LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM EQUIP FOR EQUALITY
March 21, 2022
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NOTE: March 25, 2022, is the deadline to pass substantive Senate bills out of committee in the House and substantive House bills out of committee in the Senate.
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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 March 21, 2022:
House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
March 22, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
HB 5468, Representative William Davis
Appropriates $350,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for education funding. Effective July 1, 2022.
House Ethics & Elections Committee
March 22, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 4 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Vote Centers Pilot Program, Political Committee Raffles.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
SB 829, Representative Katie Stuart
Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall provide a certified remote accessible vote by mail system for the General Election of November 8, 2022 and all subsequent elections, through which a vote by mail ballot can be delivered by electronic transmission to voters with print disabilities and through which voters with print disabilities are able to mark and verify their ballots using assistive technology. Provides that election authorities shall permit voters with a print disability to receive and mark their vote by mail ballots (i) through that certified remote accessible vote by mail system or (ii) through a certified remote accessible vote by mail system provided by the election authority. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
House Elementary & Secondary Education-School Curriculum & Policies Committee
March 23, 2022, 8:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
HB 5096, HCA 1, Representative Michelle Mussman
Amends the School Code. Provides that the removal of a student with a disability for disciplinary reasons, violations of the student code of conduct, or other inappropriate behavior shall conform with the applicable provisions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and certain administrative rules. Provides that removal of a student for any part of a school day constitutes a day of removal. Provides that a directive by school administration to a parent or guardian not to send the student to school on a school day that results in the student not attending school for any part of that school day constitutes a day of removal. Provides that, for each removal, the parent or guardian of the student must be provided with a written notice that includes the action taken, the duration of the action, and the reasons for the action. Provides that the written notice to the parent or guardian and any written or recorded information concerning a removal of the student shall be made part of the student’s school records. Effective immediately.
- To read the full text of HB 5096, HCA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 5096, HCA 1: Click
SB 4028, Representative Denyse Wang Stoneback
Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Adds provisions regarding requiring instruction on how and where to find mental health resources and specialized treatment in the State. Creates the Student Mental Health Council to evaluate: mental health; how mental health resources are being used; and the effect of COVID-19 on students’ mental health, substance use disorders, and other mental health conditions. Provides that the Council shall meet at least once per quarter. Provides that the Council shall advise and make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor regarding: (i) the dissemination of information to schools, including agency websites, informational materials, and outreach personnel; (ii) available services to students and any service gaps; and (iii) how to improve State policy concerning student mental health. Provides guidelines for appointing members. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative support. Provides that no member of the Council, including the chairperson, shall receive any compensation for services on the Council but shall be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Council. Provides that the Council shall deliver annual reports to the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office.
Provides that the Council is dissolved, and the Section creating the Council is repealed,
on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.
House Human Services Committee
March 23, 2022, 8:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SB 3707, Representative Barbara Hernandez
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the amendatory Act applies to any person who is employed by the Department on Aging, or is contracted with the Department, to provide direct services to individuals enrolled in the Community Care Program. Requires dementia training of at least 2 hours to be completed at the start of employment with the Department or contractor. Provides that persons who are employees of the Department or a contractor on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall complete this training within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the training to cover the following subjects: Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, safety risks, and communication and behavior. Requires annual continuing education training to include at least 2 hours of dementia training covering those subjects. Provides that if laws or rules existing on the effective date of the amendatory Act contain more rigorous training requirements for employees or contractors providing direct services to Community Care Program enrollees, those laws or rules shall apply. Provides that where there is overlap between the provisions of the amendatory Act and other laws and rules, the Department shall interpret the provisions of the amendatory Act to avoid duplication of requirements while ensuring that the minimum requirements set in the amendatory Act are met.
SB 4006, Representative Barbara Hernandez
Amends the Autism Spectrum Disorders Reporting Act. Provides that, no later than December 31st of each year, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly regarding access to applied behavior analysis therapy for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Requires the Report to include specified information.
