HB1754 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 05061 BDA 15089 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1754

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Rep. Dan Swanson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Tracking Infectious Cases Knowledgeably Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the TICK Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules no later than January 1, 2026, requiring medical reporters to report cases of alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease to the local health department and the Department of Public Health on the date of the diagnosis under the Control of Communicable Diseases Code. Provides that the rules shall dictate that the Department of Public Health shall track cases of alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease statewide and within counties and shall publish the results of the tracking of cases of alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease publicly on the Department's website in a timely manner. Provides that any case of alpha-gal syndrome or Lyme disease present in an Illinois resident that has been diagnosed by a medical professional shall be reported to, and tracked by, the Department, independent from or concurrent with reporting and tracking by the federal government. Defines terms. Makes findings. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning health.

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

Section 1. Short title.

(a) This Act may be cited as the Tracking Infectious Cases Knowledgeably Act.

(b) This Act may be referred to as the TICK Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic condition that can occur after a tick bite. AGS is named for a molecule, known as alpha-gal or the Galili antigen, that is found in most mammals. Symptoms of AGS occur after people eat red meat or are exposed to other products made from mammals. Because of this, AGS is also known as the red meat allergy or tick bite meat allergy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified AGS as a growing threat to clinical and public health and has identified state-level surveillance of AGS as a critical need. The CDC has identified Illinois as a state with one of the highest AGS prevalence rates in the nation. Additionally, the General Assembly finds that even after enactment of the Lyme disease Prevention and Protection Act, cases of Lyme disease remain underreported in Illinois.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Alpha-gal syndrome" or "AGS" means an acquired delayed-type allergic reaction to a sugar molecule called alpha-galactose (alpha-gal), which is typically caused by the bite of an infected lone star tick and can cause serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to consuming meat or other products containing alpha-gal.

"Lyme disease" means a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia bacteria, which is spread to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks and can cause numerous negative health effects.

"Medical reporters" includes medical professionals and persons described in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 690.200(a)(1) or successor rules as reporting entities or the equivalent.

"Department" means the Department of Public Health.

"Diagnosed" means identified as having Lyme disease or alpha-gal syndrome, either clinically or with laboratory testing confirmation, by (1) a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, (2) a person otherwise permitted to diagnose Lyme disease or alpha-gal syndrome by applicable laws, or (3) another appropriately licensed person under the supervision of or in collaboration with a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches.

Section 15. Rulemaking for alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease. The Department of Public Health shall adopt rules no later than January 1, 2026, requiring medical reporters to report cases of alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease to the local health department and the Department of Public Health under the Control of Communicable Diseases Code on the date a person is diagnosed. Rules adopted under this Section shall require the Department of Public Health to track cases of alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease within counties and statewide and to publish the results of the tracking of cases of alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease publicly on the Department's website in a timely manner. The Department may adopt any other rules to implement this Act.

Section 20. State reporting and tracking. Any case of alpha-gal syndrome or Lyme disease present in an Illinois resident who has been diagnosed by a medical professional shall be independently reported to, and tracked by, the Department, independent from or concurrent with any reporting or tracking under the federal government or any federal agency. The Department may coordinate with and consult with the federal government or any federal agency, but the Department has the duty under this Act to independently track cases of alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease in this State.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.