Rep. Greg Harris • 13th District
Springfield Update • June 8, 2021
Legislative Accomplishments This Spring Session
The backlog legislation delayed by COVID and the continuing need to address disparities exposed by the pandemic guaranteed a busy and productive session down in Springfield this year. In addition to passing a balanced, responsible budget, the Illinois General Assembly passed many substantive bills addressing critical issues in our community. Let me share some of the legislative highlights from the Spring Session.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients across Illinois were prevented from receiving the care they needed and had to use telehealth services to get this critical care remotely. Access to telehealth and payment policies were instituted by Executive Order as part of the Public Health Emergency and would have expired when the Emergency ends. Many found these telehealth services were quite beneficial and greatly increased access to care, especially for those with disabilities. To build on these gains, we voted to require insurers to cover telehealth services just as they would for in-person services. Telehealth payment parity is now required for physical health services through 2028 and for behavioral services permanently.
Expanding Voter Rights (SB 825)
While other states are trying to restrict access to the ballot box, here in Illinois, the General Assembly passed an elections omnibus bill containing a number of changes to the election code to make voting easier and more accessible, such as:
- Pushing the 2022 General Primary date back to June 28, 2022. This is a one-time change to ensure Congressional candidates would have their district map in place in time to collect nominating petitions.
- Allowing counties outside of Cook to provide temporary branch polling places in county jails for eligible voters in custody who have not been convicted of a crime. Cook County already does so.
- Strengthens cybersecurity requirements for all election authorities.
- Requires election authorities to establish a voter center where all eligible voters in its jurisdiction may vote on Election Day and publish the location, hours, and health and safety requirements at least 40 days prior to Election Day.
- Allows voters to opt-in to permanent vote by mail status to receive mail-in ballots for every subsequent election the voter is eligible to participate in.
- Makes the 2022 General Election Day (November 8, 2022) a state holiday for schools and universities.
- Requires high schools to permit voter registration on premises and provide application information to students.
- Requires greater transparency for committees filling General Assembly vacancies, including the names of committeepersons voting on the appointment, the date, time and location of the meeting to fill the vacancy, and information on how to apply for consideration to fill the vacancy.
COVID-19 Affordable Housing Grant Program Act (HB 2621)
More and more Illinoisans are struggling to find affordable housing, a problem greatly exacerbated by the pandemic. The COVID-19 Affordable Housing Grant Program Act is an ambitious housing package that taps into state and federal dollars and private investment to spur the creation of more affordable housing. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will issue grants for the construction and rehab of affordable housing units, with a priority toward assisting areas most affected by COVID-19.
Additionally, HB 2621 directs the Cook County assessor (along with the assessors of other counties, if they so choose) to develop property tax incentives to promote the creation of new affordable housing stock. The law also strengthens many provisions in current affordable housing legislation, such as tightening the “donations in lieu of affordable housing” exemption. This legislation is projected to promote the development of up to 3,500 affordable units, and will be funded in part by over $104 million in ARPA funding this summer.
Comprehensive Safety and Sexual Health Education (SB 818)
SB 818 provides a long overdue updated approach to sexual health education in Illinois. The bill ensures all sexual health education taught in our state will be age and developmentally appropriate, medically accurate, complete, culturally appropriate, inclusive, and trauma informed. Course material will be sensitive to student’s needs and not promote bias based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, disability, or cultural background.
Students will be taught how to safely use the internet, skills to develop healthy relationships and to prevent and deal with interpersonal or sexual violence. They will learn about local resources to get more info and services related to parenting, bullying, mental health, substance abuse, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other related issues. A student’s parent or guardian may opt the student out of this program and may review course materials on the school district’s website.
Teaching Asian American History (HB 376)
The spread of misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic by those including Donald Trump has led to an alarming increase in violence and other hate crimes against Asian Americans. HB 376 combats this ignorance by making Illinois the first state in the nation to require all public elementary and high schools to teach Asian American history.
Students will learn about the valuable contributions Asian Americans have made to our community in the fields such as government, the arts, humanities, and science. I am proud to have cosponsored this bill to protect and honor the Asian American community.
LGBT Demographic Data Gathering (SB 2133)
This bill, which I sponsored in the House along with our new Senator Mike Simmons in the Senate, builds on the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus healthcare pillar passed earlier this year. SB 2133 expands the demographic data gathered by the state in healthcare and other settings to include age, gender identity, disability status, sexual orientation, and preferred language. This will give us a better understanding of disparities in healthcare and help us ensure everyone in our state receives the appropriate level of care.
Jett Hawkins Act (SB 817)
Another priority of Sen. Mike Simmons that I was honored to sponsor in the House was the Jett Hawkins Act, named after the brave four-year-old boy who was sent home from school for having braids that violated his school’s dress code. The Jett Hawkins Act prohibits all Illinois schools from banning hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity or hair texture. By preventing schools from unfairly discriminating against Black and Brown youth, this helps make Illinois a state that affirms the dignity of every student.
The Medicaid Working Group, the bipartisan and bicameral legislative working group to develop Illinois’ Medicaid policy of which I am a co-chair, developed, presented to the General Assembly and passed an omnibus healthcare package including the following provisions:
- Directs the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to collaborate with customers and other stakeholders to develop a Comprehensive Statewide Behavioral Health Strategy to submit to the General Assembly no later than July 1, 2022 in order to access additional federal funding.
- Requires every patient experiencing an opioid-related overdose or withdrawal to be admitted to impatient status when medically necessary. Directs HFS to reimburse hospital provider accordingly.
- Recognizes veteran support specialists as Mental Health Professionals under Medicaid.
- Transitions Illinois’ Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to be an entirely Medicaid expansion program instead of the current combination of Medicaid expansion and separate CHIP program. Expands Medicaid coverage for children under 19 from 133% of federal poverty level (FPL) to 313% of FPL.
