Kane County Reporter

Stephanie A. Kifowit introduced HB3354 in the Illinois House on Feb. 7, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if a policeman has an application for an ordinary disability benefit denied by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees of the Fund or has a duty disability benefit, ordinary disability benefit, or occupational disability benefit terminated by a majority vote of the Board and brings an action for administrative review challenging the termination or denial of the disability benefit and the policeman prevails in the action in administrative review, then the prevailing policeman shall be entitled to recover from the Fund court costs and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, as part of the costs of the action. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code to allow policemen to recover court costs and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, if they challenge a denial or termination of a disability benefit in administrative review and prevail. Specifically, it applies to ordinary, duty, or occupational disability benefits. The bill also amends the State Mandates Act, stipulating that the implementation of this change does not require state reimbursement. The implementation is effective immediately upon enactment.

Stephanie A. Kifowit has proposed another 40 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Kifowitz graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1994 with a BS and again in 1997 from Northern Illinois University with an MPA.

Stephanie A. Kifowitz is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 84th House District. She replaced previous state representative Tom Cross in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB3354	02/07/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if a policeman has an application for an ordinary disability benefit denied by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees of the Fund or has a duty disability benefit, ordinary disability benefit, or occupational disability benefit terminated by a majority vote of the Board and brings an action for administrative review challenging the termination or denial of the disability benefit and the policeman prevails in the action in administrative review, then the prevailing policeman shall be entitled to recover from the Fund court costs and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, as part of the costs of the action. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
HB3504	02/07/2025	Appropriates $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for establishing a pilot program connecting Northern Illinois University students from the Aurora area to Northern Illinois University. Effective July 1, 2026.
HB2980	02/06/2025	Amends the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act. Removes motor driven cycle and moped from the definition of "cycle". Defines "Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider" and "Provider" as a for-profit or nonprofit business, community agency, community organization, community college, or State university that is capable of providing courses. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall put out notices to the public seeking Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers to provide courses in the State, and that such courses shall be open to all residents of the State who hold a currently valid driver's license and who have reached their 16th birthday before the first day of the course to be held. Allows providers to charge a nominal registration fee set by the Department. Provides that responses from potential providers shall include the location where classes are to be held at, the number of students they intend to train, whether they would be providing motorcycles or using motorcycles owned by the Department, and the cost for courses provided on a per student basis. Provides that contracts shall be awarded by the Department to providers based on training needs and cost effectiveness of each bid or proposal. Provides that a provider shall only be paid grant funds under one of the following conditions: a course was held; expenses submitted related to the maintenance of department owned equipment; or submitting other non-personnel expenses. Provides that a provider awarded a contract with grant funding shall: submit proof that each instructor employed by the provider meets the qualifications to teach the curriculum for the courses; have at least one employee on staff certified to do quality assurance or quality control visits where instructors are evaluated per curriculum standards on teaching; perform at least one quality assurance or quality control visit on each instructor employed during the year and submit the results of those visits to the Department; maintain appropriate liability insurance to cover training activities; submit requests for payment in a timely manner; and adhere to additional program rules and regulations. Prohibits a provider awarded a contract with grant funding from adopting any policy, requirement, or expectation regarding employee's manner of dress outside of the employee's scheduled work hours. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB2985	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. Provides that the term "community-based organization" includes a high-school based program. Provides that funding from the Illinois Works Fund shall be categorized based on Illinois Department of Transportation regions. Adds a member to the Illinois Works Review panel who shall be a representative of a community-based organization that addresses high school-based workforce programs. Makes other changes.
HB3042	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Expands the definition of "source of income" to include any lawful, verifiable income paid directly to a veteran, or to a representative of a veteran, or paid to a housing owner or landlord on behalf of a veteran, including federal, State, or local public assistance, and federal, State, or local housing subsidies, including, but not limited to, federal Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers.
