October 5, 2019

GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Maps were released this week that designate which parts of the state qualify as “disproportionately impacted areas” for social equity applicants under the new recreational cannabis law. 683 Census tracts make up the disproportionately impacted areas. View the map here.
To qualify as a social equity applicant, the statute requires Illinois residency and one of the following criteria:

  • At least 51% ownership and control by one or more individuals who have resided at least 5 of the preceding 10 years in a disproportionately impacted area;
  • At least 51% ownership and control by one or more individuals (or family member of an individual) who have been arrested for, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for an offense that is eligible for cannabis expungement; or
  • Applicants with minimum of 10 full-time employees, at least 51% of employees who:
    • Currently reside in a disproportionately impacted area; or
    • Have been arrested for, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for an offense that is eligible for cannabis expungement, or is a member of an impacted family.

Timeline for Conditional Adult Use Dispensing Organization License:
* The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation posted the application on October 1, 2019. Applications are available on the Department’s website.
* IDFPR will provide two separate periods for applicants to submit questions to the agency.
* IDFPR will begin accepting applications on December 10, 2019.
* IDFPR will stop accepting applications at noon on January 2, 2020.
* IDFPR will issue up to 75 licenses by May 1, 2020.
Gov. Pritzker appointed the following:

  • Julieta LaMalfa will serve on the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.
  • Aaron Anderson will serve on the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board.
  • J. Steven Beckett will serve as the Abraham Lincoln Historian on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees.
  • Jessica Harris will serve on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees.
  • Jason Lesniewicz will serve as a Cultural Tourism Expert on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees.
  • Dan Monroe will serve as the Illinois Historian on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees.
  • Martin Sandoval, C.P.A., will serve as a Business Administration Expert on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees. 
  • Melinda Spitzer-Johnston will serve as a Digitization, Conservation and Historic Preservation Expert on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Children and Family Services announced that they will delay the transition of Illinois’ foster care children into a new Medicaid managed care system. The transition scheduled for November 1, 2020 is now delayed until February 1, 2020.
The Illinois Department of Human Services expanded eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program effective October 1st. Families with income of 200% of the Federal Poverty Level or lower will now be able to receive child care assistance, previously only families with income up to 185% FPL were eligible. In addition, the program also now allows families whose income increases up to 225% FPL to remain in the program if they previously qualified at 200% FPL or lower.


GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS:
Rep. Edly-Allen filed legislation, HB3903, to ban electronic cigarettes except by pharmacies or drugstores to individuals with valid prescriptions. Heads to House Rules.
Rep. Welch filed legislation, HB3094 , which creates the Student Athlete Endorsement Act. It prohibits an institution of higher learning from upholding any rule or other limitation that prevents a student athlete of that institution from earning compensation. Heads to House Rules.   A similar California law was signed this week.
COMING UP:
House Energy & Environment Committee will hold a hearing on Oct. 10th at 10:30 AM at the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss an update on ethylene oxide emitting facilities.House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee will hold a hearing on Oct 25th at 11:00 AM at the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss CPS’ special education policy. Note the date change.Fall Veto session dates: October 28th – 30th and November 12th – 14th.