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 7, 2022:
House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
March 8, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Community & Residential Services Authority, Advance Illinois, After School Matters.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
March 9, 2022, 8:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 4 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 Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
March 9, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 3 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
House Appropriations-Public Safety Committee
March 9, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 2 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: IDOT, Tollway, Department Juvenile Justice, Prison Review Board, Department of Corrections.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Appropriations-Human Services Committee
March 10, 2022, 8:00 a.m.
Virtual Room 3 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Department of Public Health, Healthcare & Family Services.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
HB 205, Representative Mary E. Flowers
Creates the Children’s Mental Health Local Integrated Fund Act. Creates local children’s mental health collaboratives. Defines “local children’s mental health collaborative” as an entity formed by the agreement of representatives of the local system of care, including mental health services, social services, correctional services, education services, health services, and vocational services for the purpose of developing and governing an integrated service system. Provides that, to qualify as a local children’s mental health collaborative and be eligible to receive start-up funds, the representatives of the local system of care and nongovernmental entities such as parents of children in the target population; parent and consumer organizations; community, civic, and religious organizations; private and nonprofit mental and physical health care providers; culturally specific organizations; local foundations; and businesses, or at a minimum one county, one school district or special education cooperative, one mental health entity, and one juvenile justice or corrections entity, must agree to the following: (1) to establish a local children’s mental health collaborative and develop an integrated service system; (2) to commit resources to providing services through the local children’s mental health collaborative; and (3) to develop a plan to contribute funds to the children’s mental health collaborative.
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, HCA 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.
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 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 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.
Senate Appropriations-Human Services Committee
March 10, 2022, 1:00 p.m.
Virtual Room 2, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
Subject Matter: SB 4099 Department of Human Services
Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Human Services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, as follows: General Funds$5,253,179,200; Other State Funds $1,272,689,600; Federal Funds $5,251,200,357; Total $11,767,069,157.
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