HB3044	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "autonomous vehicle" as a motor vehicle that possesses the capability (enabled or not) for automated functions to control movement of the vehicle along 2 axes of direction simultaneously. Provides that, before selling or continuing to operate a new or used autonomous vehicle in this State and before updating the software or hardware of any automated driving system on such a vehicle, a manufacturer shall submit to the Department of Transportation documentation regarding the level of driving automation, along with a filing fee in an amount to be determined by the Department. Provides that the Department shall assemble an Automated Driving Systems Review Committee to evaluate submitted documentation and make determinations concerning the level of automated driving capabilities and the suitability of the vehicle for operation on public roads. Provides that an autonomous vehicle classified as having Level 2 Driving Automation may be sold to consumers and registered for use. Provides that the owner of the automated vehicle shall file an annual report with the Department of Transportation stating the number of miles driven per year, the estimated number of miles driven using equipped automated driving systems, and any collisions that occurred involving the vehicle. Prohibits the sale or operation of autonomous vehicles classified as having Level 3, 4, or 5 Driving Automation. Provides that a resident may file a request for the Automated Driving Systems Review Committee to review an existing vehicle sold or registered in this State, and that the Secretary of State shall receive and investigate complaints of a dealer selling a vehicle prohibited for sale under the new provisions. Provides that a person who operates a prohibited vehicle is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and that such a vehicle is subject to impoundment. Provides penalties for the unauthorized sale or modification of an autonomous vehicle.
HB3045	02/06/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that evidence of a defendant's voluntary intoxication is not admissible for the purpose of negating the defendant's mental state, nor shall any such argument to the trier of fact be permitted. Provides that evidence of a defendant's voluntary intoxication is admissible for any other relevant purpose. Provides that if evidence of the defendant's intoxication, either voluntary or involuntary, is admitted, the trier of fact shall be instructed that voluntary intoxication is not a defense to the crime charged.
HB2777	02/05/2025	Amends the Personnel Code. Provides that certain provisions related to probationary separation, term appointments, and veterans hospital visits are subject to Jurisdiction B. Changes references to veterans hospital visits to references to veterans medical appointments. Provides that an employee who is also a veteran shall be permitted 4 days per year to receive medical care authorized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, at any type of health care provider or health care facility (rather than permitted 4 days per year to visit a veterans hospital or clinic), for examination or treatment (rather than for examination) of a military service-connected condition (rather than service-connected disability).
HB2778	02/05/2025	Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall award a grant to a statewide association of public pension funds affiliated with a public institution of higher education to develop and deliver an in-person financial literacy training program for public employees. Provides that the program shall consist of in-person training regarding retirement income, including pension benefits, Social Security benefits, and employer-sponsored deferred compensation and retiree healthcare savings plans and shall also include instruction in financial planning and important elements of consumer finance, such as debt, educational savings, budgeting, and related subjects. Provides that the program shall include recorded programs to assist public employees who work on nontraditional shift assignments.
HB2779	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a Tier 2 investigator for the Department of the Lottery is entitled to an annuity under the alternative retirement annuity provisions only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55. Authorizes an investigator for the Department of the Lottery to establish eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions. Provides that a specified educational requirement for persons employed by the Department of Juvenile Justice shall no longer determine eligibility to earn eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions and authorizes the conversion of service credit to eligible creditable service. Establishes a deferred retirement option plan for certain police officers, firefighters, sheriff's law enforcement employees, and deputy sheriffs in the Cook County Police Department who are otherwise eligible to retire under which a participant may continue in active service for up to 5 years while having his or her retirement pension paid into a special account. Provides that the election to participate in the deferred retirement option plan must be made before January 1, 2030. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, Chicago Police, and Chicago Firefighter Articles. In the Chicago Teacher Article of the Code, makes changes to how days of validated service are computed. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Makes other changes.
HB2836	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as Air Medal plates to residents of this State who meet the eligibility requirements prescribed by the Secretary of State. Provides that the plates shall display the Air Medal. Provides that in all other respects, the design, color, and format of the plates shall be within the discretion of the Secretary.
HB2854	02/05/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a board of 9 (instead of 8) members shall constitute a board of trustees of the fund. Provides that the board shall consist of 4 persons appointed by the mayor of the city; 4 (instead of 3) policemen employed by the city, at least one of whom shall be a lieutenant (instead of a lieutenant or of a rank superior to lieutenant), one of whom shall be of the rank of sergeant, and 2 (instead of one) of whom shall be of the rank of investigator or a rank inferior to that rank; and one annuitant of the fund. Provides that any newly created elected position on the board shall be filled in the same manner as provided for vacant positions.
