* Fox 59…

Indiana State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) is looking to continue his late father’s dream of luring an NFL team to Northwest Indiana, and with the nearby Chicago Bears mulling the option of leaving Soldier Field, a short move across state lines might not be out of the realm of possibility.

Authored by Harris, House Bill 1174 proposes forming a 19-member sports development commission for Northwest Indiana and assigning the commission the tall task of enticing a professional sports franchise to set up shop in the Region.

While the bill itself doesn’t allocate any funding or target any specific teams — and is just about forming a board to develop a comprehensive plan to attract and develop a sports franchise in Northwest Indiana — there is one specific NFL team that Harris thinks Indiana can entice: The neighboring Chicago Bears.

“With the Chicago Bears looking into options for a new location, this legislation will help make Northwest Indiana a more attractive option for them and other sports teams,” Harris said.

* Rep. Curtis Tarver filed HB4485…

Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Renews the program for incentive periods beginning on or after July 1, 2018 and ending on or before June 30, 2025. Removes language concerning the Put Illinois to Work Program for the second series of incentive periods. Provides that the term “full-time employee” means an individual who is employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week (currently, employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week or renders any other standard of service generally accepted by industry custom or practice as full-time employment). Provides that a net increase in the number of full-time Illinois employees shall be treated as continuous if a different new employee is hired as a replacement within 8 weeks after the position becomes vacant (currently, a reasonable time). Effective immediately.

* HB4491 from Rep. Laura Faver Dias…

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a qualified child care director must be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that a qualified early childhood teacher who has been employed by the facility continuously for at least 24 months may otherwise be present for the first or last hour of the workday.

* Capitol News Illinois…

A new bill in the Illinois General Assembly would create a board of health care experts that would have the authority to set price limits on prescription medications.

House Bill 4472 was introduced Wednesday by state Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, and state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria.

Using a variety of information related to the medication’s market, including the number of people taking the medication and its out-of-pocket cost, the board would assess a price. If the board finds it to be unreasonable, it could limit the amount wholesalers, pharmacies and hospitals can bill insurers and consumers for the drug.

The bill’s sponsors said it was an effort to limit health care costs across the board.

* SB2774 from Sen. Bill Cunningham…

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provides that the Illinois Racing Board may appoint the Director of Mutuels to serve as the State director for inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering by inter-track wagering licensees and inter-track wagering location licensees. Provides that the pari-mutuel tax imposed at all pari-mutuel wagering facilities and on advance deposit wagering shall be remitted to the Board (rather than the Department of Revenue). Provides that the Board shall distribute contributed funds to a charitable organization on a schedule determined by the Board, based on the charitable organization’s estimated expenditures related to the grant (rather than by December 31 of each year). Provides that any funds not expended by the grantee in a grant year shall be distributed to the charitable organization or charitable organizations selected in the next grant year after the funds are recovered. Repeals provisions authorizing the Board to make daily temporary deposits of certain fees and provisions requiring the Board and the Department of Agriculture to establish a program to conduct drug testing on horses at county fairs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

* Sen. Doris Turner filed SB2817…

Amends the Counties Code and the Autopsy Act. Provides that autopsies must be performed by board-certified forensic pathologists or, if under the direct supervision of a board-certified forensic pathologist, pathology residents or forensic pathology fellows (rather than a licensed physician must perform autopsies). In the Autopsy Act, further provides that other qualified personnel or other qualified personnel selected by a board-certified forensic pathologist (rather than a physician) may perform (rather than assist) an autopsy. Further amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county in which the body of a deceased person is found shall indemnify and hold harmless a board-certified forensic pathologist who renders services under the provisions for all of the pathologist’s conduct arising out of the pathologist’s testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding based on the service provided under the provisions, except actions involving willful and wanton misconduct of the pathologist. Conditions the duty of the county to indemnify a board-certified forensic pathologist who rendered services under the provisions for a judgment recovered against the pathologist upon receiving notice of the filing of the action. Provides that, if a board-certified forensic pathologist is made a party defendant to an action and the action against the pathologist is based upon the pathologist’s conduct arising out of the pathologist’s testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding, then, within 10 days of service of process, the pathologist shall notify the county in which the body of a deceased person was found of the fact that the pathologist has been made a party defendant to the action. Includes requirements for the notice. Provides that the State’s Attorney of the county in which the body of the deceased person is found may appear and defend on behalf of the board-certified forensic pathologist. Effective immediately.

* Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin filed HB4498 today…

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that a voluntary recipient admitted to a mental health facility who gives a written notice to the treatment staff that the recipient wishes to be discharged from the facility may be involuntarily held at the facility if within 5 days after giving the notice, a copy of the notice and a petition and the 2 certificates executed by a physician, qualified examiner, psychiatrist, advanced practice psychiatric nurse, or clinical psychologist which states that the recipient is subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis and requires immediate hospitalization are filed with the court (rather than only the petition and 2 certificates).

* HB4479 from Rep. Dan Caulkins…

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that a person who reasonably believes that another person is experiencing an overdose and knowingly fails to seek emergency medical assistance for that person is guilty of a Class 4 felony unless the person experiencing the overdose dies as a result of failing to obtain the emergency medical assistance, in which case the penalty for violating this provision is a Class 1 felony.

* HB4492 from Rep. Dave Severin…

Amends the State Universities Civil Service Act. Provides that each academic year, a public university shall offer a 50% tuition waiver for undergraduate education to each child of an employee of the State Universities Civil Service System (”University System”) who has been employed by the University System for an aggregate period of at least 7 years. Sets forth requirements relating to the 50% tuition waiver. Provides that each academic year, a public university shall offer a full tuition waiver for undergraduate education to each child of a person who died while employed full time by the University System or while on leave from full-time employment. Sets forth requirements relating to the full tuition waiver. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in this State to require full undergraduate tuition waivers for the children of persons who died while employed full time by any public university or while on leave from full-time employment. Sets forth requirements relating to the full tuition waiver. Effective July 1, 2024.

* HB4487 was filed by Rep. Hoan Huynh yesterday…

Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that none of the provisions of the Act shall prevent an unlicensed person from engaging in a standardized 5-needle protocol if the person satisfies specified conditions. Provides that the treatment utilizing the 5-needle protocol shall be limited to the insertion of disposable, sterile acupuncture needles into the ear and only in compliance with the 5-needle protocol. Provides that the application or insertion of needles anywhere else on the body of another person by a person shall be considered engaging in the practice of acupuncture without a license.