* WAND…

A large coalition of small businesses, nonprofits and advocates wants state lawmakers to pass a bill this spring to create loan transparency for small business owners. This comes as Illinois small businesses lose roughly $450 million each year due to triple-digit interest rates on loans. […]

“In 2023, a growing number of business bankruptcies were directly tied to merchant cash advances and similar products,” said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “These are often short-term high-cost loans that drain cash flow and trap businesses in redundant cycles of refinancing.”

Buckner told WAND News small businesses in Black, brown and low-income communities are often hit the hardest by high interest rates. He said minority-owned businesses are significantly more likely to turn to online and non-bank lenders because the front doors at banks are frequently closed to them.

The APR for All legislation would require Illinois to have a universal standard for price comparison.

* Rep. Maurice West filed HB4556 last week…

Amends the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Provides that the use of genetic testing, biomarker testing, or both (rather than only genetic testing), and the information derived from testing, is confidential and privileged and may be released only to the individual tested and persons specifically authorized in writing by the individual tested to receive the information. Provides that an insurer may not seek information derived from genetic or biomarker testing (rather than only genetic testing) for use in connection with a policy of accident or health insurance (unless the individual voluntarily submits the results and the results are favorable to the individual), for nontherapeutic purposes, or for underwriting purposes. In provisions concerning the use of testing information by employers, provides that an employer may release genetic testing or biomarker testing information (rather than only genetic testing information) under specified circumstances. Limits an employer’s use of genetic information, genetic testing, biomarkers, and biomarker testing (rather than only genetic information and genetic testing). In provisions concerning testing, provides that no person may disclose or be compelled to disclose the identity of any person upon whom a genetic test or biomarker test (rather than only genetic test) is performed or the results of a genetic test or biomarker test (rather than only a genetic test) in a manner that permits identification of the subject of the test, except to the persons specified in the Act. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines “biomarker” and “biomarker testing”. Makes other and conforming changes.

* The Center Square…

Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to suspend or expel a student with that student’s parents or guardians before a disciplinary hearing.

Senate Bill 2876, sponsored by Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, addresses what she calls a growing problem of parents being denied access to evidence used in disciplining their children. Bryant said the issue came to her attention after learning that several grade school students had been suspended based on video evidence that their parents were not allowed to see.

“In one case, practically the whole school was able to view the video,” Bryant told TCS. “Teachers, student workers and even students saw it. But when the parents asked to see what was being used against their child, they were denied.” […]

Under SB 2876, if a school district relies on video or other evidence to support a suspension or expulsion, parents or guardians would be permitted to review that evidence before a disciplinary hearing. While the bill was prompted by video footage, Bryant said the proposal applies broadly to all forms of evidence, including written statements or other materials collected by a school.

* Patch…

A Burr Ridge school controversy has prompted a state lawmaker to introduce a bill that she said would help clarify the status of sexual harassment complaints.

The recent bill by Rep. Nicole La Ha, a Homer Glen Republican, would bar school districts from requiring that a harassment report be made in a specific manner to be considered “formal” or “official” for the purpose of starting an investigation.

Last year, Burr Ridge-based Pleasantdale School District 107 heard a complaint that an employee sexually harassed another.

But the district’s lawyer said the complaint did not reach “formal” status. Some residents questioned the use of that distinction. […]

“It’s important to me that we have safeguards in the process and that we don’t use semantics to get in the way of a fair process,” La Ha said. “This will clarify the process, so we don’t see differences from district to district.”

* Rep. Mary Beth Canty…

Pervasive online price targeting of consumers using big data, or “surveillance pricing,” is steadily increasing the cost of living, and state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, has put her support behind a new measure to crack down on the practice and make life more affordable for her community. […]

In a post-COVID world, people are spending more time and money online, which means they are sharing more personal information with private businesses. Canty is putting her support behind House Bill 4248, or the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act, which requires online businesses and retailers to disclose their algorithm-based pricing practices for goods and services. Consumers will then have the option to opt out of the practice and pay a baseline price. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of sensitive personal information, like race, religion and immigration status, to determine pricing.

HB4248 was introduced by Rep. Kam Buckner and has 12 Democrat co-sponsors.

* The Center Square…

Illinois lawmakers are moving to ensure families adopting children from the state’s foster care system receive complete information about a child’s history, including medical, educational, and counseling records, at least 30 days before an adoption is finalized.

The bill, recently introduced by state Sen. Darby Hills, R-Barrington Hills, also guarantees former foster youth aged 18 and older can access their records for free.

Hills’ legislation would require the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide a complete, unredacted copy of the child’s full case record, while maintaining compliance with federal and state privacy laws. […]

Under current practices, parents may receive some medical records, but other key details, such as case worker notes, placement history, or therapy records, are often inaccessible.

* More…

* WCIA | New bill aims to help Illinois drivers on autism spectrum: A bill recently introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives would establish a new program to help motorists on the autism spectrum. HB4472, introduced on Tuesday by Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg), would establish the Blue Envelope Program under the supervision of the Secretary of State’s Office. Named after the envelopes people on the spectrum may use to hold documents required for operating a motor vehicle, the bill would amend the Secretary of State Act.