HB2855	02/05/2025	Amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the Tier 2 monthly retirement annuity shall be increased on the January 1 occurring either on or after (i) the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) or (ii) the first anniversary of the annuity start date, whichever is later. Provides that each annual increase shall be calculated at 3% (instead of 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u, whichever is less) of the originally granted retirement annuity. In a provision specifying an annuity reduction factor for each year a retiring Tier 2 policeman or fireman is under the age of 55, provides that the retirement annuity of a policeman or fireman who is retiring after attaining age 50 with 20 or more years of service shall not be reduced. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
HB2856	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a Tier 2 investigator for the Department of the Lottery is entitled to an annuity under the alternative retirement annuity provisions only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55. Authorizes an investigator for the Department of the Lottery to establish eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions. Provides that a specified educational requirement for persons employed by the Department of Juvenile Justice shall no longer determine eligibility to earn eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions and authorizes the conversion of service credit to eligible creditable service. Establishes a deferred retirement option plan for certain police officers, firefighters, sheriff's law enforcement employees, and deputy sheriffs in the Cook County Police Department who are otherwise eligible to retire under which a participant may continue in active service for up to 5 years while having his or her retirement pension paid into a special account. Provides that the election to participate in the deferred retirement option plan must be made before January 1, 2030. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, Chicago Police, and Chicago Firefighter Articles. In the Chicago Teacher Article of the Code, makes changes to how days of validated service are computed. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Makes other changes.
HB2540	02/04/2025	Amends the Budget Stabilization Act. Provides a transfer of specified amounts from the General Revenue Fund to the Pension Stabilization Fund for fiscal years 2031 through 2041. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. With regard to each of the 5 State-funded retirement systems, provides that for State fiscal years 2027 through 2035, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each State fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 100% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2049. Makes conforming and other changes to the funding formulas. Provides that any person who earned service as a Tier 1 member or participant in any retirement system or pension fund established under this Code shall continue to earn service as a Tier 1 member and shall remain a Tier 1 member in any other retirement system or pension fund. Makes changes to the Tier 2 calculation of final average salary; the Tier 2 retirement age; and the amount of the automatic annual increases to Tier 2 annuities. Provides that, for a person who has reached the maximum percentage of salary allowed under the applicable system and who is within 5 years of the normal retirement age applicable for that member or participant, the reduction under provisions that reduce the retirement annuity due to age shall be 0%. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Provides that the Act takes effect January 1, 2028, except that certain provisions take effect upon becoming law.
HB2547	02/04/2025	Amends various Acts by replacing all references to the "Department of Veterans' Affairs" with "Department of Veterans Affairs". Effective immediately.
HB2707	02/04/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that the school board of each school district maintaining a high school shall require the high school to prioritize granting school parking passes to students with disabilities who have a disability license plate or parking decal or device by ensuring that these students are able to park an accessible distance from the high school's entrance and are given first consideration (i) before assigning students school parking passes and (ii) after assigning students school parking passes for those students with disabilities who receive a disability license plate or parking decal or device after students have been assigned school parking passes. Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to prioritize granting parking passes to students with disabilities who have a disability license plate or parking decal or device by ensuring that these students are able to park an accessible distance from a building's entrance and are given first consideration (i) before assigning students parking passes and (ii) after assigning students parking passes for those students with disabilities who receive a disability license plate or parking decal or device after students have been assigned parking passes.
HB2708	02/04/2025	Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that in addition to any other amounts deposited into the Domestic Violence Shelter and Service Fund, the State Treasurer shall deposit into the Fund all moneys donated to the State by private individuals or entities for purposes for which moneys in the Fund may be used as provided in these provisions. Provides that subject to appropriations, the Department of Human Services shall use moneys in the Fund to make grants to defray the reasonable and necessary travel expenses of victims of domestic violence who were members of the United States Armed Forces when the domestic violence occurred and who have been discharged from the United States Armed Forces to participate and travel to domestic violence proceedings. Military personnel may qualify for and have access to moneys from the Fund for the purposes set forth in these provisions. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules necessary for making grants under these provisions. Provides that County Veterans Assistance Commissions and qualifying veterans' organizations and their related auxiliaries that are organized in the United States or any of its possessions and are tax exempt under Section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 may receive grants under these provisions. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall use moneys in the Fund to make grants to defray the reasonable and necessary travel expenses of victims of domestic violence who were members of the United States Armed Forces when the domestic violence occurred and who have been discharged from the United States Armed Forces to participate and travel to domestic violence proceedings. Provides that military personnel may qualify for and have access to moneys from the Fund for the purposes set forth in this provision. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules necessary for making grants under this provision. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 to make conforming changes.
