Policy Development & Legislation

HB1546 (Rep. Kelly Burke): For over a year, a subcommittee of professionals and organizations representing public health and the private food industry in Illinois partnered to discuss and research ways to reform and improve the process for the Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification (FSSMC) and safe food handling generally. SB 2961 contains the FSSMC Subcommittee’s agreed upon reforms. The bill strengthens required training for Food Service Sanitation Managers by updating the number of training hours to 8 and requiring re-certification with an exam every 5 years. The shift is towards a corporate model with ongoing training. Illinois would meet national standards and adopt an approach that leads to improved food handler compliance with established food protection measures. A new requirement would be phased in that ensures all front line food handlers receive training to prevent food-borne illness, which is critical. The FSSMC Subcommittee will reconvene to work with the state to develop training materials to support smaller businesses for this purpose. If SB2961 is enacted into law, it is the belief of the proponents that Illinois will have the most robust and comprehensive food safety education and training program in the country while providing the flexibility employers require.CCDPH Position: Support
Status: HB1546: 05/24/13 Re-referred to House Rules Committee

HB1290 (Rep. Gabel), SB1451 (Sen. Delgado): Appropriates $17,100,000 to the Department of Public Health from the General Revenue Fund for local health protection grants for health protection programs. Effective July 1, 2013.

CCDPH Position: Support
Status: HB1290: 08/09/13 Re-referred to House Rules Committee; SB1451 02/06/13 Senate Assignments Committee

HB2675 (Rep. Lilly): Amends the School Code and the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Makes changes to provide that each class or course in comprehensive sex education offered in any of grades 6 through 12 shall include instruction on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Makes changes to provide that all classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual intercourse in grades 6 through 12 shall emphasize that abstinence from sexual intercourse is a responsible and positive decision and is the only protection that is 100% effective against unwanted teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) when transmitted sexually. Makes changes to provide that all classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual intercourse in grades 6 through 12 shall satisfy specified criteria. Provides that an opportunity shall be afforded to individuals (not just parents or guardians) to examine the instructional materials to be used in the class or course. Provides that the State Board of Education shall make available resource materials. Provides that school districts that do not currently provide sex education are not required to teach sex education. Provides that if a sex education class or course is offered in any of grades 6 through 12, the school district may choose and adapt the developmentally and age-appropriate, medically accurate, evidence-based, and complete sex education curriculum that meets the specific needs of its community. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program shall include the educational area of evidence-based and medically accurate information regarding sexual abstinence (instead of the area of sexual abstinence until marriage).

CCDPH Position: Support
Status:  Public Act 98-0441 (Illinois Bill HB 2675): 08/16/13 signed into law by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn

HB0061 Amendment (Reps. Ford, Harris, Flowers and Feigenholtz): Amends the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. Makes changes to the provision concerning children of school age who are reported as having been diagnosed as having AIDS or HIV. Provides that the information contained in the notification to be required of the Department of Public Health with regard to a child enrolled in a public school in kindergarten through fifth grade who is diagnosed as being infected with HIV must not be recorded in the child's permanent record. Provides that if the information is in the child's permanent school record, the information must be purged from the child's record before the child enters the sixth grade. Provides that if the child is enrolled in a public school, the principal shall disclose (instead of disclose the identity of the child) to the superintendent of the school district in which the child resides and specifies that the disclosure shall be that a child has been infected with HIV. Provides that all provisions of the AIDS Confidentiality Act shall apply, including penalties for violation of that Act.

CCDPH Position: Support
Status: 08/16/2013 Public Act 98-0353

HB4604 (Rep. Gabel): Appropriates $17,100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for local health protection grants for health protection programs, including but not limited to: Infectious Diseases, Food Sanitation, Potable Water and Private Sewage. Effective July 1, 2014.

The Local Health Protection Grant is the basic state funding source that supports core public health programs that are the statutory responsibility of the Illinois Department of Public Health and are delegated to certified local health departments for the delivery of services to control disease and protect communities from environmental hazards.

CCDPH Position: Support

Status: 02/4/2014 Referred to Rules Committee

SB852 HA#1 (Sen. Mulroe and Sen. Trotter): Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Effective immediately. Provides that violations of the Section concerning the posting of signs and removal of ashtrays are subject to the penalty provisions of the Act. With regard to the list of areas that are exempted from the provisions of the Act, adds a convention hall of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center where a meeting or trade show for manufacturers and suppliers of tobacco and tobacco products and accessories is being held, during the time the meeting or trade show is occurring, if specified conditions are met.

CCDPH Position: Oppose

Status: 08/22/14 Public Act 98-1023

SB2202 (Sen. Link): Creates the Smoke-free Campus Act. Sets forth the General Assembly's findings. Provides that beginning on July 1, 2014, smoking is prohibited on each campus of a State-supported institution of higher education. Provides that on or before December 31, 2013, each State-supported institution of higher education shall establish a community task force for the purpose of coordinating with community and campus leaders for the implementation of the Act. Provides that the governing board of each State-supported institution of higher education shall implement the Act and shall promulgate all policies and regulations necessary for this purpose, including, but not limited to, disciplinary action, fines, and an appeals process. Effective immediately.

CCDPH Position: Support

Status: 08/18/14 Public Act 98-0985

HB4036 HA#1 (Rep. Burke and Rep. Flowers): Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act. Deletes language that exempts milk produced in accordance with Department of Public Health rules from pasteurization requirements if the milk is sold or distributed on the premises of a dairy farm.

CCDPH Position: Support

Status: 04/11/14 Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

HB5657 (Rep. Tryon): Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that regulation of farmers' markets by local authorities may be no more stringent than the regulation established by the Department of Public Health. Establishes a framework for the regulation of food samples. Imposes requirements for disclosure of product origin with respect to specialty crops and raw agricultural commodities. Authorizes a State-certified local public health department to impose a fee in connection with the registration of a cottage food operation. Effective immediately.

CCDPH Position: Support

Status: 06/23/14 Public Act 98-066

HB5689 (Rep. Gabel and Rep. Lilly): Amends the Illinois Poison Prevention Packaging Act. Provides that electronic cigarette cartridges and liquids sold and marketed for the refilling of e-cigarette cartridges may be sold only in special packaging. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules establishing the standards for special packaging to be used for e-cigarette products. Effective immediately.

CCDPH Position: Support

Status: 08/22/14 Public Act 98-1021

HB5868 (Rep. Willis): Amends the Display of Tobacco Products Act. Provides that alternative nicotine products must be sold from behind the counter or in an age restricted area or in a sealed display case.

CCDPH Position: Support

Status: 08/18/14 Public Act 98-0983

HB188 Amendment (Rep. Gabel): Amends the Tanning Facility Permit Act. Provides that a tanning facility may not permit any person less than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the person has the permission of a parent or guardian, to use tanning equipment or a device defined as equipment that emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation used for tanning of the skin, such as a sunlamp, tanning booth, or tanning bed that emits electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the air between 200 and 400 nanometers. Provides that "tanning equipment" includes any accompanying equipment, such as protective eyewear, timers, and handrails, and does not include certain devices.

CCDPH Position: Support
Status: 08/15/13 Public Act 98-0349