SB2742 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16468 KTG 29863 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2742

Introduced 1/13/2026, by Sen. Emil Jones, III

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/5A-7

from Ch. 23, par. 5A-7

Amends the Hospital Provider Funding Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning outstanding hospital assessments that are paid under a repayment plan or after the end of a tax deferral plan, provides that the period of repayment shall not exceed 72 (rather than 36) months.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public aid.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Section 5A-7 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5A-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 5A-7)

Sec. 5A-7. Administration; enforcement provisions.

(a) The Illinois Department shall establish and maintain a listing of all hospital providers appearing in the licensing records of the Illinois Department of Public Health, which shall show each provider's name and principal place of business and the name and address of each hospital operated, conducted, or maintained by the provider in this State. The listing shall also include the monthly assessment amounts owed for each hospital and any unpaid assessment liability greater than 90 days delinquent. The Illinois Department shall administer and enforce this Article and collect the assessments and penalty assessments imposed under this Article using procedures employed in its administration of this Code generally. The Illinois Department, its Director, and every hospital provider subject to assessment under this Article shall have the following powers, duties, and rights:

(1) The Illinois Department may initiate either administrative or judicial proceedings, or both, to enforce provisions of this Article. Administrative enforcement proceedings initiated hereunder shall be governed by the Illinois Department's administrative rules. Judicial enforcement proceedings initiated hereunder shall be governed by the rules of procedure applicable in the courts of this State.

(2) (Blank).

(3) Any unpaid assessment under this Article shall become a lien upon the assets of the hospital upon which it was assessed. If any hospital provider, outside the usual course of its business, sells or transfers the major part of any one or more of (A) the real property and improvements, (B) the machinery and equipment, or (C) the furniture or fixtures, of any hospital that is subject to the provisions of this Article, the seller or transferor shall pay the Illinois Department the amount of any assessment, assessment penalty, and interest (if any) due from it under this Article up to the date of the sale or transfer. The Illinois Department may, in its discretion, foreclose on such a lien, but shall do so in a manner that is consistent with Section 5e of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. If the seller or transferor fails to pay any assessment, assessment penalty, and interest (if any) due, the purchaser or transferee of such asset shall be liable for the amount of the assessment, penalties, and interest (if any) up to the amount of the reasonable value of the property acquired by the purchaser or transferee. The purchaser or transferee shall continue to be liable until the purchaser or transferee pays the full amount of the assessment, penalties, and interest (if any) up to the amount of the reasonable value of the property acquired by the purchaser or transferee or until the purchaser or transferee receives from the Illinois Department a certificate showing that such assessment, penalty, and interest have been paid or a certificate from the Illinois Department showing that no assessment, penalty, or interest is due from the seller or transferor under this Article.

(4) Payments under this Article are not subject to the Illinois Prompt Payment Act. Credits or refunds shall not bear interest.

(b) In addition to any other remedy provided for and without sending a notice of assessment liability, the Illinois Department shall collect an unpaid assessment by withholding, as payment of the assessment, reimbursements or other amounts otherwise payable by the Illinois Department to the hospital provider, including, but not limited to, payment amounts otherwise payable from a managed care organization performing duties under contract with the Illinois Department.

(1) The requirements of this subsection may be waived in instances when a disaster proclamation has been declared by the Governor. In such circumstances, a hospital must demonstrate temporary financial distress and establish an agreement with the Illinois Department specifying when repayment in full of all taxes owed will occur.

(2) The requirements of this subsection may be waived by the Illinois Department in instances when a hospital has entered into and remains in compliance with a repayment plan or a tax deferral plan. A repayment plan or tax deferral plan must be entered into no later than 30 days after notice of an unpaid assessment payment. No repayment plan may exceed a period of 72 36 months. No tax deferral plan may exceed a period of 6 months, and repayment after the end of a tax deferral plan shall not exceed 72 36 months. Failure to remain in compliance with a repayment plan or tax deferral plan shall cause immediate termination of such plan unless there is prior written consent from the Illinois Department for a period of non-compliance.

(3) Beginning September 1, 2025, the Illinois Department shall immediately collect all overdue unpaid assessments and penalties through the collection methods authorized under this Section, unless a repayment plan or tax deferral plan has already been agreed to by September 1, 2025.

(4) For any unpaid assessments and penalties that are overdue as of the effective date of House Bill 2771 of the 104th General Assembly, upon receipt of payment the Department may, at its discretion, transfer funds from the Hospital Provider Fund to the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund, provided that, at the time of each transfer, there are no outstanding assessment-related payments owed to hospitals that cannot be paid from resources remaining in the Hospital Provider Fund after the transfer.

(c) To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Department may adopt emergency rules as authorized by Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The adoption of emergency rules is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25; 104-7, eff. 6-16-25.)