LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM EQUIP FOR EQUALITY
February 5, 2024
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 February 5, 2024:
House Human Services Committee
February 6, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
Capitol Building, Room 118 and Virtual Room 1 www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Strategies to Strengthen the Long-Term Care Workforce
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee
February 7, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 114
Springfield, IL
HB 4175, Representative Margaret Croke
Amends the School Code. Provides that a nonpublic school may not engage in slapping or paddling a student, the prolonged maintenance of a student in a physically painful position, or the intentional infliction of bodily harm on a student.
House Human Services Committee
February 7, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Stratton Building, Room D-1
Springfield, IL
HB 4178, Representative Jed Davis
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for a Home and Community-Based Services State Plan amendment and any federal waiver necessary to reimburse legally responsible family caregivers as providers of personal care or home health aide services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan Home and Community-Based Services benefit and the home and community-based services waiver program authorized under the Social Security Act for persons who are medically fragile and technology dependent. Provides that to be eligible for reimbursement, a legally responsible family caregiver must be a certified nursing assistant or certified nurse aide and must provide services to a medically fragile relative who is receiving in-home shift nursing services coordinated by the University of Illinois at Chicago, Division of Specialized Care for Children. Provides that upon federal approval of the State Plan amendment and waiver, the Department shall adopt rules that define who qualifies for reimbursement as a legally responsible family caregiver, specify which personal care and home health aide services are eligible for reimbursement if the provider is a legally responsible family caregiver, establish oversight policies to ensure legally responsible family caregivers meet and comply with licensing and program requirements, and adopt any other policies or procedures necessary to implement the amendatory Act.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools Committee
February 7, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 115
Springfield, IL
HB 4277, Representative Janet Yang Rohr
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the world language endorsement on a Professional Educator License to include American Sign Language under rules of the State Board of Education.
Senate Judiciary Committee
February 6, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 409
Springfield, IL
SB 2715, Senator Lakeshia Collins
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that all records containing resident, participant, and complainant information collected by the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program are confidential and shall not be disclosed outside of the program without a lawful subpoena or the permission of the State Ombudsman. Permits the State Ombudsman, at his or her discretion, to disclose resident or participant information if it is in the best interest of the resident or participant. Requires the Department on Aging to establish procedures for the disclosure of program records by the State Ombudsman. Provides that the procedures shall prohibit disclosure of a resident’s identity in case records unless the resident gives consent.
SB 2740, Senator Dan McConchie
Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides that the board of managers of a condominium shall adopt a policy to reasonably accommodate a unit owner who is a person with a disability who requires an accessible parking space to ensure that person has access to the building. Provides that for an association that sells parking spaces, if an owner of an accessible parking space is unable to sell the accessible parking space to a qualified user, the board of managers shall purchase the parking space for fair market value and ensure that the space remains available to persons with disabilities who require an accessible parking space. Provides that a unit owner who is a person with a disability who requires an accessible parking space may bring a civil action against the board of managers to compel the board of managers to provide an accessible parking space. Provides that a prevailing unit owner is entitled to attorney’s fees and court costs.
