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Weekly Legislative Update – April 29, 2019

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM EQUIP FOR EQUALITY

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 29, 2019:

 

Joint Hearing of House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
April 30, 2019, 10:00 a.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

SUBJECT MATTER: Illinois Veterans Homes: Health & Development

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

 

House Judiciary-Criminal Committee
April 30, 2019, 3:30 p.m.
Room 118, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 SB 69, Representative Natalie A. Manley

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that the court shall not order the sealing of the records of arrests or charges not initiated by arrest that result in a conviction for financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability, aggravated identity theft against a person 60 years of age or older or a person with a disability, abuse or criminal neglect of a long term care facility resident, or criminal abuse or neglect of an elderly person or person with a disability. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person who commits the offense of financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability may be tried in any one of the following counties in which (1) any part of the offense occurred or (2) the victim or one of the victims reside. Provides that theft by deception from a person with a disability is a Class 2 felony. Provides that consent is not a defense to financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability if the accused knew or had reason to know that the elderly person or a person with a disability lacked capacity to consent.

  • To read the full text of SB 69: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 69: Click

 

SB 1627, Representative Michael Halpin

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Eliminates the amendatory changes made by Public Act 100-574 to the Code. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a movant may present a meritorious claim under this section if the allegations in the petition establish each of the following by a preponderance of the evidence: (1) she was convicted of a forcible felony; (2) her participation in the offense was a direct result of her suffering from post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis; (3) no evidence of post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis was presented by a qualified medical person at trial or sentencing, or both; (4) she was unaware of the mitigating nature of the evidence or, if aware, was at the time unable to present this defense due to suffering from post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis, or, at the time of trial or sentencing, neither was a recognized mental illness and as such she was unable to receive proper treatment; and (5) evidence of post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis as suffered by the person is material and noncumulative to other evidence offered at the time of trial or sentencing and it is of such a conclusive character that it would likely change the sentence imposed by the original court. Provides that nothing in the new provision prevents a person from applying for any other relief under the Civil Practice Law or any other law otherwise available to her. Defines “post-partum depression” and “post-partum psychosis”.

  • To read the full text of SB 1627: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1627: Click

 

House Human Services Committee
May 1, 2019, 8:30 a.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL

HR 187, Representative Grant Wehrli

Declares March 2019 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to promote awareness and understanding of the opportunities, challenges, and needs of persons with developmental disabilities.

  • To read the full text of HR 187 : Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HR 187: Click

 

HJR 54, Representative Frances A. Hurley

Creates the First Responders Suicide Task Force to pursue recommendations to help reduce the risk and rates of suicide amongst first responders.

  • To read the full text of HJR 54: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HJR 54: Click

 

SB 109, Representative Daniel Didech

Amends the Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities Act. Includes in the definition of “facility” a facility that provides housing to individuals with dementia.   Provides that a facility that houses dementia residents may allow electronic monitoring devices only in rooms that are located in a building that is entirely dedicated to dementia care or that are located in a building that is solely dedicated to dementia care.

  • To read the full text of SB 109: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 109: Click

 

SB 1573, Representative Jay Hoffman

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes technical changes to specify in provisions concerning provisional eligibility for long-term care services that: (i) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services must maintain the applicant’s provisional Medicaid enrollment status until a final eligibility determination is approved or the applicant’s appeal has been adjudicated and eligibility is denied; (ii) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or the managed care organization, if applicable, must reimburse providers for services rendered during an applicant’s provisional eligibility period; (iii) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services must submit payment vouchers for all retroactive reimbursement due to the Office of the Comptroller within 10 business days of issuing provisional eligibility to an applicant; and (iv) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services must adopt rules.

  • To read the full text of SB 1573: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1573: Click

 

SB 2026, Representative Joyce Mason

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Prohibits the State from applying for any federal waiver that would reduce or eliminate any protection or coverage required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that was in effect on January 1, 2017, including, but not limited to, any protection for persons with pre-existing conditions and coverage for services identified as essential health benefits under the ACA. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits the State from applying for any federal waiver that would permit an individual or group health insurance plan to reduce or eliminate any protection or coverage required under the ACA that was in effect on January 1, 2017, including, but not limited to, any protection for persons with pre-existing conditions and coverage for services identified as essential health benefits under the ACA. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Prohibits the State or an agency of the executive branch from applying for any federal Medicaid waiver that would result in more restrictive standards, methodologies, procedures, or other requirements than those that were in effect in Illinois as of January 1, 2017 for the Medical Assistance Program, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or any other medical assistance program in Illinois operating under any existing federal waiver authorized by specified provisions of the Social Security Act. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution.

