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 May 6, 2024.
House Human Services Committee
May 8, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
Stratton Building, Room D-1
Springfield, IL
SB 860, Representative Natalie A. Manley
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. In provisions requiring the Department of Human Services to develop a medication administration training program for authorized directed staff at certain facilities for individuals with a developmental disability, provides that non-licensed authorized direct care staff must (i) score 100% on the competency-based assessment demonstrating proficiency in the skill of administering medication and (ii) have received additional competency-based assessment by the nurse-trainer whenever it is determined that additional skill development and training is needed to administer a medication. Provides that to assist each individual in attaining the highest possible level of independent functioning, an individual’s total health care program shall include individual training in preventive health and self-administration of medication procedures (rather than training in preventive health and self-medication procedures). Requires each program to adopt written policies and procedures for assisting individuals who choose to obtain preventative health and self-administration of medication skills in consultation with a registered professional nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or licensed physician. For quality assurance, requires a registered professional nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, licensed physician, physician assistant, or pharmacist to review medication labels, including medications listed on the medication administration record for individuals who are not self-administering medication. Adds auto-injectors (rather than epinephrine auto-injectors) to the definition of “medications”. Defines “insulin in an injectable or auto-injectable form” (rather than “insulin in an injectable form”). Defines “GLP-1 receptor agonists in an injectable or auto-injectable form”. Makes other changes.
House Judiciary-Civil Committee
May 8, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
Stratton Building, Room C-1
Springfield, IL
SB 3323, Representative Ann M. Williams
Creates the Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Station Act. Requires the Department of Transportation to ensure that charging stations in the State are sufficiently accessible to allow independent use by drivers with disabilities, including people who have limited or no hand dexterity, limb differences, or upper extremity amputations and use adaptive driving controls. Requires chargers designed to serve people who use mobility devices to be located on an accessible route. Provides that the Department shall adopt the technical requirements for accessible routes established under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the federal Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) including walking surfaces, curb ramps, and ramps. Establishes that a charging space with mobility features must provide a vehicle space with a minimum width of at least 11 feet and a minimum length of at least 20 feet. Requires chargers to provide a clear floor or ground space. Requires clear floor or ground spaces to meet ADA requirements for ground and floor surfaces, including criteria for firmness, stability, and slip resistance. Provides that a reasonable number of chargers, as determined by the Department, shall comply with ADA operable parts requirements, including technical requirements for clear floor or ground space, reach ranges, and operation. Provides that a connector must allow operation with one hand and no tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist, and with no more than 5 pounds of force. Provides that all chargers operated or maintained by any entity within the State must comply with the technical requirements for hardware under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Grants rulemaking authority. Defines terms.
House Elementary & Secondary Education-Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
May 8, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 115
Springfield, IL
SB 3166, Representative Suzanne M. Ness
Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that the term “Student Permanent Record” may include a special education summary of performance form. Provides that representatives of the Department of Human Services, for the sole purpose of assessing waiver services qualification of a student, shall have the right to inspect and copy the student’s school student permanent record.
House Appropriations-Health & Human Services Committee
May 9, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
Stratton Building, Room C-1
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: HB 4076, HB 5249, DHS
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
Senate Education Committee
May 7, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 212
Springfield, IL
HB 340, Senator Ram Villivalam
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the notice required under provisions concerning the identification, evaluation, and placement of a child that is provided to the parent or guardian shall inform the parent or guardian of the parent’s or guardian’s right to receive copies of all written material that will be considered by the individualized education program team and shall provide the date when the written material will be delivered or made available to the parent or guardian. Effective immediately.
HB 5276, Senator David Koehler
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning transition services, provides that the transition planning process and the transition plan prepared for a student shall include consideration of the assistive technology needs of the student related to the student’s transition goals while the student is participating in transition-related activities and in post-school activities, including assistive technology evaluations, devices, and services and the availability and accessibility of appropriate assistive technology devices and services for the student in post-school activities. Effective immediately.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
May 7, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 400
Springfield, IL
HB 4346, Senator Mattie Hunter
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program (program), removes from the list of program services clearinghouse information provided by senior citizen home owners who want to rent rooms to or share living space with other senior citizens. In a provision requiring the Department on Aging to perform certain actions to increase the effectiveness of the program, removes a requirement that the Department ensure the determination of need tool is accurate in determining program participants’ level of need. In a provision concerning pre-service certification for in-home workers who provide housekeeping or home aide services, requires employing agencies to pay wages to in-home workers for pre-service and in-service training. Provides that the Department may authorize (rather than shall delay) program services until an applicant is determined eligible for medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes a provision requiring the Department to implement co-payments under the program. Requires the Department to make annual (rather than quarterly) reports on care coordination unit performance and adherence to service guidelines. Removes expired rate levels. Requires the Department to pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees. Provides that all final administrative decisions of the Department are subject to judicial review. Makes other changes.
HB 5095, Senator Doris Turner
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that a facility of which only a distinct part is certified to participate in the Medical Assistance Program may refuse to retain as a resident any person who resides in a part of the facility that does not participate in the Medical Assistance Program and who is unable to pay for his or her care in the facility without Medical Assistance only if, in addition to meeting other requirements, in circumstances where the Medicare coverage is ending prior to the full 100-day benefit period, the facility provides notice to the resident and to the resident’s representative that the resident’s Medicare coverage will likely end in 5 days. Requires the notification to specify that the resident shall not be required to move until these 5 days are up. In cases where the facility is notified in a shorter time frame than 5 days by a managed care organization or the time frame is shorter than 5 days due to inaccurate reporting by an outside entity, requires the facility to provide a minimum of 2 days’ notification.
Senate Appropriations Committee
May 8, 2024, 8:00 a.m.
Capitol Building, Room 212
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: SB 3917, SB 3380, SB 3401, SB 3436, SB 3470, SB 3605, HB 4677, HB 4897, HB 5417
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee
May 8, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Capitol Building, Room 400
Springfield, IL
HB 5094, Senator Laura Fine
Creates the Workforce Direct Care Act. Establishes the Behavioral Health Administrative Burden Task Force within the Office of the Chief Behavioral Health Officer. Sets forth membership and responsibilities of the Task Force, including to review policies and regulations affecting the behavioral health industry to identify inefficiencies, duplicate or unnecessary requirements, unduly burdensome restrictions, and other administrative barriers that prevent behavioral health professionals from providing services and to analyze the impact of administrative burdensome the delivery of quality care and access to behavioral health services. Requires each State agency whose participation would be necessary to implement any component of the administrative burden reduction plan to submit a detailed response to the General Assembly about the recommendations in the plan.
HB 5269, Senator Julie A. Morrison
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that all youth in care shall be assigned a mental health provider to manage their mental health care needs. Requires a youth’s mental health provider to visit the youth and conduct a well-being assessment within 30 days after the youth is removed from his or her home and placed in the temporary custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that additional follow-up visits and well-being checks shall be scheduled and conducted until the youth is no longer under the custody or guardianship of the Department. Provides that any mental health care services provided to the youth shall be in addition to any care or services the youth receives from his or her primary care provider. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.
Senate Appropriations-Health and Human Services Committee
May 8, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 212
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: SB 3917, SB 3380, SB 3401, SB 3436, SB 3470, SB 3605, HB 4677, HB 4897, HB 5417
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
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.
For additional information, please contact:
Cheryl R. Jansen
Public Policy Director
cherylj2@equipforequality.org
217-303-8543
