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 3, 2020:
House Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
February 4, 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 4, 2020, 2:30 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.
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
February 4, 2020, 2:30 p.m.
Room 115, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 3691, Representative Stephanie A. Kifowit
Amends the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Act. Provides that the Veterans’ Service-Related Ailments Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months beginning January 1, 2020 (rather than beginning July 1, 2019).
House Executive Committee
February 5, 2020, 8:30 a.m.
Room 118, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER HEARING: Automatic Voter Registration
- To file an electronic witness slip for the Subject Matter Hearing: Click
HR 682, Representative Emanuel Chris Welch
Condemns voter suppression efforts and supports all efforts to protect the free exercise of the right to vote.
House Human Services Committee
February 5, 2020, 8:30 a.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
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 Appropriations-Public Safety Committee
February 5, 2020, 9:30 a.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 3822, Representative Katie Stuart
Amends the Department of Human Services Act and the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of State Police shall establish and maintain a database of persons who register as being diagnosed with a communication disability or a disability that can impair communication. Provides that a person diagnosed with a communication disability or a disability that can impair communication who is 18 of age or older may register with the Department of State Police for inclusion in the database by submitting a completed verification form established by the Department of Human Services. Provides that a parent or guardian of a minor child or a ward diagnosed with a communication disability or a disability that can impair communication may register the minor child or the ward with the Department of State Police for inclusion in the database by submitting a completed verification form established by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the Department of State Police shall include in the database information provided on a completed verification form that the Department of State Police determines is necessary for a law enforcement officer to identify a person as diagnosed with a communication disability or a disability that can impair communication. Defines terms.
House Appropriations-Human Services Committee
February 5, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 204, Representative La Shawn K. Ford
Amends the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act by reinstituting the pharmaceutical assistance program that was eliminated by Public Act 97-689 and changing the short title to the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Makes conforming changes in various Acts.
HB 2191, Representative Deb Conroy
Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Provides that, for State fiscal years 2020 through 2022, the Department of Human Services shall increase reimbursement rates for early intervention services and related services by 3% each State fiscal year; except that, for State fiscal years 2020 through 2022, the Department of Human Services shall increase reimbursement rates for developmental therapy services by 6% each State fiscal year.
HB 2815, HA 1, Representative Terra Costa Howard
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2020, the personal needs allowance shall increase annually at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment to take effect on January 1 of each year.
- To read the full text of HB 2815, HA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 2815, HA 1: Click
HB 3967, Representative Stephanie A. Kifowit
Amends the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Law. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall approve veteran support specialists who are certified by, and in good standing with, the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. to provide peer support services to recipients of medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
House Revenue & Finance Committee
February 5, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
Room 122B, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 183, Representative La Shawn K. Ford
Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section granting a homestead exemption to veterans with disabilities, provides that property that is used as a qualified residence by a veteran who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during World War II is exempt from taxation regardless of the veteran’s level of disability. Provides that a veteran who qualifies as a result of his or her service in World War II need not reapply for the exemption.
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 HB 184, HA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 184: Click
HB 3401, Representative Joyce Mason
Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates an assessment freeze homestead exemption for persons with a disability. Sets forth the amount of the exemption. Provides that applicants must reapply on an annual basis.
Senate Education Committee
February 4, 2020, 3:30 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 2281, Senator Bill Cunningham
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).
SB 2232, Senator Kimberly Lightford
Amends the School Code and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Eliminates the requirement that the Chicago Board of Education establish an Office of Chronic Truant Adjudication. Requires the Chicago Board of Education to implement a socio-emotional focused attendance policy that targets the underlying causes of chronic truancy. Makes changes concerning the Chicago school district’s truancy intervention services for a pupil and the pupil’s parent or guardian. Revises language to make certain actions permissible rather than mandatory with respect to truancy. Makes other changes, including changes concerning penalties.
Senate Higher Education Committee
February 5, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 2495, Senator Thomas Cullerton
Amends the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. Provides that if a public higher education institution issues student identification cards to its students, the institution must provide contact information for certain suicide prevention and mental health resources on each student identification card. Provides that if an institution does not issue student identification cards to its students, the institution must publish the contact information on its website.
- To read the full text of SB 2495: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on SB 2495: Click
Senate Human Services Committee
February 5, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 2490, Senator Heather Steans
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that the notice of a recipient’s rights includes, if applicable, the recipient’s right to request a transfer to a different Department of Human Services facility. Provides that a recipient, his or her attorney, guardian, if any, and responsible relative, in any Department facility may make a written application to the facility director of the recipient’s current facility to transfer to another Department facility. Provides that the Department shall provide the form to make such an application to a recipient, his or her attorney, guardian, if any, and responsible relative upon request. Provides that a recipient of services shall not include a person with the primary diagnosis of a developmental disability. Provides that upon receipt of the recipient’s application, the facility director shall promptly schedule a hearing to be held within 7 days. Provides that the hearing shall be held at the recipient’s current facility. Establishes the recipient’s burden of proof at the transfer hearing. Provides that if a recipient’s application for transfer is denied, no application may be filed for 180 days. Provides that the recipient does, however, have the right to administratively appeal any decision of the utilization review committee.
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