  • To read the full text of SB 2026: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 2026: Click

 

SB 2087, Representative Michelle Mussman

Creates the Customized Employment for Individuals with Disabilities Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to assist individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or similar conditions resulting in a most significant disability. Requires the Department of Human Services’ Division of Rehabilitation Services to establish a 5-year Customized Employment Pilot Program that serves a minimum of 25 individuals by the second year of the Pilot Program. Provides that the individual with a disability may choose to have a personal representative participate in the development of the individualized plan for employment. Provides that the Pilot Program shall include certain components, including: (1) an intensive discovery phase during which the unique needs, abilities, and interests of each program participant will be explored; (2) a customized person-centered planning process based upon information gathered during the discovery phase that involves capturing, organizing, and presenting the information in a blueprint for the job search; and (3) an employer negotiation process in which job duties and employee expectations are negotiated to align the skills and interests of each program participant to the needs of an employer. Provides that the Customized Employment Pilot Program shall be implemented through an individualized plan for employment developed by the individual with a disability and the vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by the Division of Rehabilitation Services. Provides that community-based agencies serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities shall identify and refer individuals to the Department for participation in the Pilot Program. Requires program participants to reflect the geographical, racial, ethnic, gender, and income-level diversity of the State. Contains provisions concerning data collection and reporting, administrative rules, and other matters.

  • To read the full text of SB 2087: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 2087: Click

 

House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee
May 1, 2019, 10:00 a.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

SB 1250, Representative Karina Villa

Amends the School Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school district must allow any student with an asthma action plan, an Individual Health Care Action Plan, an Illinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan and Treatment Authorization Form, a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or a plan pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to self-administer any medication required under those plans if the student’s parent or guardian provides the school district with (i) written permission for the student’s self-administration of medication and (ii) written authorization from the student’s physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse for the student to self-administer the medication. Requires a parent or guardian to also provide to the school district the prescription label for the medication, which must contain the name of the medication, the prescribed dosage, and the time or times at which or the circumstances under which the medication is to be administered. Provides that each school district must adopt an emergency action plan for a student who self-administers medication; specifies the plan’s requirements. Provides that a school district and its employees and agents shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of medication by a student.

  • To read the full text of SB 1250: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1250: Click

 

House Health Care Licenses Committee
May 1, 2019, 10:00 a.m.
Room 122B, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

SB 1135, Representative Sara Feigenholtz

Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. Requires a psychologist applying for a prescribing psychologist license to have completed a full-time practicum of 14 months’ supervised clinical training (removing a requirement of at least 36 credit hours). Adds medical centers, health care facilities located at federal and State prisons, patient-centered medical homes or family-centered medical homes, women’s medical health centers, and Federally Qualified Health Centers as possible instructional settings for the residency. Adds specified clinical training standards to the residency requirements. In provisions regarding delegation of prescriptive authority, provides that all prescriptions written by a prescribing psychologist must contain the prescribing psychologist’s name and signature. Amends the Telehealth Act. Expands the definition of “health care professional” to include prescribing psychologists.

  • To read the full text of SB 1135: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1135: Click

 

House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter School Committee
May 1, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Room 115, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HR 88, Representative Elizabeth Hernandez

Urges the General Assembly to enact legislation to amend The School Code of Illinois, requiring the Illinois State Board of Education to establish criteria, standards, and competencies to be required of qualified bilingual language interpreters for parents of limited English proficiency participating in IEP meetings.

  • To read the full text of HR 88: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HR 88: Click

 

House State Government Administration Committee
May 1, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Room 122B, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

SB 1136, Representative Bob Morgan

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that each State agency shall designate one or more persons with hiring responsibilities to annually attend a presentation provided by the Department of Central Management Services regarding programs created by the Department that were developed and implemented to increase the number of qualified employees with disabilities working in the State.

  • To read the full text of SB 1136: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1136: Click

 

SB 1387, Representative Daniel Didech

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Modifies and reorganizes provisions concerning the ABLE account program. Provides that a designated representative under the program includes, among other persons, the account owner’s guardian of the person or any other State-appointed guardian. Provides that the State Treasurer may enter into agreements with other states to either allow Illinois residents to participate in a plan operated by another state or to allow residents of other states to participate in the Illinois ABLE plan. Modifies terms under the Act. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Modifies provisions concerning duties of a guardian of a minor, duties of a personal guardian, and duties of an estate guardian to allow a specified guardian to, without an order of court, open, maintain, and transfer funds to an ABLE account on behalf of the ward and the ward’s dependent children as specified under the ABLE account program. Makes conforming and other changes.

