LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM EQUIP FOR EQUALITY
Note: January 28, 2022, is the deadline for introduction of substantive Senate bills.
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 January 24, 2022:
House Judiciary-Criminal Committee
January 25, 2022, 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 3 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 2565, Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Amends the Drug Court Treatment Act. Defines “clinical treatment plan”, “peer recovery coach” and “validated clinical assessment”. Provides that the assessment of the defendant shall include a validated clinical assessment. The clinical assessment shall include, but not be limited to, assessments of substance use and mental and behavioral health needs. The clinical assessment shall be administered by a qualified clinician and used to inform any Clinical Treatment Plans. Provides that a defendant may be ordered to complete mental health counseling, comply with physician recommendations regarding medications, and receive follow up treatment for a mental health diagnosis. Provides that the court shall prioritize the least restrictive treatment option when ordering mental health or substance use treatment for participants. Provides that jail-based custodial treatment may be utilized if it is found to be the least restrictive alternative. Provides that partnerships between the State of Illinois and community mental health or behavioral health centers shall be prioritized whenever possible. Provides that the court may establish a mentorship program that provides access and support to program participants by peer recovery coaches. Amends the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act. Provides that peer recovery coaches shall work to help facilitate participants’ independence for continued success once the supports of the court are no longer available to them. Provides for education seminars for Veterans and Servicemembers, court prosecutors, judges, and public defenders. Amends the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Provides that the court may establish a mentorship program that provides access and support to program participants by peer recovery coaches. Makes other changes.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee
January 26, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 4 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
HB 4203, Representative Maurice A. West, II
Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to develop and implement a plan to provide additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations to students who suffer from trauma related to experiencing the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or suffer from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse and whom the school has determined require additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations but do not qualify for an individualized education program or for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Sets forth what the plan may include. Provides that the plan shall remain in place until the student (i) is no longer enrolled in the district or (ii) has made such significant and sustained academic progress that the student no longer requires the plan. In provisions relating to children with disabilities, provides that beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the notice that a school board provides concerning who qualifies for services under Section 504 shall include that a child may qualify for those services if the child is a student who is at least 3 years old or older and under 22 years and who (i) has experienced the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or (ii) suffers from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse. Effective immediately.
House Human Services Committee
January 26, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
HB 2420, Representative Maurice A. West, II
Amends the Illinois Act on Aging, the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that individuals with a score of 29 or higher based on the determination of need (DON) assessment tool shall be eligible to receive services through the Community Care Program, services to prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization, and services through the program of supportive living facilities. Further amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after July 1, 2023, level of care eligibility criteria for home and community-based services for medically fragile and technology dependent children shall be no more restrictive than the level of care criteria in place on January 1, 2021. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging to effect, on and after July 1, 2023, an increase in the DON score threshold to 37 for applicants for institutional long term care, subject to federal approval. Provides that on and after July 1, 2023 but before July 1, 2025, continuation of a nursing facility stay that began on or before June 30, 2023 by a person with a DON score between 29 and 36 may be covered when such stay would be otherwise eligible under this Code, provided the nursing facility performs certain actions. Requires the Department to, by rule, set a maximum total number of individuals to be covered and other limits on utilization that it deems appropriate. Effective July 1, 2023.
House Housing Committee
January 26, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 4 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER HEARING: Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Discussion on Relief Expenditures and Affordable Housing Fund.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Appropriations-Human Services Committee
January 28, 2022, 12:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER HEARING: DCFS – Child Placement, Operational Oversight.
- 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
