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 March 6, 2017:
House Insurance: Health & Life Committee
March 7, 2017, 1:30 p.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 3223, Representative Ann Williams
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance must provide coverage for medically necessary preventative physical therapy for insureds diagnosed with multiple sclerosis without any treatment limitation or calendar year maximum. Removes requirements that coverage under this provision be subject to the same waiting period, cost sharing limitation, treatment limitation, calendar year maximum, or other limitation as provided for other physical or rehabilitative therapy benefits.
House Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee
March 7, 2017, 3:30 p.m.
Room 413, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 241, Representative Mary E. Flowers
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires each geographically organized service region operating under the Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health to submit by July 1 of each year, beginning in 2018, an annual foster care mental health service plan to the Department that details the service array, from prevention to crisis services, available to Medicaid-eligible children and youth in foster care. Sets forth the data and information the service plans shall contain, including: (1) the number of Medicaid-eligible children and youth in foster care who are served in the region’s service area each year; (2) details on the types of mental health services provided to children and youth in foster care and their families, which may include, but are not limited to, screenings, assessments, home-based mental health services, outpatient services, day treatment services, inpatient services, psychiatric hospitalizations, crisis interventions, case management, or psychotropic medication support services; and (3) medication monitoring consistent with any child welfare psychotropic medication measures developed by the Department of Children and Family Services and any Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures related to psychotropic medications. Requires the Department of Human Services to (i) post each foster care mental health service plan on its Internet website in a manner that is publicly accessible and (ii) share performance outcome system data with the regional administrator of each service region for the purpose of informing foster care mental health service plans.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing, Administration & Licensing Committee
March 8, 2017, 8:00 a.m.
Room 115, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 3371, Representative Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
Amends the School Code. Provides that required training in suicide awareness and prevention techniques shall last at least 2 hours. Allows the State Board of Education to by rule provide for the training to be included as a continuing professional development requirement under the Code.
House Human Services Committee
March 8, 2017, 8:00 a.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 281, Representative Mary E. Flowers
Amends the Administration of Psychotropic Medications to Children Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules requiring the Department to distribute treatment guidelines on an annual basis to all persons licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 to practice medicine in all of its branches. Provides that the Department shall prepare and submit an annual report to the General Assembly with specified information concerning the administration of psychotropic medication to persons for whom it is legally responsible. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, refuse to issue or renew, or take any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper with regard to the license or permit of any person issued under the Act upon repeated acts of clearly excessive prescribing, furnishing, or administering psychotropic medications to a minor without a good faith prior examination of the patient and medical reason.
HB 704, Representative Patricia R. Bellock
Creates the Medicaid Smart Card Pilot Program Act. Requires the Director of the Department of
Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Medicaid Smart Card Pilot Program to reduce the total amount of expenditures under the State’s Medical Assistance Program. Provides that the pilot program shall be designed to reduce the average monthly cost under the State’s Medical Assistance Program for recipients within the pilot program area by an amount that is at least sufficient to recover the cost of implementing the pilot program. Provides that the Director shall determine the geographic area to be included in the pilot program and may contract with an independent entity for the purpose of developing and implementing the pilot program. Contains provisions on required activities under the pilot program, including the distribution of Medicaid Smart Cards to designated recipients; measures the Department might take to implement the pilot program; annual evaluations; reporting requirements; extension or expansion of the pilot program; the confidentiality of health information; reports to the Inspector General; and rulemaking authority.
HB 735, Representative Mary E. Flowers
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that a redetermination of eligibility for medical assistance benefits shall be conducted once every 12 months. Effective January 1, 2018.
HB 748, Representative Charles Meier
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Requires facilities licensed under the Act to notify the Department of Human Services when emergency calls are made from the facility. Grants the Department rulemaking power to implement the notification procedures.
HB 2383, Representative Randy E. Freese
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the provision requiring the Department of Human Services to develop a training program for authorized direct care staff to administer medications under the supervision and monitoring of a registered professional nurse applies to (i) all residential (rather than all programs) for persons with a developmental disability in settings of 16 persons or fewer that are funded or licensed by the Department of Human Services and that distribute or administer medications, and (ii) all day programs certified to serve persons with developmental disabilities by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the training program for authorized direct care staff shall include educational and oversight components for staff who work in day programs that are similar to those for staff who work in residential programs.