HB2714	02/04/2025	Amends the Heroes Way Designation Program Act. Permits any federally chartered or state-chartered veterans service organization to apply for designation of an honorary road sign for any member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in action, if no eligible family member is available to apply for designation of an honorary road sign.
HB2465	02/03/2025	Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that, if a quorum of the members of the public body is physically present, a majority of the public body may allow a member of that body to attend the meeting by other means if the member is prevented from physically attending because of performance of active military duty as a service member. Defines "active military duty" and "service member".
HB2476	02/03/2025	Amends the Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that no person under the age of 18 (rather than 21) shall be eligible for employment as a firefighter.
HB2477	02/03/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the State Universities Article, provides that a Tier 2 member who has at least 20 years of service in the System as a police officer is entitled to a retirement annuity upon written application on or after the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) if a specified rule is applicable to the participant. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
HB2478	02/03/2025	Amends the Cook County Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a contributing employee may elect to purchase creditable service for up to 48 months of active-duty military service, whether or not that service followed service as a county employee. Provides that to establish this creditable service, the contributing employee must pay to the Fund an amount determined by the Fund to represent the employee contributions for the creditable service based on his or her rate of compensation after the military service, plus interest at the effective rate from the date of discharge to the date of payment. Removes an existing provision concerning the purchase of service credit for military service. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
HB2479	02/03/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a policeman who applies for disability benefits under the Article and has been denied reinstatement as a policeman by his or her employer because of a physical or mental incapacity shall be presumed to be disabled as that term is used in the Article. Provides that no policeman who otherwise meets the requirements for a disability benefit shall be denied a disability benefit unless and until the policeman's employer reinstates him or her as a policeman or offers him or her a limited-duty position. Provides that any policeman who has been denied a disability benefit without an offer of reinstatement or a limited-duty position after the effective date of the amendatory Act is entitled to disability benefits. Provides that if a policeman has an application for an ordinary disability benefit denied by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees of the Fund or has a duty disability benefit, ordinary disability benefit, or occupational disability benefit terminated by a majority vote of the Board and brings an action for administrative review challenging the termination or denial of the disability benefit and the policeman prevails in the action in administrative review, then the prevailing policeman shall be entitled to recover from the Fund court costs and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, as part of the costs of the action. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
HB2480	02/03/2025	Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Specifies that among the conditions of employment that may be included in arbitration decisions involving peace officers are residency requirements for municipalities with a population under 1,000,000 (now, for municipalities with a population under 100,000). Specifies that residency requirements for municipalities with a population under 1,000,000 (now, for municipalities with a population under 100,000) are not a condition of employment that may be included in an arbitration decision for a peace officer. Effective immediately.
HB2481	02/03/2025	Appropriates $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council to support the Tradeswomen Build Nations 2025 conference. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2482	02/03/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a policeman who applies for disability benefits under the Article and has been denied reinstatement as a policeman by his or her employer because of a physical or mental incapacity shall be presumed to be disabled as that term is used in the Article. Provides that no policeman who otherwise meets the requirements for a disability benefit shall be denied a disability benefit unless and until the policeman's employer reinstates him or her as a policeman or offers him or her a limited-duty position. Provides that any policeman who has been denied a disability benefit without an offer of reinstatement or a limited-duty position after the effective date of the amendatory Act is entitled to disability benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
HB2483	02/03/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In provisions concerning transfers of surplus moneys from the Income Tax Refund Fund to the General Revenue Fund, provides that "surplus" means the cash balance in the Income Tax Refund Fund at the end of the applicable fiscal year, less amounts attributable to certain specified transfers. Effective immediately.
HB2484	02/03/2025	Amends the Downstate Police and Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Removes language providing that a person may not elect to participate in IMRF with respect to his or her employment as a chief of police of a participating municipality, unless that person became a participating employee in IMRF before January 1, 2019. Makes conforming changes. In the Downstate Police Article, provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a municipality is not required to establish a defined contribution plan. Provides that a municipality is required to maintain a defined contribution plan for persons who began participating in the defined contribution plan before the effective date of the amendatory Act. In provisions authorizing certain police officers to elect to participate in the defined contribution plan, restricts participation to police officers who first became police officers before the effective date of the amendatory Act and to municipalities that established a defined contribution plan before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
HB2506	02/03/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any additional fee collected for the issuance and renewal of the military series registration plate shall not be included in the authorized fee waiver.