House Executive Committee
March 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 4 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL 62701
SB 180, Representative Ann Williams
Creates the Legislative Accessibility Act. Provides that the General Assembly shall make all efforts to increase the accessibility of the General Assembly for people with disabilities. Provides that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall each appoint an accessibility coordinator who, in consultation with the Architect of the Capitol, shall be responsible for addressing accessibility needs for his or her corresponding house. Provides that the Illinois General Assembly website shall include either an email address, webform, or other similar mechanism to request reasonable accommodations to meet the accessibility needs of people with disabilities attending legislative events. Establishes the General Assembly Accessibility Task Force. Provides for the membership and meetings of the Task Force. Provides that appointees shall include persons who self-identify as having a disability or advocates for such persons. Provides that members and ex officio members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides administrative support for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall examine issues concerning accessibility of persons with a disability. Requires the Task Force to make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning General Assembly accessibility no later than December 31, 2023. Repeals the Task force on January 1, 2025. Effective immediately.
House Appropriations-Human Services Committee
March 24, 2022, 8:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 3 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
HB 293, Representative Kathleen Willis
Appropriates $6,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for services provided under the Family Caregiver Act. Effective July 1, 2021.
HB 4187, Representative Deb Conroy
Creates the Mental Health Inpatient Facility Access Act. Requires the Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health to develop a written, strategic plan that comprehensively addresses improving access to inpatient psychiatric beds in State-operated mental health facilities for individuals needing a hospital level of care. Provides that the plan shall include annual training requirements for State-operated inpatient mental health facility clinicians, regular and periodic mental health assessments of individuals admitted to State-operated facilities, updated facility policies and procedures aimed at increasing opportunities for home visits and work programs that assist with community reintegration, steps to increase access to community-based mental health services that provide outpatient alternatives and step-down services, certification requirements for mental health clinicians, and other matters. Requires the plan to be made publicly available in one year. Prohibits the Department from making further reductions in State-operated inpatient mental health bed capacity. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to allow for hospital presumptive eligibility for Medicaid enrollment for individuals presenting in hospital emergency rooms who are in a psychiatric crisis and meet the federal criteria for hospital presumptive eligibility. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to amend its Illinois Continuity of Care and Administrative Simplification 1115 Waiver if necessary to implement hospital presumptive eligibility as permitted under the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
HB 4264, Representative Greg Harris
Appropriates various amounts from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund to the Department of Public Health for the administration of HIV/AIDS programs, including, but not limited to, the Getting to Zero-Illinois program. Effective immediately.
HB 4421, Representative Michelle Mussman
Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. In provisions concerning the Department of Human Services’ Home Services Program, provides that subject to federal approval the Department shall allow a recipient’s spouse to serve as his or her provider of personal care or similar services. Effective immediately.
HB 4616, Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, subject to federal approval, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after July 1, 2022 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $3.50 per hour wage increase over the wages in effect on June 30, 2022 for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor’s average wage as defined, by rule, by the Department. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for ID/DD facilities and MC/DD facilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after July 1, 2022, shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $3.50 per hour wage increase over the wages in effect on June 30, 2022 for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor’s average wage as defined, by rule, by the Department. Requires the same increase for front-line personnel employed at community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services emergency rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.
HB 4619, Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that due to the undue burden placed upon nonprofit organizations providing Medicaid behavioral health services to low-income, complex vulnerable populations, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse providers of Medicaid behavioral health services for the cost of increased staff exclusively dedicated to the sole purpose of pursuing Medicaid managed care claims improperly denied for services offered to Medicaid beneficiaries.
HB 4832, Representative Robyn Gabel
Appropriates $246,800,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a full second year implementation of all of the rate methodology recommendations contained within the Illinois Developmental Disabilities Services Rate Study Regarding Residential Services and Related Supports. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB 4952, HCA 1, Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in conjunction with the Department of Human Services (DHS) shall develop a comprehensive list of children and youth who are diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities or mental illness and are referred to a children’s group home, Illinois public school, therapeutic day or a private residential facility or hospital due to their need for behavioral services and supports. Provides that DCFS shall track referrals, funding streams, possible overlap between agencies, number of available facilities, staff and beds and establish memoranda of understanding between agencies for the exchange of that information. Requires DCFS in conjunction with DHS to establish a Short-Term Stabilization Home model for children and youth under the age of 18 who are diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities or mental illness and are receiving services under any home and community-based services waiver program under Section1915(c) of the Social Security Act. Provides that DCFS in conjunction with DHS shall establish a Transition to Adulthood model as an intensive program that serves young adults from the age of 18 to the day before their 26th birthday. Makes other changes.