HB 2452, Representative Patricia R. Bellock
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall conduct inspections of the records and premises of each community-integrated living arrangement certified under the Act at least once every 2 years.
HB 2616, Representative Robyn Gabel
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that whenever a hospital notifies a managed care organization that a medical assistance enrollee has a discharge order from the attending physician and is ready for discharge from an inpatient hospital stay to another level of care, the managed care organization must secure the enrollee’s placement in or transfer to another facility within 24 hours of receiving the hospital’s notification. Provides that in addition to any payments for which the managed care organization is responsible through the designated discharge date, a managed care organization that fails to comply with the requirement shall reimburse the hospital for each additional inpatient day beyond the designated discharge date until the enrollee is actually discharged at a rate no less than the effective per day rate for the initial inpatient stay.
HB 2710, Representative Elaine Nekrtitz
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that as a condition of being licensed by the Department of Human Services as a community mental health or developmental services agency under the Act, the agency shall certify to the Department that all recipients are afforded specified procedural safeguards and due process rights as provided by applicable Department rules.
HB 2853, Representative Randy E. Freese
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the provision requiring the Department of Human Services to develop a training program for authorized direct care staff to administer medications under the supervision and monitoring of a registered professional nurse applies to (i) all residential (rather than all programs) for persons with a developmental disability in settings of 16 persons or fewer that are funded or licensed by the Department of Human Services and that distribute or administer medications, and (ii) all day programs certified to serve persons with developmental disabilities by the Department of Human Services.
HB 2857, Representative Mary E. Flowers
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that licenses for community mental health or developmental services agencies are valid for one year (rather than 3 years). Provides that an agency licensed under the Act or a community-integrated living arrangement certified by an agency must maintain for public inspection copies of investigative reports and surveys conducted by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the Department must prepare a quarterly report detailing violations of the Act by an agency licensed under the Act or a community-integrated living arrangement certified by an agency and publish the report on its website. Provides that the report must include the name and address of each agency and community-integrated living arrangement that violates the Act.
HB 3053, Representative Will Davis
Amends the Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities Act. Changes the title of the Act to the Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities and Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Act. Makes changes to make the provisions of the Act applicable to community-integrated living arrangements certified under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that the term “Department”, for the purposes of facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, ID/DD Community Care Act, or MC/DD Act, means the Department of Public Health. Provides that the term “Department”, for the purposes of community-integrated living arrangements certified under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, means the Department of Human Services. Adds community-integrated living arrangements to the definition of “facility”. Provides that “resident’s representative” does not apply to community-integrated living arrangements. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall consult with the Department of Public Health when adopting rules to implement the Act. Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act to make conforming changes. Provides that it is a business offense for a person to discriminate or retaliate against a resident for consenting to the electronic monitoring, or to prevent the installation or use of an electronic monitoring device by a resident that has provided specified notice and consent. Makes other changes.
HB 3086, Representative Patricia R. Bellock
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that the General Assembly finds that Illinois consumers have a right to access information about the quality of care provided in Illinois community-integrated living arrangements in order to make better decisions about their choice of community-integrated living arrangement.
HB 3467, Representative Thomas M. Bennett
Creates the Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Community-Integrated Living Arrangements and Developmental Disability Facilities Act. Provides that under certain conditions, a resident of a living arrangement certified under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act and a resident of a developmental disability facility shall be permitted to use an audio and video surveillance system in his or her room at his or her own expense. Requires the electronic monitoring device to be placed in a conspicuously visible location in the room. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a program to distribute specified funds each year for the purchase and installation of electronic monitoring devices. Establishes criminal penalties for a person or entity that knowingly hampers, obstructs, tampers with, or destroys an electronic monitoring device. Contains provisions concerning: resident and roommate consent to monitoring; notice of electronic monitoring to the staff and visitors; limitations on the staff’s access to recordings; the admissibility of recordings in civil, criminal, and administrative actions; staff reporting; liability; and rulemaking. Makes other changes. Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act and Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code to make conforming changes. Provides that it is a business offense for a person to discriminate or retaliate against a resident for consenting to the electronic monitoring, or to prevent the installation or use of an electronic monitoring device by a resident who has provided specified notice and consent. Makes other changes.
