, as appropriate, and engaging in related and relevant career and technical education coursework in high school.
SB 4028, Representative Denyse Wang Stoneback
Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Adds provisions regarding requiring instruction on how and where to find mental health resources and specialized treatment in the State. Creates the Student Mental Health Council to evaluate: mental health; how mental health resources are being used; and the effect of COVID-19 on students’ mental health, substance use disorders, and other mental health conditions. Provides that the Council shall meet at least once per quarter. Provides that the Council shall advise and make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor regarding: (i) the dissemination of information to schools, including agency websites, informational materials, and outreach personnel; (ii) available services to students and any service gaps; and (iii) how to improve State policy concerning student mental health. Provides guidelines for appointing members. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative support. Provides that no member of the Council, including the chairperson, shall receive any compensation for services on the Council but shall be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Council. Provides that the Council shall deliver annual reports to the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office.
Provides that the Council is dissolved, and the Section creating the Council is repealed,
on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.
SB 4056, Representative Michelle Mussman
Amends Public Act 102-466 to change the effective date of certain provisions. Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning State Board of Education reporting, references to the Certification of Teachers Article and certification, reporting attacks on school personnel, the Annual State Report on Special Education Performance, the High-Cost Special Education Funding Commission, the evidence-based funding formula, a part-time provisional career and technical educator endorsement or a provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an educator license with stipulations, the heroin and opioid drug prevention pilot program, the Emotional Intelligence and Social and Emotional Learning Task Force, and the limitation on noninstructional costs in the Chicago school district. Repeals provisions concerning the Downstate School Finance Authority for Elementary Districts Law, an alternative education program audit adjustment prohibition, high-skilled manufacturing teaching resources, entrepreneurial skills teaching resources, a job training program prohibition, the Giant Steps Autism Center for Excellence pilot program, fast growth grants, and the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification for National Board Certified Teachers. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Adds a charter school authorized by the State Board of Education and a special education cooperative to the definition of “school” and requires a charter school to have threat assessment procedures. Amends the Property Tax Code, Illinois Pension Code, and Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act to make related changes. Amends the College and Career Success for All Students Act to make a technical change. Provides that the State Board of Education shall review each school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school’s filled policy on bullying by September 30 of the subject year. Provides that if a school fails to file a policy by September 30, then the State Board of Education shall provide a written request for the school to file the policy. Provides that if a school fails to file a policy after receiving a written request, then the State Board of Education shall publish notice of the non-compliance on the State Board of Education’s website. Effective immediately.
House Human Services Committee
March 16, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 3 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 3132, Representative Michelle Mussman
Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. In provisions concerning the Department of Human Services’ Home Services Program, provides that subject to federal approval the Department shall allow a recipient’s spouse to serve as his or her provider of personal care or similar services. Effective immediately.
SB 3156, Representative Mark Batinick
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Changes references from “direct support person” to “direct support professional”. Provides that the direct support professional credential pilot program shall be administered by the Division of Developmental Disabilities of the Department of Human Services or a Division partner. Provides that the Program shall begin in Fiscal Year 2024.
SB 3172, Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Amends the Custody Relinquishment Prevention Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Public Health to enter into a 5-year extension of the interagency agreement required by Public Act 98-808. Effective immediately.
SB 3707, Representative Barbara Hernandez
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the amendatory Act applies to any person who is employed by the Department on Aging, or is contracted with the Department, to provide direct services to individuals enrolled in the Community Care Program. Requires dementia training of at least 2 hours to be completed at the start of employment with the Department or contractor. Provides that persons who are employees of the Department or a contractor on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall complete this training within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the training to cover the following subjects: Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, safety risks, and communication and behavior. Requires annual continuing education training to include at least 2 hours of dementia training covering those subjects. Provides that if laws or rules existing on the effective date of the amendatory Act contain more rigorous training requirements for employees or contractors providing direct services to Community Care Program enrollees, those laws or rules shall apply. Provides that where there is overlap between the provisions of the amendatory Act and other laws and rules, the Department shall interpret the provisions of the amendatory Act to avoid duplication of requirements while ensuring that the minimum requirements set in the amendatory Act are met.
SB 4006, Representative Barbara Hernandez
Amends the Autism Spectrum Disorders Reporting Act. Provides that, no later than December 31st of each year, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly regarding access to applied behavior analysis therapy for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Requires the Report to include specified information.
House Health Care Licenses Committee
March 16, 2022, 10:30 a.m.
