Policy Update

Budget Cuts in State Programs

The main issues confronting the legislature and disability advocates again this year were budgetary. Because of the state's fiscal woes, Governor Blagojovich proposed deep budget cuts in human services including those for people with disabilities. Advocates worked intensely to get legislative support to restore much-needed resources. Substantive bills took a back seat to this effort.

Although the Department of Human Services (DHS) budget was cut by 3.5%, community services for people with developmental disabilities and people with mental illness were spared. A few programs, such as CILA's for people with developmental disabilities, received increased funding.

One of the laws enacted this session, Public Act 93-0839, creates the State Facilities Closure Act. This act requires State executive branch officers to file a notice of proposed closure with the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission before any State facility may be closed. A State facility is "…any facility (i) that is owned and operated by the State or leased and operated by the State and (ii) that is the primary stationary work location for 25 or more State employees." The Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission (the Commission) is a bipartisan, joint legislative commission that provides the Illinois legislature with information on the Illinois economy, State revenue and debt obligations.

Once a notice of proposed closure is filed, the Commission may require the filing of a recommendation for closure that must include information such as the number of employees and the effect of the closure on them, where the function and employees will be moved, the availability and condition of the facilities at both locations, costs and budgetary impacts, the economic impact on surrounding communities, impact on State services and the environmental impact. The Commission will then issue an advisory opinion on the recommendation to the State executive branch officer, the Governor, and the General Assembly. These requirements do not apply to legislative or judicial facilities or in cases in which the functions and employees are relocated to a State facility within 10 miles of the closed facility.

Other disability related legislation includes an act regarding transportation of people with mental illness. Previously, county sheriffs were charged with the responsibility of transporting people with mental illness to mental health facilities. Public Act 93-0770 transfers this responsibility to DHS, except in Cook County. Another bill, HB 1959, authorizes the sale of Zeller Mental Health Center and provides that the first $1, 200,000 of the proceeds will be deposited in the Mental Health Transportation Fund, which shall be used to pay for the cost of providing this transportation. The governor signed this bill, and it became effective on September 3, 2004. It is now Public Act 093-1034.

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