HB 3813, Representative Kathleen Willis
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Adds provisions concerning required disclosures and contract requirements for providers of community-integrated living arrangements. Provides that at the time of or prior to the execution of a contract to provide continuing care at a community-integrated living arrangement, or at the time of or prior to the transfer of any money or other property to a provider by or on behalf of a prospective resident, whichever shall first occur, a provider shall deliver a disclosure statement to the person with whom the contract is to be entered into that contains specified information. Provides that all contracts for continuing care at a community-integrated living arrangement used by a provider shall include specified information. Contains provisions requiring a community-integrated living arrangement to make certain disclosures to the Department of Human Services. Provides that residents may receive, upon request, specified information from providers and may submit comments. Provides that providers shall, to the maximum extent practicable, offer specified explanations, inform residents of certain matters, and make use of specified standards and practices. Provides that a violation of these provisions by a provider of a community-integrated living arrangement shall constitute a deceptive trade practice under the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Makes a corresponding change in the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Makes other changes.
HR 113, Representative Juliana Stratton
States opposition to any further increase in the DON score by the State of Illinois.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee
March 8, 2017, 10:00 a.m.
Room D-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 2545, Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer
Amends the School Code. With regard to training to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior, requires all personnel (rather than specific personnel) to undergo the training annually. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, requires this training to include a school district’s policy on suicide awareness and prevention; makes related changes.
HB 2618, Representative Robyn Gabel
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. For parties who agree to not use mediation during a challenge, provides that a parent shall have 10 days after a party declines to use mediation to file a request for a due process hearing to allow the student to remain in his or her present educational placement.
HB 2663, Representative Juliana Stratton
Amends the School Code. Provides that early childhood programs receiving State Board of Education grants for preschool educational programs shall prohibit the expulsion of children. Provides instead that when persistent and serious challenging behaviors emerge, the early childhood program shall document steps taken to ensure that the child can participate safely in the program and utilize a range of community resources. Sets forth provisions concerning the creation of a transition plan if there is documented evidence that all available interventions and supports recommended by a qualified professional have been exhausted; temporary removal of a child; the utilization of training, technical support, and professional development resources; and annually reporting to the State Board. Makes related changes. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969 to require the Department of Children and Family Services, in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development and the State Board of Education, to adopt rules prohibiting the use of expulsion due to a child’s persistent and serious challenging behaviors in licensed day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes.
House Business & Occupational Licenses Committee
March 8, 2017, 1:30 p.m.
Room 115, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 3162, Representative Natalie Manley
Amends the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to establish a service dog license program under which a dog acting as a service dog shall be licensed. Requires the Department to establish rules, and provides requirements for those rules.
House Cost Benefit Analysis Committee
March 8, 2017, 3:30 p.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HR 100, Representative Fred Crespo
Directs the Auditor General to conduct an audit of Medicaid MCOs, which includes a comparison of State expenditures between MCOs and fee-for-service entities.
Joint Hearing of House Appropriations-Human Services and House Human Services Committees
March 9, 2017, 8:00 a.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: MCO contract
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Aging Committee
March 9, 2017, 8:30 a.m.
Room 118, Capital Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: The Community Reinvestment Program.
- To file an electronic witness for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Elections & Campaign Finance Committee
March 9, 2017, 9:30 a.m.
Room C-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Voter Education and Registration
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Restorative Justice Committee
March 9, 2017, 10:30 a.m.
Room D-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 259, Representative La Shawn K. Ford
Creates the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act. Restricts the use of isolated confinement in correctional facilities in the State. Provides that a committed person shall not be placed in isolated confinement unless there is reasonable cause to believe that the committed person would create a substantial risk of immediate serious harm to himself, herself, or another, and a less restrictive intervention would be insufficient to reduce this risk and the correctional facility shall bear the burden of establishing this standard. Provides that a committed person shall not be placed in isolated confinement before receiving a personal and comprehensive medical and mental health examination conducted by a clinician. Defines “clinician” as: (1) a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches and is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, or has completed 4 years of an accredited post-graduate training program in psychiatry; or (2) a licensed clinical psychologist. Provides that a committed person held in emergency confinement shall receive an initial medical and mental health evaluation within 2 hours. Establishes conditions in which a committed person may be placed in protective custody. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2018, except that the Department of Corrections rules provisions are effective immediately.
HJR 8, Representative Thomas M. Bennett
Urges the Department of Juvenile Justice to amend administrative rules regarding Maximum Penalties for Youth.
House Special Needs Services Committee
March 9, 2017, 10:30 a.m.