Virtual Room www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 4025, Representative Katie Stuart
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In a provision concerning Inspector General reports to the Department of Public Health’s Health Care Worker Registry, requires the Inspector General to report the identity and finding of each employee of a facility or agency against whom there is a final investigative report prepared by the Inspector General that contains a substantiated allegation of physical or sexual abuse, financial exploitation, or egregious neglect of an individual, unless the Inspector General requests a stipulated disposition of the investigative report that does not include the reporting of the employee’s name to the Health Care Worker Registry and the Secretary of Human Services agrees with the requested stipulated disposition. Effective immediately.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools Committee
March 16, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 3986, Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Amends the School Code. Prohibits the State Board of Education from developing, purchasing, or requiring a school district to administer, develop, or purchase a standardized assessment for students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2, other than for diagnostic and screening purposes. Includes in the definition of diagnostic and screening purposes the determination of eligibility for special education, early intervention, bilingual education, dyslexia services, or other related educational services. Permits the State Board of Education to provide funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2 for diagnostic and screening purposes. Effective immediately.
House State Government Administration Committee
March 16, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 4 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 3786, Representative Dagmar Avelar
Amends the State Treasurer Act. In provisions concerning the ABLE account program, provides that a “designated representative” means a person or entity (currently, person only) who is authorized to act on behalf of a “designated beneficiary”. Provides that a person or entity must provide certification, subject to penalties of perjury, of the basis for the person’s authority to act as a designated representative and that there is no other person or entity with higher priority to establish the ABLE account. Provides that the State Treasurer may require any certifications that he or she deems necessary to implement the ABLE program, including oaths or affirmations made under penalties of perjury. Removes provisions allowing the State Treasurer to recognize specified persons or entities as a designated representative without appointment by a court. Defines “Internal Revenue Code”. Effective immediately.
House Appropriations-Public Safety Committee
March 16, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: IDOT, Tollway, Department Juvenile Justice, Prison Review Board, Department of Corrections.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Revenue & Finance Committee
March 17, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 5 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 1975, Representative Michelle Mussman
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the chief county assessment officer in a county of more than 3,000,000 residents, and in any other county where the county board has authorized such action by ordinance or resolution, may automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities without application for taxable years 2021 through 2026 for any person who applied for the exemption and provides proof of eligibility. Provides that an applicant for the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities may be examined by an optometrist if the person qualifies because of a visual disability. Provides that the chief county assessment officer shall not automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities if the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, optometrist, or physician assistant who examined the claimant determined that the disability is not expected to continue for 12 months or more.
SB 3215, Representative Anne Stava-Murray
Amends the Property Tax Code, the Community Care for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, the Counties Code, and the Community Mental Health Act. Contains provisions validating certain tax levies for community mental health boards.
In provisions of the introduced bill validating certain boards and levies, provides that those provisions apply on and after January 1, 1994 and on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
House Mental Health & Addiction Committee
March 17, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 4 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 3889, Representative Natalie A. Manley
Amends the Children’s Mental Health Act of 2003. Adds a requirement that the Children’s Mental Health Plan include recommendations on how to more effectively meet the emergency and residential placement needs for all children with severe mental and behavioral challenges. Adds representatives of community mental health provider trade organizations to the group of representatives to the Children’s Mental Health Partnership that are appointed by the Governor. Provides that the annual report will be delivered to the Governor and the General Assembly (currently, only the Governor).
Senate Appropriations-Criminal Justice Committee
March 15, 2022, 1:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: SB 2854 Prisoner Review Board, SB 4116 Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, SB 2854, SB 4116
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
Senate Appropriations-General Services Committee
March 16, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 3 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: FY23 budget request for the following agencies: SB 4097 Arts Council, SB 4064 Board of Elections, SB 4124 Executive Ethics Commission, SB 4148 Legislative Ethics Commission/ Legislative Inspector General, SB 4097, SB 4064, SB 4124, SB 4148.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
Senate Appropriations-Health Committee
March 16, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBECT MATTER: SB 4114 Department of Healthcare and Family Services, SB 4114
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
NOTE: If you wish to take any action regarding any of these bills/issues, you may wish to file an electronic witness slip and/or or submit oral or written testimony to the committee holding the hearing and/or contact the members of the committee conducting the hearing and/or the legislators in your home district. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all legislators, both Representatives and Senators, can be found on the Illinois General Assembly website at: www.ilga.gov. You may check this website to find out if any of the committee hearing dates or times have been changed, which may happen upon very short notice.
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, committee hearings are being held remotely via the Internet.
- To view instructions regarding the remote hearing process and how to submit oral or written testimony in the HOUSE: Click
- To view instructions regarding the remote hearing process and how to submit oral or written testimony in the SENATE: Click
For additional information, please contact:
Cheryl R. Jansen
Public Policy Director
Equip for Equality
cherylj2@equipforequality.org
217-303-8543
