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House Bill 2137, signed July 20, is the first reform of the
state's Workers' Compensation Act since 1989 and the most
far-reaching since the mid 1970s. Illinois' workers' compensation
premiums are among the highest in the country, and Illinois
businesses pay 40 percent more for workers' compensation than
neighboring states.
Bomke says Republicans have been fighting for workers'
compensation reform for years, and House Bill 2137 is a major step
toward reducing the costs of doing business in Illinois while
improving workers' rights. The new law sets up a unit to investigate
fraud, enacts a schedule of fees for medical office visits,
increases compensation for lost wages by 7.5 percent, speeds up
review of workers' comp disputes and increases penalties for
fraudulent claims.
The governor also signed a new law that will help provide
immediate access to health care for Illinois citizens in the event
of a terrorism attack or a public health emergency.
House Bill 3819 requires the Illinois Department of Public
Health to establish a registry of all active health care
professionals, including nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced
practice nurses, physicians, physician assistants, emergency medical
technicians, psychologists, professional counselors, clinical
professional counselors and pharmacists. The registry will be shared
between the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois
Department of Professional Regulation via a secure communication
link, to be accessed only in the case of an emergency.
In other business, the governor signed
House Bill 265, which allows insurance companies to consider
extraordinary life events as an exception to risk scores, which are
used to set insurance rates. Extraordinary life events include a
catastrophic illness; the death of a spouse, child or parent;
involuntary loss of employment; identity theft of an applicant or
insured; or the dissolution of marriage of an applicant or insured.
Other legislation signed into law during the week of July 18-22:
Official symbols (HB 847) -- Designates the eastern tiger
salamander as the official state amphibian and the painted turtle as
the official state reptile.
Hospital assessment (SB 157) -- Establishes a three-year Hospital
Assessment Program to generate $600 million in each of the next
three years in new federal funding for hospitals throughout
Illinois.
Enhanced penalties (SB 190) -- Enhances penalties for assaulting
or harming an emergency management worker who is performing official
duties.
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 Military funerals (HB 415) -- Increases from $50 to $100 the
stipend paid by the Department of Veterans' Affairs for any member
of the Illinois Air National Guard or the Illinois Army National
Guard ordered to funeral honors duty.
Identity theft (HB 457) -- Increases the statute of limitations
for identity theft.
Computers (HB 2408) -- Establishes a grant program to reimburse
low-income families for a portion of the cost of a recently
purchased computer.
Trespassing (HB 2441) -- States that a person who presents false
documents in order to enter an unauthorized facility commits
trespassing.
Labor (HB 2460) -- Requires every state contract for equipment,
materials or supplies to specify that foreign-made goods weren't
made by child labor.
Juvenile court (SB 292) -- Allows the parents of a crime victim
to be present and give impact statements at juvenile proceedings.
Dumps (SB 431) -- Prohibits certain state employees or their
relatives from having a direct financial interest in any
waste-disposal operation or clean construction or demolition debris
fill operation that requires a permit, or in any corporate entity
related to any of these waste-disposal operations.
Underground tanks (SB 1787) -- Allows subsequent underground
storage tank owners (gas stations) to apply and receive funding from
the state to clean up spills.
Steel industry (SB 1699) -- Creates the Illinois Steel
Development Board and requires it to make recommendations on the
research, marketing and promotion of American steel and the Illinois
steel industry.
Voting (HB 1125) -- Allows minors to enter the voting booth with
their parents.
Consumer fraud (HB 1344) -- Protects consumers by specifying that
anyone who knowingly violates the Automotive Collision Repair Act
commits an unlawful practice.
[News release from
Illinois
Senate Republicans]
Note: For details on any of the above legislation, copy the bill number
into the search field at
http://www.ilga.gov/.
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