Room 413, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 396, Representative Charles Meier
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services may conduct unannounced or announced site visits. Requires the Department to establish, by rule, procedures and criteria for determining whether to conduct an unannounced site visit to an agency, program, or placement.
HB 2641, Representative William Davis
Creates the Protection of Individuals with Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System Task Force consisting of up to 25 members appointed by the Attorney General. Provides that the members shall reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State. Specifies the categories of individuals to serve on the Task Force. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Office of the Attorney General shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall consider issues that affect adults and juveniles with disabilities with respect to their involvement with the police, detention and confinement in corrections facilities, representation by counsel, participation in the criminal justice system, communications with their families, awareness and accommodations for their disabilities, and concerns for the safety of the general public and individuals working in the criminal justice system. Provides that the Task Force shall make recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly regarding policies, procedures, legislation, and other actions that can be taken to protect the public safety and the well-being and rights of individuals with disabilities in the criminal justice system. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Attorney General, and the General Assembly on or before March 31, 2018. Repeals the Act on June 30, 2018.
HB 2643, Representative William Davis
Amends the Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act. Adds to the definition of “pedestrian with a disability” a person who may require the use of a mobility device, service animal, or white cane to travel on the walking, running, or bicycle paths of this State. Provides that if the Governor takes public notice of Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Day (October 15) and issues a proclamation, he may discuss the history of laws protecting pedestrians with disabilities and may emphasize the need of all citizens to keep safe and functional for persons with disabilities the walking, running, or bicycle paths of this State.
HB 3636, Representative William Davis
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that a person admitted to a developmental disability facility shall have access to sex education, related sources, and treatment planning that supports his or her right to sexual expression, including access reviews of whether the admitted person is capable of giving consent to sexual activity. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall approve course material in sex education which must meet certain statutory guidelines.
HB 3899, Representative Sara Wojcicki Jimenez
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Makes changes to provisions concerning the use of not-for-profit agencies for persons with significant disabilities (previously, facilities for persons with severe disabilities). Provides that a not-for-profit agency shall be a qualified agency if it is, among other requirements, accredited by a nationally-recognized accrediting organization or certified as a development training provider by the Department of Human Services (rather than requiring the agency to meet the applicable Department just standards). Requires the Department to develop guidelines of appropriate national accrediting organizations within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the State Use Committee to, not less than every 3 years, develop a strategic plan for increasing the number of products or services purchased from qualified agencies (rather than developing one 5-year strategic plan). Makes provisions concerning subcontracts. Makes other changes.
Senate Education Committee
March 7, 2017, 10:30 a.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
Subject Matter: Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- To file an electronic witness for subject matter hearing: Click
Senate Education Committee
March 7, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
Subject Matter: Testimony from ISBE on the Governor’s FY18 proposed budget
- To file an electronic witness slip for subject matter hearing: Click
SB 704, Senator Kimberly A. Lightford
Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education is, subject to appropriation, authorized to award competitive grants under a Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Program. Provides that under the program, selected school districts must reallocate funding for school-based law enforcement personnel in some or all of their schools to other evidence-based and promising practices designed to promote school safety and healthy learning environments, including, but not limited to, restorative justice programs; increased use of school psychologists, social workers, and other mental and behavioral health specialists; drug and alcohol treatment services; wraparound services for youth; and training for school staff on conflict resolution techniques and other disciplinary alternatives. Provides that the program shall match the amount that is reallocated from school-based law enforcement personnel to alternative methods of addressing student behavior on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Prohibits grant funds from being used to increase the use of school-based security personnel. Provides for an annual report to update progress on the Program. Prohibits arrest or being otherwise cited for a criminal offense committed during school hours while on school grounds, in school vehicles, or at school activities or sanctioned events except in certain circumstances.
SB 1557, Senator Kimberly A. Lightford
Amends the School Code. Provides that early childhood programs receiving State Board of Education grants for preschool educational programs shall prohibit the expulsion of children. Provides instead that when persistent and serious challenging behaviors emerge, the early childhood program shall document steps taken to ensure that the child can participate safely in the program and utilize a range of community resources. Sets forth provisions concerning the creation of a transition plan if there is documented evidence that all available interventions and supports recommended by a qualified professional have been exhausted; temporary removal of a child; the utilization of training, technical support, and professional development resources; and annually reporting to the State Board. Makes related changes. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969 to require the Department of Children and Family Services, in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development and the State Board of Education, to adopt rules prohibiting the use of expulsion due to a child’s persistent and serious challenging behaviors in licensed day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes.
