LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM EQUIP FOR EQUALITY

NOTE: The deadline to pass substantive House bills out of the House and substantive Senate bills out of the Senate is April 23, 2021.

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 April 19, 2021:

 

House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
April 20, 2021, 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL

SUBJECT MATTER: ESSER (Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding.

• To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click

 

House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
April 20, 2021, 4:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL

HR 136, Representative Stefanie Kifowit

Declares June 27, 2021 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day. Declares June 2021 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month. Urges the Departments of Public Health, Military Affairs, and Veterans Affairs to continue working to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, or natural disasters and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.

• To read the full text of HR 136: Click
• To file an electronic witness slip on HR 136: Click

 

House Appropriations-Human Services
April 22, 2021, 8:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL

SUBJECT MATTER: Department of Human Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

• To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click

 

Senate Health Committee
April 20, 2021, 4:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL

SB 598, Senator Chapin Rose

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that for the purpose of infection control and vaccine distribution during a public health emergency, the Department of Public Health shall prioritize MC/DD facilities at the same prioritization level as long-term care facilities under the Nursing Home Care Act. Effective immediately.

• To read the full text of SB 598: Click
• To file an electronic witness slip on SB 598: Click

 

SB 700, SFA 1, Senator Rachelle Crowe

Amends the Adult Protective Services Act.  Provides that any person who suspects abuse, neglect, financial exploitation or self-neglect of an eligible adult may report information about the suspicious death of the eligible adult to an agency designated to receive such reports or the Department on Aging.  Provides that if a mandated reporter has reason to believe the death of an eligible adult may be the result of abuse or neglect, the matter shall be reported to an agency designated to receive such reports or to the Department on Aging for subsequent referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the coroner or medical examiner.  Provides that the identity of a person reporting information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult may be disclosed by the Department on Aging or other agency only with the person’s written consent or by court order, but is otherwise confidential.  Provides that all records concerning reports of information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult due to abuse, neglect, financial exploitation or self-neglect shall be confidential.

• To read the full text of SB 700, SFA 1: Click
• To file an electronic witness slip on SB 700, SFA 1: Click

 

Senate Executive Committee
April 21, 2021, 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL

HB 2877, Senator Omar Aquino

Creates the COVID-19 Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act. Contains provisions for: the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance program; accessibility and transparency; process for further prioritizing applicants for financial assistance and housing stability services; and required notifications and correspondence. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes changes concerning the sealing of court files. Provides that certain new provisions concerning sealing of court files in a residential eviction action apply until August 1, 2022. Contains provisions for: the sealing of a court file in a residential eviction action; emergency sealing of a court file in a residential eviction action during the COVID-19 emergency and economic recovery period; and a temporary COVID-19 stay of certain foreclosure proceedings and filings. Makes corresponding changes to a provision regarding demand for rent and eviction actions. Makes corresponding changes in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately.

• To read the full text of HB 2877: Click
• To file an electronic witness slip on HB 2877: Click

 

Senate State Government Committee
April 21, 2021, 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 3 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL

SB 921, SFA 1, Senator Julie A. Morrison

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Act. Creates the Access and Functionality Needs Advisory Committee to investigate and provide recommendations for identifying and effectively responding to the needs of persons with access and functional needs before, during and after a disaster and how to ensure that persons with a disability are included in disaster strategies and emergency management plans.

• To read the full text of SB 921, SFA 1: Click
• To file an electronic witness slip on SB 921, SFA 1: Click

 

Senate Insurance Committee
April 21, 2021, 5:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL

SB 1365, SFA 1, Senator Sue Rezin

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 and the Illinois Insurance Code.  Provides that the State shall not apply for any federal waiver that would reduce or eliminate any protection or coverage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was in effect on January 1, 2017, including any protection for persons with pre-existing conditions and coverage identified as essential health benefits under the Act,  except if the General Assembly has by joint resolution approved by a majority of both the House and the Senate prior to submission of a waiver application authorizes the State to apply for such a waiver.

• To read the full text of SB 1365, SFA 1: Click
• To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1365, SFA 1: Click

 

Joint Hearing of Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Revenue Committee
April 23, 2021, 8:30 a.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL

SUBJECT MATTER: The Governor’s FY 22 Proposed Revenue Changes

• To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click

 

NOTE: If you wish to take any action regarding any of these bills/issues, you may wish to file an electronic witness slip and/or or submit oral or written testimony to the committee holding the 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.

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, committee hearings are being held remotely via the Internet.

• To view instructions regarding the remote hearing process and how to submit oral or written testimony in the HOUSE: Click

• To view instructions regarding the remote hearing process and how to submit oral or written testimony in the SENATE: Click

 For additional information, please contact:
Cheryl R. Jansen
Public Policy Director
Equip for Equality
cherylj2@equipforequality.org
217-303-8543