HB2378	01/31/2025	Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Adds to the definition of "community college benefit recipient" a person who is receiving retirement income from a self-managed plan account under the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code and who meets other requirements. Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In the definition of "retire" and "retirement", provides that a participant in the self-managed plan retires, and the participant's retirement begins, when the participant is eligible for retirement under the Article, and the Retirement System Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) if applicable, and the participant begins receiving retirement income from the participant's self-managed plan account.
HB2379	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State universities.
HB2393	01/31/2025	Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Allows the board of a forest preserve district to establish a special forest preserve district retailers' occupation tax and service occupation tax after referendum of the voters. Allows the tax to used exclusively for general purposes, including education, outdoor recreation, maintenance, operations, public safety at the forest preserves, trails, acquiring and restoring land, and any other lawful purposes or programs determined by the board of that district. Includes referendum language and additional ballot informational language. Incorporates provisions from the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to implement the tax. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Special Forest Preserve Retailers' and Service Occupation Tax Fund. Effective immediately.
HB2353	01/30/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval if required, a household that includes one or more veterans or members of the armed forces shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits if the gross income of such a household is at or below 200% of the nonfarm income poverty guidelines.
HB1870	01/29/2025	Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. In provisions regarding personnel policies and work time requirements, specifies that State employees of public institutions of higher education classified as faculty and those not eligible for overtime pay may satisfy the time sheets requirement by complying with the terms of their contract with the public institution of higher education. Effective immediately.
HB1871	01/29/2025	Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a member who is eligible to receive an alternative retirement annuity may elect to receive an estimated payment that shall commence no later than 30 days after the later of either the member's last day of employment or 30 days after the member files for the retirement benefit with the System. Provides that the estimated payment shall be the best estimate by the System of the total monthly amount due to the member based on the information that the System possesses at the time of the estimate. Provides that if the amount of the estimate is greater or less than the actual amount of the monthly annuity, the System shall pay or recover the difference within 6 months after the start of the monthly annuity. Excludes a benefit increase resulting from the amendatory Act from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.
HB1872	01/29/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that all youth in care shall be assigned a mental health provider to manage their mental health care needs. Requires a youth's mental health provider to visit the youth and conduct a well-being assessment within 30 days after the youth is removed from his or her home and placed in the temporary custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that additional follow-up visits and well-being checks shall be scheduled and conducted until the youth is no longer under the custody or guardianship of the Department. Provides that any mental health care services provided to the youth shall be in addition to any care or services the youth receives from his or her primary care provider. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.
HB1881	01/29/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning dental services for children and adults under the medical assistance program, lists the codes for certain dental procedures that shall be reimbursed at specified amounts. Provides that on and after January 1, 2026, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in cooperation with the Department of Veterans' Affairs, shall establish and administer a 5-year pilot program to help improve dental care access for veterans. Provides that under the pilot program, veterans with income at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shall be eligible for comprehensive dental care coverage at local community dentists who agree to discount their fees and provide needed dental care to eligible veterans. Provides that the Department may require veterans to meet other eligibility requirements as established by rule. Effective immediately.
HB1882	01/29/2025	Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Recreates the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force repealed by Public Act 102-417 and renames it the Veterans' Services Task Force. Requires the Veterans' Services Task Force to meet at least twice a year and at any other times it deems necessary. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other specified matters, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately.
HB1883	01/29/2025	Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Office of the Kane County State's Attorney for its operational expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1884	01/29/2025	Appropriates $1,000,000 to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to make grants to child care providers who offer non-traditional hours of care for the children of first responders and trade workers. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1362	01/14/2025	Amends the Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. In a provision concerning differential compensation, changes the definition of "work days" to mean the actual number of shifts (rather than days) the employee would have worked during the period of military leave but for the service member's military obligation. Further provides that work days are tabulated without regard for the number of hours in a shift (rather than work day), regardless if the shift extends into the next day. Removes a provision providing that work hours that extend into the next calendar day count as 2 work days.