  • To read the full text of SB 1387: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1387: Click

 

House Appropriations-General Services Committee
May 1, 2019, 3:30 p.m.
Room D-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL

SUBJECT MATTER: Comptroller and Court Reporters, Treasurer, Arts Council, DCEO, CMS and DoIT.

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

 

Joint Hearing of Senate Appropriations II Subcommittee on Capital (AP) and Senate Transportation Subcommittee on Capital (TR)
|
April 29, 2019, 1:00 p.m.
C600, Sixth Floor, Michael A. Bilandic Building
160 N. LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL

SUBJECT MATTER: Capital InfrastructureNeeds

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

 

Senate Licensed Activities Committee
April 30, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HB 3468, Senator Terry Link

Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act, Alternative Health Care Delivery Act, Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, Community Living Facilities Licensing Act, Nursing Home Care Act, Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, and Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that for hospitals, alternative health care models, Community Living Facilities, long-term care facilities, and specialized mental health rehabilitation facilities, reasonable efforts must be made to have activated at all times the closed captioning feature on a television in a common area provided for use by the general public or in a patient’s, resident’s, or consumer’s room or to enable the closed captioning feature when requested to do so by a member of the general public or a patient if the television includes a closed captioning feature, or if a staff member deactivates a closed captioning feature unless the deactivation was done so knowingly or intentionally, or if the closed captioning feature is deactivated by specified individuals. Provides that if there is not a television with a closed captioning feature available, then it must be ensured that all televisions obtained for common areas and patient rooms after the effective date of the amendatory Act include a closed captioning feature. Provides that certain provisions concerning closed captioning shall not apply to televisions that are privately owned by a resident or third party and not owned by the facility.

  • To read the full text of HB 3468: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3468: Click

 

Senate Financial Institutions Committee
May 1, 2019, 11:00 a.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HB 2837, Senator Julie A. Morrison

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Modifies and reorganizes provisions concerning the ABLE account program. Provides that a designated representative under the program includes, among other persons, the account owner’s guardian of the person or any other State-appointed guardian. Provides that the State Treasurer may enter into agreements with other states to either allow Illinois residents to participate in a plan operated by another state or to allow residents of other states to participate in the Illinois ABLE plan. Modifies terms under the Act. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Modifies provisions concerning duties of a guardian of a minor, duties of a personal guardian, and duties of an estate guardian to allow a specified guardian to, without an order of court, open, maintain, and transfer funds to an ABLE account on behalf of the ward and the ward’s dependent children as specified under the ABLE account program. Makes conforming and other changes.

  • To read the full text of HB 2387: Click
  • To file an electronic witness lip on HB 2387: Click

 

Senate Education Committee
May 1, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HB 205, Senator Laura Ellman

Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act to require the instruction on mental health and illness to evaluate the multiple dimensions of health by reviewing the relationship between physical and mental health so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors that promote health, well-being, and human dignity.

  • To read the full text of HB 205: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 205: Click

 

HB 3302, Senator David Koehler

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, for the Chicago School District only, for complaints concerning delays and denials of special education services in the 2016-2017 or 2017-2018 school year, a complainant has no less than 2 years following the finalization of the State Board of Education’s student-specific corrective action plan per the State Board’s 2017-2018 Public Inquiry Team’s Corrective Action Report. Provides that the State Board’s notification of its compensatory education plan to parents and guardians must include notification of the extended timeframe to file complaints under this subsection.  Requires a respondent to include corrective action compliance documentation with all other documentation provided to a complainant.

  • To read full the text of HB 3302: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3302: Click

 

HB 3586, Senator David Koehler

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, for the Chicago School District only, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the school district shall, in collaboration with its primary office overseeing special education policies, publish on the school district’s publicly available website any proposed changes to its special education policies, directives, guidelines, or procedures that impact the provision of educational or related services for students with disabilities or the procedural safeguards afforded to students with disabilities or their parents or guardians. Provides that the school district must make the entirety of its special education Procedural Manual and any other guidance documents pertaining to special education publicly available, in print and on the school district’s website, in both English and Spanish. Provides that the State Board of Education may add additional reporting requirements for the school district if the State Board determines it is in the best interest of students enrolled in the district receiving special education services. With regard to individualized education program meetings, provides that no later than 5 school days before a child’s individualized education program eligibility meeting or meeting to review a child’s individualized education program, a school board or school personnel must provide the child’s parent or guardian with copies of all relevant information collected about the child so that the parent or guardian may participate as a fully-informed team member of the meeting. Provides that the State Board of Education must (rather than may) create a telephone hotline to address concerns regarding the provision of special education services in a school district. Makes other changes.

