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 February 17, 2020:
House Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
February 18, 2020, 2:00 p.m.
Room 122B, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 3969, Representative Sue Scherer
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other law or rule to the contrary, no child under the care or custody of the Department of Children and Family Services shall be subjected to mechanical restraints during the provision of any transportation services provided or arranged by the Department, unless required by court order. Provides that nothing under the amendatory Act shall be construed to apply to the Department’s policy on medical restraints.
House Judiciary-Criminal Committee
February 18, 2020, 3:00 p.m.
Room 118, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 182, Representative La Shawn K. Ford
Creates the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act. Provides that a committed person may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 consecutive days. Provides that a committed person may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 days in any 180-day period. Provides that while out of cell, committed persons may have access to activities, including, but not limited, to: job assignments, educational classes, vocational classes, meals, recreation, yard or gymnasium, day room, medical appointments, visits, and group therapy. Provides exceptions. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall post on the Department’s official website quarterly reports on the use of isolated confinement. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes.
HB 3938, Representative Maurice A. West, II
Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the curriculum for certified training programs in crisis intervention shall be at least 40 hours for recruit law enforcement officers. Provides that Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training programs shall be a collaboration between law enforcement professionals, mental health providers, families, and consumer advocates and must minimally include the following components: (1) basic information about mental illnesses and how to recognize them; (2) information about mental health laws and resources; (3) learning from family members of individuals with mental illness and their experiences, and (4) verbal de-escalation training and role-plays. Amends the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Provides that a person who is convicted of any criminal or traffic law or ordinance, other than a conviction entered upon a plea of guilty, $5 to be distributed as follows: (1) $2.50 to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board for implementing crisis intervention team training for recruit law enforcement officers under the Illinois Police Training Act; (2) $2.25 to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board for grants to local law enforcement agencies for continued crisis intervention team training; and (3) 25 cents to be retained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for administrative expenses.
House Human Services Committee
February 19, 2020, 8:30 a.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 3897, Representative Frances Ann Hurley
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that a student whose 22nd birthday occurs during the school year is eligible for special education services through the end of the school year (rather than being eligible for services only until the day before his or her 22nd birthday).
HB 3993, Representative Katie Stuart
Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Expands the definition of “mandated
reporter” to include investment advisors and insurance adjusters.
House Judiciary-Civil Committee
Family Law Subcommittee
February 19, 2020, 8:30 a.m.
Room D-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 4050, Representative Daniel Didech
Amends the Guardians For Adults With Disabilities Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that the requirement that one of the persons listed in a report for a petition for adjudication of disability and for appointment of a guardian who performed evaluations upon which the report is based may be a licensed person who has treated or advised the respondent or assessed the respondent’s relevant physical or mental condition (instead of only a licensed physician).
House Revenue & Finance Committee
February 20, 2020, 8:00 a.m.
Room 122B, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 184, HA 1, Representative La Shawn k. Ford
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax checkoff for the Mental Health Income Tax Checkoff Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund may be used by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of making grants to providers of mental health services in the State.
- To read the full text of HB 184 as introduced: Click
- To read the full text of HA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 184, HA 1: Click
House Mental Health Committee
February 20, 2020, 9:00 a.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 3975, Representative Jonathan Carroll
Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an
independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking.
Senate Human Services Committee
February 18, 2020, 3:00 p.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER HEARING: SB 2484, SB 2493
SB 2484, Senator Julie A. Morrison
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided, in conjunction with dental care that is provided to an individual in a hospital or an ambulatory surgical treatment center if the individual is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and any of the following applies: (1) the individual has a medical condition that requires hospitalization or general anesthesia for dental care; or (2) the individual is a person with a disability. Defines “person with a disability” to mean a person, regardless of age, with a chronic disability if the chronic disability meets specified conditions. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided by a dentist with a permit provided under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, in conjunction with dental care that is provided to an individual in a dental office, oral surgeon’s office, hospital, or ambulatory surgical treatment center if the individual, regardless of age, is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and has been diagnosed with (i) an autism spectrum disorder as defined in the Autism Spectrum Disorders Reporting Act or (ii) a developmental disability. Defines “developmental disability”. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to reimburse providers of services covered under the amendatory Act at the same rates as the Medicare program’s rates for similar services.
