* Crain’s…

As hospitals and other health care providers continue to battle rising costs and labor shortages, industry groups were in Springfield this week pushing for legislation they say could help their members weather these challenges, many of which were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]

The Illinois Health & Hospital Association, or IHA, supports Senate Bill 1763, which calls for a 20% increase to hospital Medicaid reimbursement rates. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, and Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, would allow every hospital in the state to collect more money for patients on Medicaid, the state-sponsored insurance plan for low-income and disabled Americans. If the bill passes, it would provide the first Medicaid base rate increase for Illinois hospitals in 28 years, according to the IHA.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, or IPHCA, supports a similar bill, House Bill 2298, which would raise Medicaid reimbursement rates for services at Federally Qualified Health Centers. Services would include medical, dental and behavioral health care. It is estimated to cost about $50 million each for Illinois and the federal government, but the IPHCA says the rate increase would help its members care for an additional 180,000 patients each year, hire 250 more health care providers and expand services.

Both the IHA and the IPHCA say that without additional state support, hospitals and FQHCs could be forced to close units and limit services, which would reduce Illinoisans’ access to health care.

* WCIA…

Community health centers in Illinois say they need more money to give patients the care they need.

Proposals in the Capitol would give $100 million to help with that. […]

The centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), provide care to patients without insurance and to others regardless of their ability to pay. […]

“We really do our very best to meet people where they are and make sure that they can get culturally competent, high-quality health care,” Tanya Andricks, the center’s CEO, said.

But with rising costs and a workforce shortage, Andricks and other centers say they need more money from the state to keep doing their jobs. […]

There are 53 centers across the state, and some showed support Wednesday for proposals that would raise the reimbursement rate they receive from Medicaid.

* Rep. Mary Beth Canty’s bill has been re-referred to the House Rules Committee…

Survivors of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination would be shielded from weaponized defamation lawsuits under a bill sponsored by state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights.

“Speaking out against sexual assault or abuse is a daunting task, and those who bravely share their stories should not have to face legal challenges meant to punish them for choosing to come forward,” Canty said. “When we empower survivors to expose wrongdoing, we can prevent future harm and protect others from sexual misconduct.”

House Bill 2836, also known as the Right to Speak Your Truth Act, prohibits a person accused of sexual misconduct from using a defamation action to silence or retaliate against an accuser, staff, or third party reporting on the matter. The bill mirrors California’s Assembly Bill 933, which passed the State Assembly Thursday morning.

“My contemporaries in California are sending a clear message that the court system can no longer be used as a weapon to silence survivors of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination. Illinois can and should do the same,” Canty said. “We must stand up for these brave individuals and protect them from further harm during their most vulnerable moments.”

* Chalkbeat…

llinois State Rep. Mary Beth Canty and her husband remember struggling to balance full-time jobs and picking up two children — who are currently in sixth and third grade — from their half-day kindergarten program in Arlington Heights District 25. […]

She has introduced a bill that would mandate full-day kindergarten for school districts around the state by the 2027-28 school year. The bill, HB 2396, would also require the state to create a task force to examine full-day kindergarten in 2024.

The bill has already passed the house with bipartisan support and is in the Senate’s education committee where it will go up for a hearing on April 25. […]

Emily Warnecke, director of public relations and deputy director of governmental relations for the Illinois Association of School Board Administrators, said her organization supports the idea of full-day kindergarten but believes more work needs to be done first.

“We know that there are districts that want to be able to do this,” said Warnecke, “but they just do not have the space and they would need the money to fund the construction to add those spaces.”

* WCIA…

A bill would allow colleges to receive grants to address student hunger if they meet requirements like creating a hunger task force that meets at least three times a year, having a staff member designated to assist students sign up for food stamps, and making programming for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Any Illinois higher education institution is eligible.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) and Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana).

According to the nonprofit Swipe Out Hunger, one in three college students nationally faces food insecurity. […]

The bill has passed the Illinois House of Representatives and the Senate Higher Education Committee with bipartisan support. It now heads to the Senate Floor.

* Senate Bill 140 is awaiting assignment to a Senate committee…

Illinois is one of just 12 states that still has a state estate tax, and State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is sponsoring legislation to eliminate that tax and keep Illinois competitive with the 38 other states in the nation.

Senate Bill 140 amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act to eliminate the state tax for persons dying on or after the effective date of the new law or for transfers made on or after the effective date.

“Many of us were born and raised in Illinois and are proud to call it our home. It is no secret however, that Illinois is a state notorious for its tax burden on its residents, especially when compared to neighboring states. Thirty-eight other states do not have a state estate tax,” Tracy said. “Illinois’ unfriendly business climate is the reason so many large companies are leaving the state or significantly reducing their corporate presence here. We need a business advocacy mindset with initiatives to help Illinois better compete, create jobs, and boost its economy.”

The 50th District Senator says the Illinois estate tax is imposed on a decedent’s estate before distribution to heirs. The amount of the tax is calculated after allowable deductions. The Illinois estate tax rate is graduated and goes up to 16 percent; however, it is only applied on estates worth more than $4 million.

* State Journal-Register…

Anti-criminal violence advocates rallied in the state Capitol on Thursday, pushing a slate of bills they say will better serve survivors and victims in Illinois. […]

Advocates like Carter support House Bill 2493 from state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago, which would grant up to 10 days of unpaid leave time for family members dealing with a loss related to criminal violence. The bill passed the House 95-16 last month and was assigned to the Senate Executive Committee earlier this week.

An employee has 60 days after receiving a death notice to use the leave and must prove the death by providing an obituary or death certificate to their employer. It follows-up after Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Paid Leave for All Workers Act earlier this year, which provides most workers in the state with up-to 40 hours of paid leave per year to be used for any purpose. […]

While the focus on the rally centered on the victims, Thomas said CSSJ was also working with lawmakers on a bill regarding rehabilitation of the incarcerated. House Bill 3026 from state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, would amend the Earned Discretionary Sentence Credit — where incarcerated individuals can reduce their sentence if permitted by the Illinois Department of Corrections — to allow for time served in county jail to be included in the 60-day minimum before a credit can be awarded.

* HB1273 is on Second Reading in the Senate. The Telegraph…

State Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, said she is hopeful all Illinois schools will observe Constitution Day in the near future as her legislation would require of schools.

The legislation signals Harriss’ first bill to move out of committee since taking office in January. Filed by State Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, and carried by Harriss in the Senate, the bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration before the governor can sign it into law.

Her bill, House Bill 1273 would require schools to recognize Sept. 17 as a commemorative holiday and recently has passed the Senate Education Committee. […]

“This legislation doesn’t give students a day off, but rather requires school districts to teach students the highest form of law in our country,” Harriss said.