- To read the full text of HB 4952, HCA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 4952, HCA 1: Click
HB 5005, Representative Elizabeth Hernandez
Makes various appropriations to the Department of Human Services for family and community services and related distributive purposes, including federal funds available for early intervention services and for the Parents Too Soon program and the Healthy Families Program. Makes an appropriation to the Department of Human Services for income assistance and related distributive purposes, including federal funds available for child care services. Makes an appropriation to the Illinois State Board of Education for early childhood education. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB 5264, Representative Denyse Wang Stoneback
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer the Mental Health Clinician Tuition Assistance and Student Loan Forgiveness Program for the purpose of recruiting and retaining high-performing individuals who are employed as mental health clinicians committed to providing direct care services to Medicaid patients for a contracted or subcontracted provider of the Department or another State agency. Provides that under the program, the Department shall provide financial assistance to individuals who (1) are students at a participating university and have declared an intent to seek and maintain employment for 5 years as mental health clinicians providing direct care services to Medicaid patients; or (2) are graduates of a participating university who work as mental health clinicians providing direct care to Medicaid patients and will commit to work for 5 years as mental health clinicians providing direct care to Medicaid patients. Provides that the Department shall award an undergraduate forgivable loan in an amount that is sufficient to cover the cost of tuition, university fees, and books each year for a maximum of 2 academic years to a student if certain criteria are met. Provides that the Department shall award financial assistance for repayment of a higher education student loan each year for a maximum of 2 years to a graduate of a participating university who works as a mental health clinician if certain criteria are met. Contains provisions concerning the application process; promotion of the program by participating universities; the repayment of financial assistance when a recipient fails to comply with employment requirements; reporting requirements; and other matters. Effective immediately.
HB 5275, Representative Edgar Gonzalez, Jr.
Creates the Ensuring Essential Services Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to ensure the State meets its obligation to provide certain essential services for individuals with developmental disabilities at consistent quality levels in accordance with its waiver agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, all while allocating scarce taxpayer resources. Provides that any contract entered into between the Department of Human Services and an agency shall include a provision assuring the State of the uninterrupted delivery of the contracted-for services. Provides that such assurance shall provide that the agency has entered into a binding labor peace agreement with any labor organization that is the exclusive representative of the agency’s frontline and direct support staff or, where no exclusive representation has been established, that the agency has or will enter into an agreement with any labor organization that seeks to become the agency’s frontline and direct support staff’s exclusive representative. Provides that the assurance shall become a condition of any contract entered into, renewed, or amended on or after the effective date of the Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to, no later than 90 days after the effective date of the Act, apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver or State Plan amendment to allow implementation of the contracting requirements. Requires the Department of Human Services, no later than 60 days after the effective date of the Act, to adopt rules implementing the requirements of the Act. Contains provisions on contract requirements for Department of Human Services’ contracts; enforcement of contractual assurances; remedial actions for noncompliance; and other matters. Effective June 1, 2022.
HB 5392, Representative Deb Conroy
Appropriates $750,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant Program Fund for depression screening programs to identify students in grades 7 through 12 who are at risk of depression. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB 5393, Representative Deb Conroy
Creates the Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant Program. Makes findings.
Provides that the purpose of the grant program shall be to provide funding and resources to allow school districts to implement depression screening programs to identify students in grades 7 through 12 who are at risk of depression. Provides conditions for school districts to meet when implementing its depression screening program. Provides that to assist districts in selecting a research-based screening tool to use as part of depression screening programs, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Children and Family Services, may develop a list of preapproved research-based screening tools that are validated to screen depression in adolescents. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, shall within 180 days of the date of enactment of this Act develop guidance and resources for school districts to establish partnerships with organizations or health care providers specializing in pediatric and adolescent mental health to conduct depression screenings. Creates the Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant Program Fund. Provides that funds in Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant Program Fund may be used by the State Board for operational expenses associated with the administration of Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant Program and for the payment of costs associated with providing grants to school districts in accordance with the Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant Program. Provides that State Board of Education shall develop a report, or contract with a research institution to develop a report to evaluate depression screening programs in school districts participating in the Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant Program. Makes a corresponding change in the State Finance Act. Effective immediately.
