May 13, 2016
The following are disability-related bills and/or issues pending in the Illinois General Assembly that are scheduled to be heard in committee during the week of May 16, 2016:
House Judiciary-Criminal Committee
May 17, 2016, 1:00 p.m.
Room D-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
SB 2213, Representative Michael J. Zalewski
Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2016, and each July 1 and December 30 of every year thereafter, the circuit court clerk shall, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department of State Police, notify the Department of State Police, Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) department if the court has not directed the circuit court clerk to notify the Department of State Police, Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Department within the preceding 6 months, because no person has been adjudicated as a person with a mental disability by the court or if no person has been involuntarily admitted. Provides that the Supreme Court may adopt any orders or rules necessary to identify the persons who shall be reported to the Department of State Police under this provision, or any other orders or rules necessary to implement the requirements of the Act.
House Appropriations-Human Services Committee
May 17, 2016, 3:00 p.m.
Room D-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: FY 16 Budget and FY 17 Budget proposal.
- To file an electronic witness slip: Click
SB 2931, Representative Sonya M. Harper
Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. In a provision concerning the Department of Human Services’ Home Services Program, provides that personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers (rather than personal assistants) shall be paid at a rate negotiated between the State and the (rather than an) exclusive representative of personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers (rather than personal assistants) under a collective bargaining agreement. Provides that beginning on July 1, 2016, the hourly rate paid to personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers shall be no less than $15 per hour. Requires personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers to participate in a comprehensive in-person orientation, including standardized instruction or education as determined by the Department, concerning their obligations as an Individual Provider of Medicaid services, fraud training, and training on independent living philosophies. Requires personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers to attend annual in-person training, including training in preventing fraud and abuse. Provides that personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers shall be paid their regular hourly wage for all orientation and training hours. Requires the State to contribute into a Taft-Hartley health fund for the purpose of providing health insurance to qualified personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers. Provides that for State fiscal year 2017, the rate shall be $1.11 per hour paid to personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers and that for future fiscal years, the rate shall be adjusted as determined by actuarial analysis.
House Elementary & Secondary Education Committee: School Curriculum & Policies
May 18, 2016, 9:00 a.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 565, Representative Camille Y. Lilly
Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning health examinations and immunizations, requires an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate social and emotional screening to be included as part of the examinations and procedures that constitute a health examination under rules of the Department of Public Health. Sets forth requirements with respect to the rules concerning social and emotional screening. With respect to the social and emotional screening portion of the health examination, requires each child to present proof before October 15th of the school year of having been examined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches within the previous year; provides for a waiver and notice. Regarding social and emotional functioning, requires information to be shared in a manner consistent with laws and policies governing health care confidentiality.
House Appropriations-General Services Committee
May 18, 2016, 10:00 a.m.
Room 118, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: FY 16 Budget and FY 17 Budget proposal.
- To file an electronic witness slip: Click
House Human Services Committee
May 19, 2016, 9:00 a.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
SB 2929, HA 1, Representative Robert Rita
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. In a provision requiring hospitals to notify a case coordination unit prior to discharging patients to a nursing home, requires the case coordination unit to notify the Department on Aging when the unit is unable to complete an assessment prior to a patient’s hospital discharge; and requires the Departments of Healthcare and Family Services and Aging to adopt rules to ensure patients in similar circumstances are able to access nursing home care.
- To read full text of SB 2929, HA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on SB 2929, HA 1: Click
NOTE: If you wish to take any action regarding any of these bills/issues, you may wish to attend the committee hearing and/or contact the members of the Committee conducting the hearing and/or the legislators in your home district. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all legislators, both Representatives and Senators, can be found on the Illinois General Assembly website at: www.ilga.gov. You may check this website to find out if any of the committee hearing dates or times have been changed, which may happen upon very short notice. You may also use this website to file an electronic witness slip for any bill that is posted for hearing by clicking on “GA Dashboard” on the homepage.
For additional information, please contact:
Cheryl R. Jansen
Public Policy Director
Equip for Equality
217-544-0464 ext. 6013
