Policy Memo: March 17-21

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1 Primary Election Results o Governor s Race: Voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, March 18 to choose an opponent for Governor Quinn in the race for Illinois leader. As suspected, venture capitalist Bruce Rauner from Winnetka, a first time politician, won the Republican vote. His competition was Kirk Dillard, backed by former Governor Edgar. The race for GOP governor was closer than expected. Democrat Pat Quinn easily won over opponent Tio Hardiman 71.9% to 28.1%. November elections promise to bring an exciting and expensive race between Rauner and Quinn. o US Congress: Dairy magnate Jim Oberweis won the GOP battle to challenge Dick Durbin for the US Senate s number two spot. Durbin ran unopposed while Oberweis was challenged by Doug Truax, a business man and West Point graduate. o General Assembly: The Democratic Party continues to hold the majority in the Illinois State Senate. Just one incumbent faced primary competition on March 18. One incumbent is not seeking re-election in 2014 and another 17 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition o Complete election results are available here Illinois Minimum Wage: Two bills were introduced this session to raise minimum wage to $10.65 an hour over the next two years. On March 20, the Senate Executive Committee heard testimony and Senator Lightford s bill SB 68 passed out of committee. o Background: Currently, minimum wage is $8.25 an hour which equates to an annual salary of $17,160 for a person working full time. This is not considered a living wage as minimum wage has not kept up with inflation. o Position: EverThrive Illinois believes all people have a right to earn a living wage and a person working full time should not remain at poverty level. o Action: Contact your senator and tell them you support raising minimum wage. Senator Lightford has a few details she hopes to resolve before calling it for a vote. However, when it is called for a vote in the Senate, passage of this bill to the House will likely come down to one or two votes. Illinois Budget Update o Background: In late February, the Illinois House unanimously approved a House Resolution determining the amount of General Revenue Funds appropriated for fiscal year 2015 at $34,395,000,000. This estimate includes the loss of revenue expected when the income tax increase expires. This budget includes $719 million in cuts to Human Services Departments. o Position: EverThrive IL will continue to monitor the budget situation in Illinois and inform members about expected cuts or changes to programs and services. o Action: Dealing with the loss of revenue when the income tax increase sunsets will be at the heart of Governor Quinn s budget address on March 26. After the address, the General Assembly will need to address the budget holes by either renewing the income tax increase or developing a new income tax structure. EverThrive Illinois supports a fair tax structure in Illinois. House Bill 5626/5297-Public Aid/SNAP Prohibited Foods: These bills aim to allow the state of Illinois to obtain a waiver from Secretary of Human Services allowing state agencies to restrict foods that can be purchased with SNAP benefits. They attempt to limit the ability of recipients to purchase foods at their discretion. o Background: SNAP is a program which offers nutrition assistance to low income individuals and families and is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). o Position: EverThrive IL does not support bills limiting SNAP benefits; regulation of this federal program should remain in the hands of the federal agencies that manage them. o Action: These bills were sent to sub-committee after the House hearing essentially killing the bills for future discussion.

2 Bills Scheduled for s March 25-27, 2014 Bill Name, Number and Sponsor Summary EverThrive s Position House Resolution 807 Department of Insurance Review Encourages DOI to review navigator program Insurance Committee 3/19 2:00pm Rep Darlene Senger House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 33/Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 40 Income tax shall be measured at a non-graduated rate. (Fair Tax) Lower income pays lower rate, higher pays higher rate Revenue and Finance 3/21 8:00am Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson Sen. Don Harmon HB 8 Human Rights-Reasonable Pregnancy Accommodations Rep. Mary Flowers Makes it a civil rights violation if an employer refuses to provide reasonable accommodations for an employee for conditions related to pregnancy/childbirth/related medical condition. Labor and Commerce 3/20 2:30pm House Amendment 1 HB 4199 Cytomegalovirus Education Rep. Elaine Nekritz Requires IDPH to establish and conduct a public education program to inform pregnant women and women who may become pregnant regarding cytomegalovirus House Human Services 3/24 3/26 Subject Matter Only HB 4406 Day Care-Staff Immunizations Day care centers must adopt an immunization policy according to ACIP recommendations HB 4407 Early Intervention Services EI services shall be initiated ASAP but no later than 30 days after parental consent. No interruption of services in cases of due process or complaint procedure HB 4414/SB2849 Dental Practice Act Rep. Ron Sandack Community Dental Health Coordinator can work under supervision of dentist to perform dental services they are trained to at the height of certification Health Care Licenses 3/26 8:00am House Amend. #1 Sen. Martin Sandoval Senate License Activities and Pensions 3/26