HB 5424, Representative LaShawn K. Ford
Amends the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. Provides that the General Assembly shall appropriate $19,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 for the purposes of this Act. Provides that the funds shall be distributed to the public colleges and universities according to the recommendations of a specified report of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. Provides that the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, in conjunction with the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education, must make recommendations to the General Assembly on the amounts necessary to implement this Act for Fiscal Years 2024 through 2027, and may make such recommendations for Fiscal Years thereafter. Deletes provisions making the Act subject to appropriation. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB 5551, Representative Maurice A. West, II
Appropriates $7,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of making a grant to the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living to administer and implement the Home Modification Program. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB 5586, Representative Camille Y. Lilly
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging, the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Regarding services provided under the Community Care Program, the Home Services Program, and the supportive living facilities program, provides that, through December 31, 2022, individuals who reside in rural and other underserved communities that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 shall be exempt from determination of need approval for institutional and home and community-based long term services. Provides that beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act through December 31, 2022, any hours of home health services, home health care services, in-home care services, or adult day health services not utilized in accordance with an individual’s service plan due to staff shortages resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency shall roll over into the next service month under the individual’s plan. Effective immediately.
SB 2945, Representative Frances Ann Hurley
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.
House Revenue & Finance Committee
March 24, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 1975, Representative Michelle Mussman
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the chief county assessment officer in a county of more than 3,000,000 residents, and in any other county where the county board has authorized such action by ordinance or resolution, may automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities without application for taxable years 2021 through 2026 for any person who applied for the exemption and provides proof of eligibility. Provides that an applicant for the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities may be examined by an optometrist if the person qualifies because of a visual disability. Provides that the chief county assessment officer shall not automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities if the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, optometrist, or physician assistant who examined the claimant determined that the disability is not expected to continue for 12 months or more.
House Mental Health & Addiction Committee
March 24, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
HB 1592, HFA 1, Representative Deb Conroy
Creates the Mental Health Inpatient Facility Access Act. Requires the Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health to develop a written, strategic plan that comprehensively addresses improving access to inpatient psychiatric beds in State-operated mental health facilities for individuals needing a hospital level of care. Provides that the plan shall include annual training requirements for State-operated inpatient mental health facility clinicians, regular and periodic mental health assessments of individuals admitted to State-operated facilities, updated facility policies and procedures aimed at increasing opportunities for home visits and work programs that assist with community reintegration, steps to increase access to community-based mental health services that provide outpatient alternatives and step-down services, certification requirements for mental health clinicians, and other matters. Requires the plan to be made publicly available in one year. Prohibits the Department from making further reductions in State-operated inpatient mental health bed capacity. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to allow for hospital presumptive eligibility for Medicaid enrollment for individuals presenting in hospital emergency rooms who are in a psychiatric crisis and meet the federal criteria for hospital presumptive eligibility. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to amend its Illinois Continuity of Care and Administrative Simplification 1115 Waiver if necessary to implement hospital presumptive eligibility as permitted under the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
SB 3889, Representative Natalie A. Manley
Amends the Children’s Mental Health Act of 2003. Adds a requirement that the Children’s Mental Health Plan include recommendations on how to more effectively meet the emergency and residential placement needs for all children with severe mental and behavioral challenges. Adds representatives of community mental health provider trade organizations to the group of representatives to the Children’s Mental Health Partnership that are appointed by the Governor. Provides that the annual report will be delivered to the Governor and the General Assembly (currently, only the Governor).