  • To read the full text of HB 3586: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3586: Click

 

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
May 1, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HB 3424, Senator Thomas Cullerton

Amends the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Act. Creates the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Task Force to assess ways the State of Illinois can improve the rate at which disability compensation claims are approved by the federal government and correct the disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ approval of disability compensation for Illinois veterans and that which is approved for veterans in other states. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of the chair and minority spokesperson of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, the chair and minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the Senate, and 15 members appointed by the chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives and the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the Senate. Requires those appointed to the Task Force to be members of different Illinois counties’ Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, and VITAS officials. Provides that Task Force members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for any travel expenses incurred in attending meetings. Provides that within 60 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Task Force shall meet, and thereafter shall meet at least quarterly. Requires the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. Provides that the Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and any recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2020. Repeals the amendatory Act’s provisions on July 1, 2021.

  • To read the full text of HB 3424: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3424: Click

 

Senate Higher Education Committee
May 1, 2019, 3:30 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HB 2152, Senator Pat McGuire

Creates the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. Provides for intent, legislative findings, purposes of the Act, and definitions. Provides that to raise mental health awareness on college campuses, each public college or university in this State must complete specified tasks. Provides that the board of trustees of each public college or university must designate an expert panel to develop and implement policies and procedures that (i) advise students, faculty, and staff on the proper procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of students exhibiting symptoms of mental health conditions, (ii) promote understanding of the rules of Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to increase knowledge and understanding of student protections under the law, and (iii) provide training if appropriate. Provides that because peer support programs may be beneficial in improving the emotional well-being of the student population, each public college or university must develop and implement a peer support program utilizing student peers to support individuals living with mental health conditions on campus; specifies best practices for the peer support programs. Provides that each public college or university must form strategic partnerships with local mental health service providers to improve overall campus mental wellness and augment on-campus capacity; specifies what the partnerships must include. Requires the Board of Higher Education to develop a Technical Assistance Center; specifies the duties of the Center. Requires each public college or university to evaluate the required programs under the Act using specified criteria. Effective July 1, 2020.

  • To read the full text of HB 2152: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 2152: Click

 

HB 3404, Senator Iris Y. Martinez

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that, for the 2020-2021 academic year and for each academic year thereafter, a university or community college district must make available to its students information on all mental health and suicide prevention resources available at the university or community college.

  • To read the full text of HB 3404: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3404: Click

 

Senate Human Services Committee
May 1, 2019, 3:30 p.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HB 344, Senator Scott M. Bennett

Creates the Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Community-Integrated Living Arrangements and Developmental Disability Facilities Act. Provides that under certain conditions, a resident of a living arrangement certified under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act and a resident of a developmental disability facility shall be permitted to use an audio and video surveillance system in his or her room at his or her own expense. Provides that if a resident chooses to install an electronic monitoring device that uses Internet technology for visual or audio monitoring, that resident is responsible for installing a secure, password-protected network. Requires the electronic monitoring device to be placed in a conspicuously visible location in the room. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a program to distribute specified funds each year for the purchase and installation of electronic monitoring devices. Establishes criminal penalties for a person or entity that knowingly hampers, obstructs, tampers with, or destroys an electronic monitoring device. Contains provisions concerning: resident and roommate consent to monitoring; notice of electronic monitoring to the staff and visitors; limitations on the staff’s access to recordings; the admissibility of recordings in civil, criminal, and administrative actions; staff reporting; liability; and rulemaking. Makes other changes. Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act and Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code to make conforming changes. Provides that intentionally retaliating or discriminating against any recipient for consenting to authorized electronic monitoring, or preventing the installation or use of an electronic monitoring device by a recipient under the Act, is a business offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 (rather than $10,000).

  • To read the full text of HB 344: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 344: Click

 

HB 907, Senator Laura M. Murphy

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires

the Department of Human Services to create and maintain an online database and resource page on its website. Provides that the database and resource page shall contain mental health resources specifically geared toward school counselors, parents, and teachers with the goal of connecting those people with mental health resources related to bullying and school shootings and encouraging information sharing among educational administrators, school security personnel, and school resource officers.

  • To read the full text of HB 907: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 907: Click

 

HB 2142, Senator Julie A. Morrison

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that until the consent of the adult’s guardian has been obtained, counseling or psychotherapy provided to an adult under guardianship shall be limited to not more than 12 (rather than 5) sessions, a session lasting not more than 60 (rather than 45) minutes.

  • To read the full text of HB 2142: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 2142: Click

 

HB 3069, Senator Jason Plummer

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Requires facilities licensed under the Act to notify the Department of Human Services when emergency calls are made from the facility. Grants the Department rulemaking power to implement the notification procedures.