SB 1692, Senator Kwame Raoul
Amends the School Code to make changes to provisions concerning student athletes and concussions and head injuries. Provides that a school may appoint a physician assistant to serve on its concussion oversight team. With respect to a student who has been removed from practice or competition practicing or competing again, provides for evaluation by an advanced practice nurse working under the supervision of a physician or by a physician assistant working under the supervision of a physician; makes related changes.
Senate Public Health Committee
March 7, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Testimony from the Department of Public Health on the Governor’s FY18 proposed budget.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
SB 2031, Senator Thomas Cullerton
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that for a specified written agreement provided
by a resident to a facility under the Act, the agreement may authorize the resident’s representative to represent the resident’s interests in securing and maintaining Medicaid long-term care benefits, including banking records, redeterminations, appeal proceedings, and legal challenges, or that the resident may choose another individual or entity to perform these functions, which shall require a separate written agreement. Provides that an authorization granted by a resident under a specified provision shall not be diminished or terminated by the death of the resident.
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
March 7, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 866, Senator Thomas Cullerton
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide informational resources and education to veterans returning from deployment regarding service animals for individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, resources and education on service animals that guide people who are blind, pull a wheelchair, alert a person with hearing loss, protect a person having a seizure, assist a person with a traumatic brain injury, and calm a person with post-traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack or psychiatric episode.
Senate Human Services Committee
March 7, 2017, 2:30 p.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Testimony from the Department of Human Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, and Department on Aging on the Governor’s FY18 proposed budget.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
SB 84, Senator Heather A. Steans
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to make application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by July 1, 2017 for a State plan amendment to implement the Community First Choice Option pursuant to the Social Security Act. Requires the Department, beginning on July 1, 2017, but no later than July 1, 2018, to submit applications to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for all Medicaid funding options available for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including a research and demonstration waiver application pursuant to the Social Security Act.
SB 624, Senator Neil Anderson
Creates the Out-of-State Person Subject to Involuntary Admission on an Inpatient Basis Mental Health Treatment Act. Provides that on or before January 1, 2018, there is created a 2-year mental health pilot program for which a mental health facility located in Rock Island County, Illinois may accept the admission of an Iowa resident from the Eastern Iowa Mental Health Region who is a person subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis under an order issued by an Iowa court for treatment at a mental health facility in this State for which the Iowa court shall have jurisdiction over the recipient while committed to a mental health facility in this State. Provides that the pilot program shall also provide that a resident of Rock Island County, Illinois who is a person subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis under an order issued by a court of this State for treatment at a mental health facility in this State may receive inpatient treatment in an Iowa mental health facility. Provides that the Iowa or Illinois mental health facility shall provide mental health services to the recipient for the duration of the court order and shall return the recipient to his or her state of legal residence upon discharge. In the event a recipient has to enter a State-operated facility, the recipient must be returned to his or her state of legal residence. Defines “Eastern Iowa Mental Health Region”, “person subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis”, “mental health facility”, “Pilot Project Area”, “receiving agency”, “receiving state”, and “sending state”. Provide that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2020.
SB 1226, Senator Dave Syverson
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the provision requiring the Department of Human Services to develop a training program for authorized direct care staff to administer medications under the supervision and monitoring of a registered professional nurse applies to (i) all residential (rather than all programs) for persons with a developmental disability in settings of 16 persons or fewer that are funded or licensed by the Department of Human Services and that distribute or administer medications, and (ii) all day programs certified to serve persons with developmental disabilities by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the training program for authorized direct care staff shall include educational and oversight components for staff who work in day programs that are similar to those for staff who work in residential programs.
SB 1322, Senator Heather A. Steans
Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that provisional licenses shall be awarded to every entity with a pending application for licensure on the effective date. Provides that the provisional licenses shall be awarded and in effect immediately upon the effective date of the amendatory Act.
SB 1400, Senator John G. Mulroe
Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish and maintain the Health Care Worker Registry of specified health care workers. Makes corresponding changes in the Nursing Home Care Act, MC/DD Act, and ID/DD Community Care Act, including deleting language requiring the Department to establish and maintain a health care worker registry in each of those Acts. Provides that the information contained in the Health Care Worker Registry shall include information from the registries established under the Nursing Home Care Act, MC/DD Act, and the ID/DD Community Care Act. Specifies that certain prohibitions on health care employers and long-term care facilities retaining individuals applies whether the individual is paid or is a volunteer. Adds specified offenses to a provision that prohibits health care employers and long-term care facilities from hiring a person who has been convicted of certain offenses. Makes other changes. Amends the Department of Human Services Act, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act, and Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act to make conforming and other changes.
