Legislation Pending in the General Assembly

The following bills are just a few of the thousands of pieces of legislation now pending in the Illinois General Assembly—some are good for women and girls, others not. If you would like to know more information about any of these bills, contact Wendy Pollack at 312.263.3830 ext. 238.

H.B. 2459, sponsored by Gash (D), amends the Insurance Code by requiring accident and health insurers to provide the same durational limits, amount limit deductibles, and coinsurance requirements for serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression) as provided for other illnesses and diseases. The bill allows a limit of 90 consecutive days for in-hospital stays.

H.B. 2491, sponsored by Mitchell (R), amends the Marriage and Dissolution Act to require that any party having custody of a minor child must get permission from a state court to move the child to a new residence within Illinois which is over 100 miles from the residence of the child at the time of the initial custody judgment. The decision to allow moving the child’s residence would be based on a determination that it is in the best interests of the child. Removal of a child to a new residence within Illinois which is located within 100 miles of the residence of the child at the time of the initial custody judgment does not require permission of the court.

H.B. 2497, sponsored by Flowers (D), amends the Income Tax Act by creating an income tax credit for individuals in the amount of 25 percent of unreimbursed medically necessary expenses incurred in caring, in the individual’s home, for an elderly parent diagnosed as unable to live alone.

There are a number of bills related to domestic violence and sexual assault. Most increase the penalties for these criminal offenses. For example, H.B. 2504, sponsored by Kubik (R), amends the Code of Corrections to consider domestic violence perpetrated in the presence of a child under age 18 an aggravating factor and a reason to impose a more severe sentence. Another bill, H.B. 2508, sponsored by Parke (R), amends the Insurance Code to prohibit discrimination based on abuse by providers of property and homeowner insurance.

H.B. 3427, sponsored by Mulligan (R), amends the Insurance Code to require accident and health insurance providers, including hmos, to inform in writing all females insured or enrolled of the right to designate an obstetrician or gynecologist as a principal health care provider and to provide a list, from which to choose, of physicians specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. No insurer may restrict this right to designate an obstetrician or gynecologist as a principal health care provider.

H.B. 3477, sponsored by Madigan (D), creates the Illinois Family and Medical Leave Act. It allows employees to take reasonable leave for up to 12 work weeks during any 12-month period for medical reasons, for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child, and for the care of a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition. It applies to employers with 25 or more employees.

H.B. 3481, sponsored by Hannig (D), amends the School Code by eliminating provisions that set the fee at $15 to take the ged exam and $7 for each test to be retaken and replaces the set fees with a provision that allows the State Board of Education to set the fees.