3 HB 4420/ SB 2789 Earned Sick Time Act Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios Sen. Antonio Munoz Employers with more than 20 employees shall provide paid sick time for employees. (1hr per 40 hrs worked) Regardless of full or part time. Minimum 2 days sick time per year House Labor and Commerce 3/26 1:00pm Senate Labor and Commerce 3/26 HB 4440 Early Childhood Grant Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia No less than 14% of Early Childhood Ed Block Grant used to fund programs for children 0-3. To increase to 20% by (trying to codify what progress ISBE has made in getting a higher percentage of funds directed to 0-3) House Elementary and Secondary Education 3/5 8:30am HB 4441/SB2847 Dental Practice Act-Hygienist Rep. William Davis Provides a dental hygienist may perform exam, screening and referrals to dentist under agreement with dentist. Outlines training requirements. Health Care Licenses 3/26 8:00am Sen. Donne Trotter Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions 3/26 HB 4474/SB 2865 Earned Income Tax Credit Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie Amends income tax act to increase fed tax credit available each year through 2018 House Revenue and Finance 3/27 8:00am Sen. Jacqueline Collins Senate Revenue 3/26 HB 4501 Unaccompanied Minor Rep. Greg Harris Allows unaccompanied minors living apart from guardian, managing personal affairs (homeless) to consent to medical procedures when physician is acting in good faith of their care Judiciary House Amend #1 and #2 HB 4539 Navigator Certification Act Rep. Patty Bellock Require certification of application counselors similar to cert. required for navigators House Amend #1 HB 4584 Navigator Certification-FBI Check Navigators applying for renewal must undergo FBI criminal check House Human Services Committee-Public Benefits Subcommittee 3/20 8:30am

4 Rep. Dwight Kay HB 4595 Secure Choice Savings Program Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie Creates Act establishing retirement savings program to promote greater retirement savings for private sector employees at a low cost. Revenue and Finance 3/27 HB 4706 Health Facility Managed Care Entity Rep Cynthia Soto Includes managed care entities to definition of health care facilities. Holds MCE to existing standards. 3/26 8:00am HB 5297 SNAP Child Obesity Rep. Bill Mitchell State can specify what foods can be purchased with SNAP benefits. Sent to subcommittee HB 5302 Criminal Code-Drug Homicide Unborn Baby Creates an offense of drug induced homicide of an unborn child women using controlled substance causes death of unborn child House Judiciary Committee 3/24 3/26 Rep. Dennis Reboletti HB 5348 Crib Bumper Ban Amends Children s Product Safety Act to prohibit sale of crib bumper pad. Adds civil penalty fine. Consumer Protection 3/25 4:00pm Rep. Emily McAsey HB 5387 Energy Drink Sales to Minors Rep. Luis Arroyo Makes it unlawful to sell energy drinks to minors 3/24 3/26 HB 5409 Family Leave Insurance Program Establishes program to fund income support for men and women to care for sick family member or self if they need to take off work Business Growth & Incentives Committee 3/25 HB 5410 Lead Poisoning Prevention Rep Robyn Gabel Provisions for Lead prevention efforts. Requires health care provider to report cases of high blood lead levels. HB 5412 Community Health Workers Develops core competencies for Community Health Workers, creates an IL Advisory Board

5 HB 5462/ HB 5463 Ambulatory Treatment Ctr. /Abortion Law-Informed Consent Targets women s health care for excessive regulation in an effort to deny access to abortion services. Rep. Thomas Morrison Rep. Thomas Morrison (Sent to facilities/informed consent sub-committees) HB 5574 Dentists Administer Vaccines Allows dentists to administer vaccines (Flu, Hep B, HPV, Shingles) Health Care Licenses 3/26 HB 5598 Custody Relinquishment of DCFS for Mental Illness Treatment Rep. Sara Feigenholtz Prohibits custody relinquishment, keeping the family intact, and allows for a child to be voluntarily placed into services through DCFS for treatment of the child s mental illness or developmental disability Adoption Reform 3/26 HB 5626 Public Aid/SNAP Prohibited Foods Rep John Cavaletto State to obtain a waiver from Secretary of Human Services to restrict foods that can be purchased with SNAP. (minimally nutritious foods) Sent to subcommittee HB 5665 Insurance Child Screening Rep. Sue Scherer Provides no insurance plan shall be renewed if it does not include screening for lead, immunizations, newborn hearing loss etc. HB 5675 Insurance Coverage-Autism Screening Rep. Laura Fine Provides insurance must provide coverage for autism treatment and diagnosis for individuals under 22 (previously 21) Increases maximum benefit of coverage Insurance Committee 3/25 HB 5689 Child Safe E-Cigs E-cigarettes may only be sold in special packaging. DPH must adopt rules about packaging. Rep Robyn Gabel HB 5690/SB 3524 Sen. Mattie Hunter Provides a penny per ounce tax on SSB. Money collected to be used on Medicaid Services and Wellness/Prevention Fund Revenue and Finance 3/27 House Amend #1 Senate Public Health 3/25 SB 3105 Grandparent Leave Act Employer must provide 12 weeks of unpaid family medical leave to Senate Labor and Commerce 3/26

6 Sen. Jacqueline Collins employee who is a grandparent SB 3277 Pharmacists Vaccinating for Meningitis Allows pharmacists to vaccinate children for Meningitis Licensed Activities and Pensions 3/26 Sen. Pamala Althoff SB 3301 Navigator Certified Counselors Requires certified application counselors to have same training requirements as navigators Reassigned to public health Sen. Davy Syverson SB 3319 Telehealth Act-Coverage Sets requirements concerning coverage of telehealth services Insurance 3/26 Sen. Don Harmon SB 3409 Dentists administer Vaccines Sen. Andy Manar Allows dentists to vaccinate patients 10 and older pursuant to valid prescription or standing order of physician only for Flu, Hep B., HPV and Shingles Public Health 3/25