  • To read the full text of HB 3069: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3069: Click

 

HB 3299, Senator Don Harmon

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that a person admitted to a developmental disability facility and receiving habilitation shall have access to sex education, related resources, and treatment planning that supports his or her right to sexual health and healthy sexual practices and to be free from sexual exploitation and abuse. Provides that the person receiving habilitation shall be assessed: (1) on whether he or she has decision making capacity to give consent to sexual activity and (2) for developmentally appropriate sex education materials and resources. Provides that as part of the assessments, consideration shall be given to medical, psychological, and psycho-social evaluations. Provides that the person’s decision making capacity to consent to sexual activity and the developmentally appropriate sex education materials and resources shall be determined by the treatment team that includes the individual, professionals who have knowledge of the individual, and the individual’s guardian, if appointed. Guardian decision making shall be made in accordance with the court order of appointment and the standards of decision making established by the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall approve course material in sex education. Establishes standards for the course materials and instruction. Defines “healthy sexual practices”.

  • To read the full text of HB 3299: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3299: Click

 

HB 3483, Senator Laura Fine

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Removes language requiring the Department of Human Services to maintain a disability services database and instead requires the Department of Human Services to compile and maintain a Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) database of Illinois residents with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability, including an autism spectrum disorder, and Illinois residents with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability who are also diagnosed with a physical disability or mental illness and are in need of disability services funded by the Department. Provides that the PUNS database shall be used to foster a fair and orderly process for: (i) processing applications for services funded by the Department, (ii) verifying information, (iii) keeping individuals and families who have applied for services informed of available services and anticipated wait times, (iv) determining unmet need, and (v) informing the General Assembly and the Governor of unmet need statewide and within each representative district. Provides that individuals who are receiving services under any home and community-based services waiver program authorized under the Social Security Act may remain on the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) database until they are offered services through a PUNS selection or demonstrate the need for and are awarded alternative services.  Requires the Secretary of Human Services to seek input from specified advisory bodies and committees with regard to the establishment, maintenance, and administration of PUNS. Contains provisions concerning the type of information to be collected and maintained for PUNS; the Department’s development of a web-based verification and information-update application; notice of services to individuals listed in the PUNS database; and other matters.

  • To read the full text of HB 3483: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3483: Click

 

Senate Criminal Law Committee
May 1, 2019, 5:00 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HB 2987, Senator Julie A. Morrison

Creates the Protection of Individuals with Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System Task Force Act of 2019. Re-establishes the Protection of Individuals with Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System Task Force. Specifies membership and appointment of the Task Force. Provides that the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall consider issues that affect adults and juveniles with disabilities with respect to their involvement with the police, detention and confinement in correctional facilities, representation by counsel, participation in the criminal justice system, communications with their families, awareness and accommodations for their disabilities, and concerns for the safety of the general public and individuals working in the criminal justice system. Provides that the Task Force shall make recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly regarding policies, procedures, legislation, and other actions that can be taken to protect the public safety and the well-being and rights of individuals with disabilities in the criminal justice system. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Attorney General, and to the General Assembly on or before September 30, 2020. Repeals Act on January 1, 2022.

  • To read the full text of HB 2987: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 2987: Click

 

Senate Transportation Committee
May 1, 2019, 5:00 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

HB 188, Senator Antonio Munoz

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, if a person has a registration plate in his or her name and seeks to reassign the registration plate to his or her spouse, the Secretary shall waive any transfer fee or vanity or personalized registration plate fee upon both spouses signing a form authorizing the reassignment of registration. Provides that, if a registrant seeks to reassign the registration plate to his or her child, the Secretary shall waive any transfer fee or vanity or personalized registration plate fee.

  • To read the full text of HB 188: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 188: Click

 

HB 3437, Senator Julie A. Morrison

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow for the issuance of developmental disabilities awareness decals for Universal special license plates by the Department of Human Services. Provides fees for the decals. Creates the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that money in the Fund shall be paid as grants to the Illinois Department of Human Services to fund legal aid groups to assist with guardianship fees for private citizens willing to become guardians for individuals with developmental disabilities but who are unable to pay the legal fees associated with becoming a guardian. Makes a corresponding change in the State Finance Act.

  • To read the full text of HB 3437: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip on HB 3437: 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. You may also watch or listen to committee hearings on this website by clicking on “Audio/Video” under the headings Senate or House and then clicking on the room number in which the committee hearing is being held. For additional information, please contact:

Cheryl R. Jansen
Director of Public Policy
Equip for Equality
cherylj2@equipforequality.org
217-544-0464 ext. 6013

 

 

 

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