Elgin Area Chamber Of Commerce: Illinois Chamber Rail Report

Press release from the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce:

February 11, 2022

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ILLINOIS CHAMBER Rail Report February 10th, 2022 The Senate was once again in Springfield today for in-person session. Floor action was again brief and lasted less than an hour. Numerous committee hearings were held throughout the day. The Senate and House return next Tuesday, February 15th. Committee Action of Note: HB 4324 HB 4324 , Insurance Association passed out of the Insurance Committee by a vote of 17-0-0. This bill provides that an insurance producer's active participation in a State or national professional insurance association may be approved by the Director of Insurance for up to 4 hours of continuing education credit per biennial reporting period. Provides that the hours shall be credited upon timely filing with the Director or his or her designee on a biennial basis, the credit shall not be used to satisfy ethics education requirements, and active participation in a State or national professional insurance association is defined by specified methods. HB 4338 HB 4338 , INS Coverage passed out of the Insurance Committee by a vote of 17-0-0. This bill provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 (rather than January 1, 2023) that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall provide coverage for prenatal vitamins when prescribed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches. HB 4433 HB 4433 , INS Cost Sharing passed out of the Insurance Committee by a vote of 17-0-0. In provisions concerning a requirement that a health care plan shall apply any third-party payments, financial assistance, discount, product vouchers, or any other reduction in out-of-pocket expenses made by or on behalf of an insured for prescription drugs toward a covered individual's deductible, copay, cost-sharing responsibility, or out-of-pocket maximum associated with the individual's health insurance, this bill provides that if application of that requirement would result in ineligibility of a health savings account under federal law, the requirement applies to health savings account-qualified high deductible health plans with respect to the deductible of a plan after the enrollee has satisfied a specified minimum deductible, except with respect to specified items or services, in which case the requirement applies regardless of whether the minimum deductible has been satisfied. HB 4614 HB 4614 Emissions Testing Centers passed out of the Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges Committee by a vote of 12-0-0. This bill provides that an official emissions testing center shall reserve the first 30 minutes of its hours of operation to providing emissions testing to registered vehicle owners over the age of 55. Provides that an official emissions testing center shall designate one service lane for testing only vehicles owned by customers over the age of 55. SB 2984 SB 2984 , Youth Entrepreneur passed out of the State Government Committee by a vote of 9-0-0. This bill modifies requirements concerning entrepreneurship assistance centers to include assistance to youth entrepreneurs. SB 3600 SB 3600 , Additional Associate Judges passed out of the Senate Executive Committee by a vote of 16-0-0. This bill provides that there shall be 3 additional associate judges appointed in the 5th circuit. SB 3625 SB 3625 , Design Build Sunset passed out of the State Government Committee by a vote of 9-0-0. This bill amends the Design-Build Procurement Act. Extends the repeal of the Act from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2027.  SB 3683 SB 3683 , Broadband passed out of the Senate Executive Committee by a vote of 15-0-0. This bill creates the Illinois Broadband Deployment, Equity, Access, and Affordability Act of 2022. Provides that access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband service is essential to full participation in modern life in the State and throughout the United States. Defines terms. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish and implement a statewide broadband service grant program. Provides that the Department shall use money from the grant program only for the exclusive purpose of awarding grants to applicants for projects that are limited to the construction and deployment of broadband service into unserved areas in the State and for the Department's cost to administer the program. Provides that the Department shall not award grant money to a governmental entity or educational institution. Provides that the Department shall not, as a condition of an award of grant money, impose an open network architecture requirement, rate regulation, or other term or condition of service that differs from the applicant's terms or conditions of service in its other service areas. Includes provisions providing for the criteria for determining the award of funds, the information an applicant must provide for an application for a grant, the priority by which the Department shall follow in granting awards, and when the Department shall not award a grant to an applicant. Provides that when a grant is awarded, the Department shall provide notice on its website of each application receiving a grant. Provides that the Department shall require an applicant awarded a grant to submit a semi-annual report from the time the applicant receives the grant to 3 years after completion of the project.  SB 3790 SB 3790 , Recycling Task Force passed out of the Energy & Public Utilities Committee by a vote of 19-0-0. This bill creates the Renewable Energy Component Recycling Task Force Act. Creates the Renewable Energy Component Recycling Task Force to investigate options for recycling and other end of life management methods for renewable energy generation components and energy storage devices in accordance with State and federal requirements, to identify preferred methods to safely and responsibly manage end of life renewable energy generating components and energy storage devices, including the reuse or refurbishment, and other specified duties. Provides for the membership and duties of the Task Force. Directs the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by March 1, 2023. SB 3910 SB 3910 , Uniform Information Cards passed out of the Senate Insurance Committee by a vote of 12-0-0. This bill provides that a uniform prescription drug information card issued by a health benefit plan shall display on the card the regulatory entity that holds authority over the plan, whether the plan is fully insured or self-insured, the issuer's National Association of Insurance Commissioners company code, any deductible applicable to the plan, any out-of-pocket maximum limitation applicable to the plan, and a toll-free telephone number and Internet website address through which the cardholder may seek consumer assistance information. Provides that a discounted health care services plan administrator shall issue to its beneficiaries a card that contains information about the regulatory entity that holds authority over the plan and whether the plan is fully insured or self-insured. A health care benefit information card or other technology containing uniform health care benefit information issued by a health benefit plan or a dental plan shall specifically identify and display on the card the regulatory entity that holds authority over the plan, whether the plan is fully insured or self-insured, the issuer's National Association of Insurance Commissioners company code, any deductible applicable to the plan, any out-of-pocket maximum limitation applicable to the plan, and a toll-free telephone number and Internet website address through which the cardholder may seek consumer assistance information. SB 4018 SB 4018 , Pharmacies passed out of the Senate Licensed Activities Committee by a vote of 8-0-0. This bill provides that the Pharmacy Practice Act is repealed on January 1, 2028 (instead of January 1, 2023). Provides that a registered pharmacy technician may be delegated to perform any task within the practice of pharmacy if specifically trained for that task except for final prescription verification except where a registered certified pharmacy technician verifies a prescription dispensed by another pharmacy technician using technology-assisted medication verification. Provides that if a pharmacy temporary closes for more than 72 hours, it is the duty of the pharmacist in charge and the owner of such pharmacy to report to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation within 72 hours of temporary closure. Removes a provision that provides that exhibits shall be certified without cost. Provides that the citation the Department may issue to any licensee for any violation of the Act or the rules shall not exceed $3,000 (instead of $1,000).  Illinois Chamber of Commerce © 2021 Chamber Rail Report | Clark Kaericher, Editor © Illinois Chamber of Commerce

This press release was produced by the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.