SB 1405, Senator Heather A. Steans
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for a person who is a resident in a facility licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 or the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act for whom payments are made throughout a month and who is determined to be eligible for medical assistance, the State shall pay an amount in addition to the minimum monthly personal needs allowance authorized under the Social Security Act so that the person’s total monthly personal needs allowance from both State and federal sources equals $100. Provides that any additional income needed by facilities for the purpose of providing adequate care shall be supplemented by the State; and that 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 following year.
SB 1747, Senator Dale A. Righter
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that a public or private agency, association, partnership, corporation, or organization that has had a license revoked under a specified provision of the Act may not apply for or possess a license under a different name.
SB 1748, Senator Dale A. Righter
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that a community mental health or developmental services agency shall collect and securely store identifying and contact information for each individual resident. Provides that this information may include, but not be limited to, a current photograph, personal contact information, guardian or emergency contact information, and a log of all off-site overnight visits. Provides that this information shall be updated periodically.
SB 1749, Senator Dale A. Righter
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act.
Provides that upon application for a license as a community mental health or developmental services agency to the Department of Human Services, the Department may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for up to a 2-year period (currently, a 6-month period) to allow the holder of such permit reasonable time to become eligible for a license under the Act.
SB 1750, Senator Dale A. Righter
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Human Services shall continue to have jurisdiction over a community mental health or developmental services agency and the individuals it served at the time the agency’s license was revoked for as long as is necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the individuals the agency served and the accountability of the agency.
SB 1751, Senator Dale A. Righter
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that after a community mental health or developmental services agency’s license has been revoked, it shall continue providing for the health, safety, and welfare of the individuals it was serving by ensuring residents have been fully informed of their rights and options within time frames to be specified in rule and by a specified private, not-for-profit corporation directed by the Governor to administer the State plan to protect and advocate for the rights of persons with developmental disabilities.
Senate Judiciary Committee
March 7, 2017, 2:30 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 656, Senator Jil Tracy
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Provides that records and communications may be disclosed without consent by any treatment provider to a public defender or other attorney appointed by the court or retained by a criminal defendant for the purpose of preparing for and conducting a hearing to determine whether to release the defendant on her or his own recognizance or to determine the amount of bail or the conditions of the bail bond. Provides that the records and communications may be used only for the purpose of the hearing and shall not be further disclosed without the consent of the defendant.
SB 1319, Senator Tim Bivins
Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court or any circuit court of
this State may adopt rules permitting the use of video conferencing equipment in any adult guardianship hearing. Provides that if the parties, including the respondent, and their attorneys, including the State Guardian or public guardian or an authorized representative of the State Guardian or public guardian, agree, one or multiple participants may testify by video conferencing equipment from any location in the absence of a court rule specifically prohibiting that testimony.
Senate Appropriations I Committee
March 8, 2017, 8:30 a.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Public Health on fiscal year 2017 liabilities.
- To file an electronic witness slip for subject matter hearing: Click
Senate Insurance Committee
March 8, 2017, 4:15 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 193, Senator Terry Link
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance must provide coverage for medically necessary preventative physical therapy for insureds diagnosed with multiple sclerosis without any treatment limitation or calendar year maximum. Removes requirements that coverage under this provision be subject to the same waiting period, cost sharing limitation, treatment limitation, calendar year maximum, or other limitation as provided for other physical or rehabilitative therapy benefits.
SB 1906, Senator Ira I. Silverstein
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require coverage for hearing instruments and related services for all individuals under the age of 18 when a hearing care professional prescribes a hearing instrument. Provides that an insurer shall provide coverage for hearing aids subject to certain restrictions. Provides that an insurer shall not be required to pay a claim if the insured filed such a claim 12 months prior to the date of filing the claim with the insurer and the claim was paid by any insurer.
Joint Hearing of Senate Appropriations I and II and Senate Revenue Committees
March 8, 2017, 5:00 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: COGFA’s 2018 Economic Forecast and Revenue Estimate and FY 2017 Revenue Outlook Update.
- To file an electronic witness slip for subject matter hearing: Click
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
217-544-0464 ext. 6013