Senate Education Committee
March 22, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 4365, Senator Laura Fine
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows a student’s individualized education program (IEP) team to determine whether the special education program of a school district is unable to meet the needs of a child with a disability. Provides that the financial responsibility and reimbursement of the resident district of a child with a disability applies to nonpublic special education facilities that are not approved by the State Board of Education. Provides that a school district may place a student in a nonpublic special education facility providing educational services within the facility, but not approved by the State Board of Education, under specified circumstances. Requires that a nonpublic special education facility providing services to demonstrate proof to the State Board of Education of (i) appropriate certification of teachers for the student population, (ii) age-appropriate curriculum, (iii) enrollment and attendance data, and (iv) the ability to implement the child’s IEP. Sets forth provisions concerning requests for approval by the State Board of Education of a nonpublic special education facility. Provides that emergency placement in an approved facility may continue so long as (i) the student’s IEP team determines annually that such placement continues to be appropriate to meet the student’s needs and (ii) at least every 3 years following the student’s placement, the IEP team reviews appropriate placements approved by the State Board of Education. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
HB 5214, Senator Karina Villa
Amends the School Code. Adds a provision that any parent who is deaf, or does not normally communicate using spoken English, who participates in a meeting with a representative of a local educational agency for the purposes of developing an individualized educational program, or attn for ends a multidisciplinary conference, a 504 meeting, a mediation session or a due process hearing (instead of just a meeting with a representative of a local educational agency for the purposes of developing an individualized educational program) shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Effective immediately.
Senate Healthcare Access & Availability Committee
March 22, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 4999, Senator Celina Villanueva
Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Requires all early intervention services to be initiated as soon as possible but not later than 30 calendar days after the consent of the parent or guardian has been obtained for the child’s individualized family service plan. Provides that services may be initiated later than 30 calendar days after the consent of the parent or guardian has been obtained if the multidisciplinary team determines that a later initiation date is necessary to meet the individual needs of the child and family, the child’s parent or guardian provides informed written consent for the later initiation date, and the reasons for the later initiation date are documented by the multidisciplinary team. Provides that the parent or guardian must be informed in writing, which may be done electronically if the parent or guardian prefers, that services shall be initiated no later than 30 calendar days after the individualized family service plan has been developed or on a later initiation date as determined by the multidisciplinary team with the informed consent of the parent or guardian. Provides that if services are not initiated within 30 calendar days after the consent of the parent or guardian has been obtained for the individualized family service plan or on a later initiation date as determined by the multidisciplinary team with the informed consent of the parent or guardian, the parent or guardian must be informed by the family’s Child and Family Connections service coordinator in writing, which may be done electronically if the parent or guardian prefers, of the family’s legal rights and alternative service options available to the family until an early intervention provider is identified, including, but not limited to, providers not currently early intervention credentialed or enrolled in the early intervention program. Effective July 1, 2022.
Senate Health Committee
March 22, 2022, 3:30 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 5196, Senator Scott M. Bennett
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Modifies the definition of “developmental disability.” Modifies the definition of “intellectual disability.” Modifies various other acts and codes to reference the definitions of developmental disability and intellectual disability in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.
Senate Mental and Behavioral Health Committee
March 22, 2022, 5:30 p.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 4306, Senator Julie Morrison
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Creates the Holistic Mental Health Care for Youth in Care Task Force. Requires the Task Force to review and make recommendations regarding mental health and wellness services provided to youth in care, including a program of holistic mental health services provided 30 days after the date upon which a youth is placed in foster care, in order to determine how to best meet the mental health needs of youth in care. Provides that the Task Force shall also assess the capacity of State licensed mental health professionals to provide preventive mental health care to youth in care; review the current payment rates for mental health providers serving the youth in care population; evaluate the recruitment and retention of mental health providers who are persons of color to serve the youth in care population; and perform other specified duties. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of 9 members and that members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Requires the Task Force to meet at least once each month beginning no later than July 1, 2022 and at other times as determined by the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force may hold electronic meetings and a member of the Task Force shall be deemed present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and voting. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services, shall provide the Task Force with administrative support. Requires the Task Force to prepare and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly at the end of each quarter a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. Effective immediately.
Senate Executive Committee
March 23, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 4366, Senator Napoleon Harris, III
Amends the Guardians For Adults With Disabilities Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Removes a provision that exempts a guardian of the person appointed in a county with a population of more than 3,000,000 from completing a training program created under the Guardianship and Advocacy Act.
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: Most committee hearings in the IL House of Representatives 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
Committee hearings in the IL Senate are being held in person at the Capitol Building.
For additional information, please contact:
Cheryl R. Jansen
Public Policy Director
Equip for Equality
cherylj2@equipforequality.org
217-303-8543
