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Weekly Legislative Update – February 12, 2018

Note: Governor Rauner will give his annual Budget Address on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at noon in the Capitol Building in Springfield.  You may watch the address online by going to: www.ilga.gov.  Under the heading “House” click on Audio/Video and then click on the link for the Budget Address.

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 February 12, 2018:

 

House Appropriations-Human Services Committee
February 13, 2018, 9:00 a.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 

SB 1773, HA 4, Representative Greg Harris, HA 5, Representative Camille Y. Lilly, HA 6, Representative Sara Feigenholtz

Amend the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code and various other statutes.

  • To read full text of HA 4: Click
  • To read full text of HA 5: Click
  • To read full text of HA 6: Click
  • To file an electronic witness for HA 4, HA 5, and/or HA 6: Click

 

House Human Services Committee
February 13, 2018, 4:00 p.m.
Room 122B, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 

HB 3813, Representative Kathleen Willis

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Adds provisions concerning required disclosures and contract requirements for providers of community-integrated living arrangements. Provides that at the time of or prior to the execution of a contract to provide continuing care at a community-integrated living arrangement, or at the time of or prior to the transfer of any money or other property to a provider by or on behalf of a prospective resident, whichever shall first occur, a provider shall deliver a disclosure statement to the person with whom the contract is to be entered into that contains specified information. Provides that all contracts for continuing care at a community-integrated living arrangement used by a provider shall include specified information. Contains provisions requiring a community-integrated living arrangement to make certain disclosures to the Department of Human Services. Provides that residents may receive, upon request, specified information from providers and may submit comments. Provides that providers shall, to the maximum extent practicable, offer specified explanations, inform residents of certain matters, and make use of specified standards and practices. Provides that a violation of these provisions by a provider of a community-integrated living arrangement shall constitute a deceptive trade practice under the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Makes a corresponding change in the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Makes other changes.

  • To read full text of HB 3813: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for HB 3813: Click

 

House Judiciary-Civil Committee
February 13, 2018, 4:00 p.m.
Room 115, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 

HB 4301, Representative Joe Sosnowski

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that if a respondent in an adult guardianship action is residing in a nursing home, assisted living facility, veterans hospital, or any other residence where he or she is receiving care, and the respondent possesses real property located in another county that served as the residence of the respondent, the petitioner shall cause notice to be given in the county in which the real property of the respondent is located by publishing notice of the hearing for no less than 14 days in a newspaper of general circulation in that county.

  • To read full text of HB 4301: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for HB 4301: Click

 

House Elementary and Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policies Committee
February 14, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
Room D-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL

 

 HB 4193, Representative Lindsay Parkhurst

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. With respect to an impartial due process hearing, changes when the hearing officer must issue his or her written decision from within 10 days to within 10 business days after the conclusion of the hearing.

  • To read full text of HB 4193: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for HB 4193: Click

 HB 4205, Representative La Shawn K.  Ford

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require its schools to connect at-risk students in need of behavioral health support and all students with an individualized education program to either community-based or in-school behavioral health support. If the school board requires in-school support to be provided, such support does not have to be implemented until the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.

  • To read full text of HB 4205: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for HB 4205: Click

 

House Revenue & Finance Committee
February 14, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
Room 118, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 

HB 4320, Representative Michael D. Unes

Amends the Property Tax Code and the Mobile Home Local Services Tax Act. In provisions granting exemptions for veterans with disabilities, provides that, if the veteran has received the same protected evaluation rating and level of disability for 20 or more years by the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs, then that veteran need not annually reapply for the exemption.

  • To read full text of HB 4320: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for HB 4320: Click

 

Senate Education Committee
February 13, 2018, 1:45 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 

SB 2468, Senator David Koehler

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. With regard to individualized education programs, provides that if a child’s individualized education program team determines that the child does not require assistive technology services or devices, the team shall include a statement in the child’s program that informs the child’s parent or guardian of the decision and the basis for the decision.

  • To read full text of SB 2468: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for SB 2468: Click

 

Senate Public Health Committee
February 13, 2018, 1:45 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 

SB 2296: Senator Julie A. Morrison

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish a registry, to be known as the Advance Directives Registry, under which residents of the State may submit specified advance directive forms to the Department. Provides that information in the Registry shall be made available to hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Provides that in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Department and its employees are immune from any civil or criminal liability in connection with the creation and maintenance of the Registry. Provides that the Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement these provisions and shall provide information regarding use of the Registry on its website. Provides that a person who knowingly submits a document to the Registry without authorization or assists in such submission shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Contains other provisions concerning the Registry.