- Provides Medicaid coverage for:
- Clinical professional counselors and marriage and family therapists
- Long-acting injectable medication for mental health or substance use disorders
- Chiropractic services
- Tobacco cessation counseling
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Services (PACE)
- Covers post-kidney transplant immunosuppressive drugs and other related services for non-citizens who are ineligible for comprehensive medical benefits and meet financial requirements.
- Increases reimbursement rates for pediatric vaccinations.
- Issues temporary per diem increase for Supportive Living Facilities to take advantage of enhanced federal match under ARPA.
- Raises reimbursement rates for wheelchair repairs.
- Establishes pilot program to research and identify appropriate residential settings for psychiatric lockout youth.
- Develops a waiver program for young adults with developmental disabilities.
- Increases Medicaid rates for adult and youth dental services.
Capping Prescription Drug Costs (HB 1745)
Soaring copays and coinsurance requirements make prescription drugs unaffordable, particularly for those with chronic conditions. To help bring these costs under control, I sponsored HB 1745 in conjunction with several patient advocacy groups. This law will require all health insurance carriers to offer plans that cap prescription drug copays at a flat dollar rate. These health plans will be available in every Illinois service area and at every level of coverage. By capping out of pocket drug costs, these plans will make the price you pay at the pharmacy counter more predictable and affordable.
Prior Authorization Reform Act (HB 711)
Another pressing healthcare issue is the use of prior authorization requirements by health insurance companies to delay or deny treatment to patients. This session I passed the Prior Authorization Reform Act to address this problem. This law establishes time limits of no more than five days for insurers to respond to prior auth requests for non-urgent services and a maximum of 48 hours for urgent care. If a request is denied, insurers must now provide their reasoning for the denial along with resources on filing an appeal.
Carriers will also be prohibited from denying supplies or services routinely used as part of the prior approved service (e.g. when a surgery is already approved, they may not require separate approval for the anesthesia). Prior authorizations may not be revoked or restricted while they remain valid. HB 711 also extends the length of time prior authorizations remain in effect for acute or chronic conditions to reduce unnecessary reapproval processes.
Finally, health insurance companies must also publish their prior authorization requirements and criteria on their website along with statistics related to approvals and denials. This will increase transparency and ensure compliance with the new reforms.
HIV Decriminalization (HB 1063)
Since 1989, Illinois has criminally prosecuted people living with HIV for consensual sex simply on the basis of their HIV status. This discriminatory, anti-science policy has disproportionately impacted LGBTQ people of color and, because the simple act of of getting an HIV test could lead to criminal liability, increases stigma and erects barriers to care. I am proud to have cosponsored and passed HB 1063 to finally repeal this bad policy.
Menstrual Hygiene Products in Schools (HB 156)
HB 156 closes a loophole in school code to increase access to menstrual hygiene products to Illinois students. While the code already mandates schools make free menstrual hygiene products available for students, the way the code is written, a school district could satisfy this requirement by placing sanitary products in just a single school bathroom in the district. With the passage of HB 156, schools must now make these products available in each bathroom of every school building, so that no student who menstruates will be denied access.
Menstrual Hygiene Products for SNAP Customers (HB 155)
HB 155 further increases access to menstrual hygiene products by allowing recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Women, Infant, and Children program (WIC), and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) to purchase these sanitary products with their benefits. This will help guarantee that cost does not become a barrier to any Illinoisan who menstruates.
Ethics Reform Omnibus (SB 539)
The General Assembly also passed a bipartisan ethics reform omnibus based on the work of the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform. The reform package contains provisions such as:
- Prohibits public officials from lobbying on behalf of lobbying entity registered to lobby their own unit of government.
- Expands the scope of state employees subject to the current one-year revolving door prohibition.
- Bans legislators or constitutional officers from lobbying the state for six months after leaving office or the remainder of their term.
- Requires all who must file a Statement of Economic Interest to disclose more information regarding their assets, income sources, creditors, other government jobs, lobbyist relationships, and gifts.
- Provides that legislative salaries will be prorated if the legislator only serves for part of a month.
- Prohibits fundraisers on session days and the day prior to session.
- Requires any appointee subject to Senate confirmation to freeze all funds going into or out of their political committee.
- Bans members of the State Board of Elections from contributing to or serving as an officer of a political committee.
- Allows the Legislative Inspector General to initiate investigations without the approval of the Legislative Ethics Commission.
- Requires those who lobby county, municipal, or township officials to register with the Secretary of State.
- Expands the definition of “lobbying” to include soliciting others to make communications.
- Requires lobbyists and lobbying entities to disclose persons or entities they hire for consulting.
- Strengthens ethics and sexual harassment training requirements for lobbyists.
Illinois Way Forward Act (SB 667)
While Illinois has already taken steps in the past to limit local police cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ICE continues to operate in our state and collaborate with local law enforcement. This makes undocumented immigrants unwilling to work with law enforcement when they are victimized by crime for fear they will be detained. The Illinois Way Forward Act will protect our immigrant neighbors by ending ICE dentition in our state once and for all.
Law enforcement agencies and officers will be prohibited from inquiring about or investigating the citizenship or immigration status of any individual in their custody. Law enforcement agencies would also be barred from entering into or renewing any agreement to detain or house individual for federal civil immigration violations. Existing ICE detention contracts would be phased out by the end of this year.
To ensure compliance, the Attorney General shall have the power to conduct investigations into any violations of the Illinois Way Forward Act. Further, law enforcement agencies must submit annual reports to the Attorney General any requests from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with assistance in a civil enforcement operation and documentation on how the request was addressed.
If you have any questions or comments about this legislation, please do not hesitate to email me at Greg@GregHarris.org or call 773-348-3434.