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 23, 2017:
Joint Hearing of the House Healthcare Availability & Accessibility Committee and House Human Services Committee
May 23, 2017, 12:00 p.m.
Room 114, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Current Crisis Facing DCFS
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Special Needs Services Committee
May 23 2017, 12:00 p.m.
Room 115, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 309, Representative Daniel V. Beiser
Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act, Alternative Health Care Delivery Act, Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, Community Living Facilities Licensing Act, Nursing Home Care Act, MC/DD Act, ID/DD Community Care Act, Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, Hospital Licensing Act, and Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that for hospitals, alternative health care models, Community Living Facilities, long-term care facilities, MC/DD facilities, ID/DD facilities, specialized mental health rehabilitation facilities, and community-integrated living arrangements, a television in a common area provided for use by the general public; in a patient, resident, or consumer room provided for use by patients, residents, or consumers that are being treated; or in a patient, resident, or consumer room provided for use by individuals using or requesting services reasonable efforts must be made to have a closed captioning feature activated at all times if the television includes a captioning feature. Requires reasonable efforts to be made to prevent members of the general public and individuals using or requesting services from independently deactivating a captioning feature. Provides that it is not a violation if the captioning feature is deactivated by a member of the general public or an individual using or requesting services. Requires that, if there is not a television with a captioning feature available, then it must be ensured that all televisions obtained for common areas and patient rooms after the effective date of the amendatory Act include a captioning feature. Provides that nothing in the provisions of the Community Living Facilities Licensing Act, Nursing Home Care Act, MC/DD Act, ID/DD Community Care Act, and Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act concerning closed captioning shall apply to televisions that are privately owned by a resident or third party and not owned by the Community Living Facility, long-term care facility, MC/DD facility, ID/DD facility, or community-integrated living arrangement. Defines “closed captioning” and makes other changes.
SB 1851, Representative Robyn Gabel
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid reimbursement for facilities that serve severely and chronically ill pediatric patients and clinically complex residents, replaces all references to “long-term care facilities for persons under 22 years of age” with “medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities”.
- To read full text of SB 1851: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1851: Click
House Human Services Committee
May 24, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
Room 122B, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 752, Representative Michelle Mussman
Amends the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission Act. Provides that the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission shall be composed of 11 Commissioners (currently, members) that are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Requires at least 8 (currently, 6) commissioners of the Commission to be people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing. Specifies the membership of the Commission. Modifies the qualifications and duties of the Director of the Commission. Provides that the added Director qualifications shall apply to anyone who becomes Director on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Establishes the Director as the chief executive officer of the Commission. Modifies a Section concerning the powers and duties of the Commission. Defines “commissioner”.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing, Administration & Oversight Committee
May 24, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
Room 115, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 1483, Representative Allen Skillicorn
Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that a parent’s or student’s request to
inspect and copy records under the Act must be granted no later than 5 business days (rather than 15 school days).
SB 1692, Representative Christian L. Mitchell
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. Allows an advanced practice nurse to provide a written statement indicating that it is safe for a student to return to play and learning. Includes physician assistants and athletic trainers as professionals that may provide certain services under the provisions. Includes physical therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, physician assistants, and other non-licensed healthcare professionals as persons who must take a concussion-related continuing education course. Makes other changes.
House Elections & Campaign Finance Committee
May 24, 2017, 11:30 a.m.
Room 413, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
SB 1479, Representative Silvana Tabares
Amends the Election Code. Provides that grace period registration and changes of address shall be conducted for eligible residents in connection with voting at certain elder care facilities.
House Appropriations-Human Services Committee
May 25, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
Room 118, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 955, Representative Robyn Gabel
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish reimbursement rates which build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities, community integrated living arrangements, developmental training programs, employment, and other residential and day programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. Provides that the Department shall increase rates and reimbursements so that direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $15 per hour and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage. Defines “front-line personnel”.
SB 1353, Representative Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
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 ID/DD Community Care Act, the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, the MC/DD Act or Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 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 $60.
House Mental Health Committee
May 25, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
Room 413, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Providers
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Consumer Protection Committee
May 25, 2017, 11:00 a.m.
Room 115, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 193, Representative Ann M. Williams
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that coverage concerning multiple sclerosis preventative physical therapy shall be subject to the same deductible and coinsurance requirements or other limitations as provided for other physical or rehabilitative therapy benefits covered by the policy. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance shall offer an exception process from treatment limitations for individuals diagnosed with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Provides requirements for the exception process and that a health insurer shall, within 72 hours after receiving an exception request, either approve or deny the request. Provides that coverage required by the provisions shall be subject to certain other general exclusions and limitations of the policy.
House Judiciary-Criminal Committee
May 25, 2017, 11:00 a.m.
Room 118, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 1276, Representative Arthur Turner
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 concerning unfit defendants. Provides that if the report to the court, the State, and the defense indicates that the defendant is not fit to stand trial or to plead because of a disability, the report shall include an opinion as to the likelihood of the defendant attaining fitness within a period of time from the date of the finding of unfitness (rather than one year) if provided with a course of treatment. Provides that for a defendant charged with a felony, the period of time shall be one year. Provides that for a defendant charged with a misdemeanor, the period of time shall be no longer than the maximum term of imprisonment for the most serious offense. Provides that not more than 30 days after admission and every 90 (rather than 60) days thereafter so long as the initial order remains in effect, the facility director shall file a treatment plan report in writing with the court and forward a copy of the treatment plan report to the clerk of the court, the State’s Attorney, and the defendant’s attorney, if the defendant is represented by counsel, or to a person authorized by the defendant under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act to be sent a copy of the report.
- To read full text of SB 1276: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on SB 1276: Click
SB 1312, Representative Stephanie A. Kifowit
Amends the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act. Provides that a defendant may be admitted into a Veterans and Servicemembers Court program post-adjudication only with the approval of the court. Provides that a “crime of violence” includes rather than means first degree murder, second degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, armed robbery, aggravated arson, arson, aggravated kidnapping and kidnapping, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability, stalking, aggravated stalking, or any offense involving the discharge of a firearm or where occurred serious bodily injury or death to any person. Amends the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Deletes provision that a defendant must have the agreement of the prosecutor to be admitted into a mental health court program. Includes in the definition of “crime of violence”, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability.
Senate Criminal Law Committee
May 23, 2017, 5:00 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 1764, Senator Toi W. Hutchinson
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that it is a mitigating factor in sentencing that at the time of the offense, the defendant was suffering from post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis which was either undiagnosed or untreated, or both, and this temporary mental illness tended to excuse or justify the defendant’s criminal conduct and the defendant has, after sentencing, been diagnosed as suffering from post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis, or both, by a qualified medical person and the diagnoses or testimony, or both, was not used at trial or sentencing, or both. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure concerning relief from final orders and judgments, after 30 days from the entry of the judgment. Provides that a meritorious claim may be made for that relief if the allegations in the petition establish each of the following by a preponderance of the evidence: (1) the movant was convicted of a forcible felony; (2) the movant’s participation in the offense was a direct result of the movant’s mental state either suffering from post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis; (3) no evidence of post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis was presented by a qualified medical person at trial or sentencing, or both; (4) the movant was unaware of the mitigating nature of the evidence or if aware was at the time unable to present this defense due to suffering from post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis or at the time of trial or sentencing neither was a recognized mental illness and as such unable to receive proper treatment; and (5) evidence of post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis as suffered by the movant is material and noncumulative to other evidence offered at the time of trial or sentencing and it is of such a conclusive character that it would likely change the sentence imposed by the original court. Defines “post-partum depression” and “post-partum psychosis”.
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