- To read the full text of SB 2484: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
SB 2493, Senator Julie A. Morrison
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2020, targeted dental services that are provided to adults and children under the Medical Assistance Program shall be established and paid at no less than the rates established under the State of Illinois Dental Benefit Schedule and shall include specified dental procedures. Sets forth the reimbursement rates for certain anesthesia services.
- To read the full text of SB 2493: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
SB 2328, Senator Laura M. Murphy
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall 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 post-secondary social workers, counselors, parents, faculty, graduate assistants, school administrators, graduate and undergraduate students, and support personnel with the goal of connecting those people with mental health resources related to crisis services, wellness, sexual health, survivor support, gender-based violence, nutrition, stress reduction, anxiety, depression, violence prevention, suicide prevention, and substance use and encouraging information sharing among educational administrators, security personnel, resource officers, faculty, students, and all other employees of a university or college.
SB 2996, Senator Patricia Van Pelt
Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to operate and maintain the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education for the care and education of educable young adults (rather than children) with one or more physical disabilities and provide in connection therewith nursing and medical care and academic, occupational, and related training to such young adults (rather than children). Provides that any Illinois resident under the age of 22 (rather than 21) years who is educable but has such a severe physical disability or other cause that he or she is unable to take advantage of the system of free education in the State of Illinois, may be admitted to the Center or other specified facilities. Defines “Director” and deletes the definition of “vocational rehabilitation administrator”. Amends the School Code. Provides that if the child is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or diagnosed with an orthopedic impairment or physical disability and he or she might be eligible to receive services from the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education, the school district shall notify the parents, in writing, of the existence of the school and the services provided and shall make a reasonable effort to inform the parents of the existence of other, local schools that provide similar services and the services that these other schools provide.
Senate Local Government Committee
February 19, 2020, 9:30 a.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 2773, Senator Dan McConchie
Amends the Counties Code, Township Code, and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a disabled veteran or his or her caregiver shall not be charged any building permit fee for improvements to the residence of the disabled veteran if the improvements are required to accommodate a service-connected disability. Provides that required paperwork to obtain a building permit shall still be submitted. Limits home rule powers.
SB 2962, Senator Briann W. Stewart
Amends the Community Mental Health Act. Provides that upon receipt of all the annual moneys collected from the tax levied under the Act, each governmental unit that levies that tax shall immediately deposit 20% of those moneys into a special fund directly controlled by the county sheriff to be used for mental health services within the county jail.
Senate Labor Committee
February 19, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 2957, Senator Andy Manar
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that any qualified not-for-profit agency for persons with significant disabilities entering into a contract with the State for supplies and services under specified provisions shall offer a minimum hourly wage to its employees that is set at or above the State minimum wage.
Senate State Government Committee
February 19, 2020, 3:00 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 3071, Senator Laura Fine
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that upon the death of a designated beneficiary, proceeds from an ABLE account may be transferred pursuant to a payable on death account agreement executed by the designated beneficiary or designated representative.
Senate Insurance Committee
February 19, 2020, 5:00 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 1420, Senator Laura M. Murphy
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for hippotherapy and other forms of therapeutic riding. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, and the Health Maintenance Organization Act.
SB 2470, Senator Laura Fine
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews group accident and health policies providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness entered into on or after January 1, 2021 shall ensure that the insured have timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Provides that network adequacy standards for timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions must satisfy specified minimum requirements. Provides that if there is no in-network facility or provider available for an insured to receive timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions in accordance with the minimum network adequacy standards, the insurer shall provide necessary exceptions to its network to ensure admission and treatment with a provider or at a treatment facility in accordance with those network adequacy standards.
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