  • To read full text of SB 2296: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for SB 2296: Click

 

Senate Human Services Committee
February 13, 2018, 3:15 p.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 

SUBJECT MATTER: Testimony on the Hospital Assessment Program

  • To file an electronic witness slip for the Hospital Assessment Subject Matter Hearing: Click

 SB 2189, Senator Michael Connelly

Creates the Medicaid Smart Card Pilot Program Act. Requires the Director of the Department of

Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Medicaid Smart Card Pilot Program to reduce the total amount of expenditures under the State’s Medical Assistance Program. Provides that the pilot program shall be designed to reduce the average monthly cost under the State’s Medical Assistance Program for recipients within the pilot program area by an amount that is at least sufficient to recover the cost of implementing the pilot program. Provides that the Director shall determine the geographic area to be included in the pilot program and may contract with an independent entity for the purpose of developing and implementing the pilot program. Contains provisions on required activities under the pilot program, including the distribution of Medicaid Smart Cards to designated recipients; measures the Department might take to implement the pilot program; annual evaluations; reporting requirements; extension or expansion of the pilot program; the confidentiality of health information; reports to the Inspector General; and rulemaking authority.

  • To read full text of SB 2189: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for SB 2189: Click

 SB 2622, Senator David Koehler

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that with respect to Managed Care Organization (MCO) contracts entered into between MCOs and providers of durable medical equipment and supplies, MCO in-network contracted fees paid to those providers shall at least be equal to the fee-for-service durable medical equipment fee schedule published on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ website.

  • To read full text of SB 2622: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip: Click

 SB 2265, Senator Michael Hastings

Amends the Department of State Police Law. Requires the Department of State Police to compile and maintain an historic data repository relating to, among other missing persons, lost or missing individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities, in order to develop and improve techniques utilized by law enforcement agencies when responding to reports of missing persons. Provides that the Department of State Police, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Human Services, shall develop and implement a community outreach program to promote awareness of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory among applicable entities, including, but is not limited to developmental disability facilities. Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act. Provides that a “high-risk missing person” under the Act includes evidence that a person is at risk because he or she is a person having a developmental disability or a person having an intellectual disability. Makes conforming changes.

  • To read full text of SB 2265: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for SB 2265: Click

SB 2429, Senator Omar Aquino

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide dental services to an adult who is otherwise eligible for assistance under the medical assistance program. Provides that targeted dental services, as set forth in a specified exhibit in a federal consent decree, that are provided to adults under the medical assistance program shall be reimbursed at the rates set forth in a specified column in the exhibit for targeted dental services that are provided to persons under the age of 18 under the medical assistance program. Requires the Department to actively monitor the contractual relationship between Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and a dental administrator contracted by an MCO to provide dental services. Contains provisions concerning the Department’s adoption of appropriate data and measures; the inclusion of certain dental performance measures in the Department’s Health Plan Comparison Tool and Illinois Medicaid Plan Report Card; and the collection of information about the types of contracted, broad-based care coordination occurring between a MCO and any dental administrator. Prohibits a health plan from attempting to limit the right of medical assistance recipients to obtain dental services from a qualified Medicaid provider. Prohibits the Department from adopting a rule or entering into a contract that prohibits a licensed dentist or dental hygienist from receiving reimbursement under the medical assistance program for a dental encounter.

  • To read full text of SB 2429: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for SB 2429: Click

 SB 2446, Senator Julie A. Morrison

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to reimburse psychiatrists and federally qualified health

psychiatric and mental health nursing to medical assistance recipients via telepsychiatry.

  • To read full text of SB 2446: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for SB 2446: Click

 SB 2469, Senator Cristina Castro

Amends the Respite Program Act. In a provision requiring the Director of the Department on Aging to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly detailing the progress of the respite care services provided under the Act, provides that the report shall also include an estimate of the demand for respite care services over the next 10 years.

  • To read full text of SB 2469: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for SB 2469: Click

  

Senate Revenue Committee
February 14, 2018, 4:00 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL

 

SB 2431, Senator Laura M. Murphy

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxpayer who has been granted a homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities need not reapply if he or she has been found by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to be permanently and totally disabled.

  • To read full text of SB 2431: Click
  • To file an electronic witness slip for SB 2431: 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
cherylj2@equipforequality.org
217-544-0464 ext. 6013

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