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 January 10, 2022:
House Human Services Committee
January 12, 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.
Senate Health Committee
January 11, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 2962, Senator Julie A. Morrison
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the community spouse resource allowance to be established and maintained at the maximum amount permitted under a specified provision of the Social Security Act, or an amount set after a fair hearing, or the amount transferred by the institutionalized spouse to the community spouse by court order, whichever is greater (rather than requiring the community spouse resource allowance to be established and maintained at the higher of $109,560 or the minimum level permitted under the Social Security Act, or an amount set after a fair hearing, whichever is greater). Requires the monthly maintenance allowance for the community spouse to be established and maintained at the maximum amount permitted under a specified provision of the Social Security Act, or an amount set after a fair hearing, or the amount transferred by the institutionalized spouse to the community spouse by court order, whichever is greater (rather than requiring the monthly maintenance allowance for the community spouse to be established and maintained at the higher of $2,739 per month or the minimum level permitted under the Social Security Act, or an amount set after a fair hearing, whichever is greater).
Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee
January 11, 2022, 3:30 p.m.
Virtual Room 3 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 2910, Senator Laura Fine
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Oversight Officer (Officer) within the Department of Human Services under the Secretary of Human Services. Provides that the Officer shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Permits the Officer to: (i) maintain a staff; (ii) make recommendations for policy, statute, and rule changes; (iii) collect data on the opioid crisis; (iv) ensure the coordination of efforts between various State agencies involved in treating mental health and substance use disorders within the State; and (v) encourage, promote, suggest, and report best practices for treating mental health and substance use disorders in Illinois. Prohibits the Officer from participating in the issuance of any licensing or certification of mental health or substance use disorder treatment services. Prohibits the Officer from participating in any adjudicative decision-making process involving licensing, certification, or licensee discipline. Permits the Officer to compile, collect, or otherwise gather data necessary for the administration of the amendatory Act and to carry out the Officer’s duties relating to the recommendation of policy changes. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Oversight Officer Fund. Provides that moneys in the fund shall be expended for the Officer, its staff, and its activities and for no other purpose. Effective immediately.
SB 2945, Senator Laura Fine
Creates the Statewide 9-8-8 Trust Fund Act. Establishes the Statewide 9-8-8 Trust Fund in the State treasury. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Human Services for the purposes of creating and maintaining a statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis system pursuant to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, the Federal Communication Commission’s rules adopted on July 16, 2020, and national guidelines for crisis care. Provides that the Fund shall consist of: (1) appropriations by the General Assembly; (2) grants and gifts intended for deposit in the Fund; (3) interest, premiums, gains, or other earnings on the Fund; and (4) moneys from any other source that are deposited in or transferred to the Fund. Provides that moneys in the fund (1) do not revert at the end of any State fiscal year but remains available for the purposes of the Fund in subsequent State fiscal years; and (2) are not subject to transfer to any other fund or to transfer, assignment, or reassignment for any other use or purpose outside of those specified in the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.
Senate Insurance Committee
January 12, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 1788, Senator Laura M. Murphy
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no individual or group policy of accident and health insurance or managed care organization shall change an insured’s eligibility or coverage during a contract period. Provides that during a contract period, insureds shall have the protection and continuity of their providers, medication, covered benefits, and formulary during the contract period. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code making conforming changes.
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