SB 2758, Senator Karina Villa
Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Allows a ward in guardianship to get married who understands the nature, effect, duties, and obligations of marriage. Prior consent of the guardian of the person or estate or approval of the court is not required for the ward to enter into a marriage. A guardian may contest the validity of the marriage pursuant to Sections 301 and 302 of Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
SB 2799, Senator Laura Fine
Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Expands the definition of abuse to include causing any emotional injury to an adult with disabilities aged 18 through 59 or a person aged 60 or older (eligible adults). Provides that, contingent upon adequate funding, the Department on Aging may provide funding for legal assistance for eligible adults. Provides that, for self-neglect cases, the Department shall establish mandatory standards for the provision of emergent casework and follow-up services to mitigate the risk of harm or death to an eligible adult. Provides that, upon receiving a report of self-neglect, a provider agency shall conduct an unannounced face-to-face visit at the residence of the eligible adult to administer an eligibility screening to quickly determine if the eligible adult is posing a substantial threat to himself or herself or to others. Sets forth the process and procedures for eligibility screenings. Provides that if an eligibility screening indicates self-neglect, the provider agency shall develop and implement within 5 business days a case plan for the eligible adult in consultation with any other appropriate provider of services. Requires the Department to establish, by rule, the time period within which an eligibility screening shall begin and within which a service plan shall be implemented. As to all investigations conducted under the Act, requires a provider agency to notify the eligible adult, the alleged abuser, and the reporter of abuse of the agency’s final investigative findings. Makes changes to provisions concerning an eligible adult’s capacity to consent to an eligibility screening. Changes the minimal number of times the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council must meet each calendar year. Makes other changes. Repeals a provision permitting the Department to use qualified volunteers to provide companion-type services to eligible adults. Amends the Open Meetings Act. Exempts from the requirements of the Act meetings conducted by the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council and regional interagency fatality review teams.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
February 6, 2024, 3:30 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 400
Springfield, IL
SB 2578, Senator Doris Turner
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, in accordance with federal guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall exempt from electronic visit verification requirements all live-in caregivers who provide Medicaid-funded personal care services or home health care services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan or a waiver of the plan, including personal care services and home health care services provided under various home and community-based services waiver programs authorized under the Social Security Act. Defines “live-in caregiver”. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.
SB 2655, Senator Laura M. Murphy
Creates the Medicaid Expansion of Network Providers for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Task Force Act. Establishes the Medicaid Expansion of Network Providers for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Task Force to develop and propose policies to increase the State’s Medicaid provider networks to give Medicaid clients more provider choice for their health care needs. Provides that the Task Force shall work toward creating solutions to streamline the State’s Medicaid system, making it more efficient, and making it easier to use while improving the overall quality of care. Contains provisions concerning the Task Force’s composition and meetings. Requires the Department of Human Services to provide administrative support to the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the General Assembly by December 31, 2025. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2026.
SB 2760, 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.
Senate Insurance Committee
February 6, 2024, 4:30 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 400
Springfield, IL
SB 2671, Senator Laura M. Murphy
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for hippotherapy and other forms of therapeutic riding. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, and the Health Maintenance Organization Act.
SB 2672, Senator Laura M. Murphy
Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that if a generic drug is unavailable due to a supply issue and dosage cannot be adjusted, a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for a brand name eligible prescription drug until supply of the generic drug is available. Defines “eligible prescription drug” and “generic drug”. Makes conforming changes in the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
Senate State Government Committee
February 7, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 409
Springfield, IL
SB 2018, Senator Ann Gillespie
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a Life Skills Reentry Center for Women. Provides that the Life Skills Reentry Center for Women shall build valuable life skills and prepare women committed persons for reentry into society while maintaining safety and security. Provides that the Center shall focus on committed persons who are ready to make needed changes in order to successfully reintegrate into their community upon release from the custody of the Department of Corrections. Provides that the Center shall offer educational, job readiness, and cognitive behavior therapy courses to women committed persons who have one to 4 years remaining on their sentence and qualify for placement at the Center. Provides that the Chief Administrator for the Women’s Division of the Department of Corrections shall determine eligibility of women committed persons for the program and shall assign eligible committed persons to the Center based upon the conduct of the women committed at other correctional institutions, their desire to rehabilitate, and the likelihood of their non-recidivism. Provides that the programs offered at the Center include: prevocational and reentry related life skills, adult basic education, high school equivalency courses, literacy courses, creative writing courses, training for vocations, including welding, manufacturing, restaurant management, and custodial maintenance. Provides that women assigned to the Center may participate in Alcoholics Anonymous, other 12-step programs for recovery from alcoholism or substance use disorder, worship and chaplaincy services, religious studies, family days, job partnership programs, substance use disorder therapy programs, critical thinking, cultural self-awareness programs, and various mental health services, including art therapy.
Senate Local Government Committee
February 7, 2024, 3:30 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 409
Springfield, IL
SB 2751, Senator Dan McConchie
Amends the Counties Code, Township Code, and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a veteran with a disability or the veteran’s caregiver shall not be charged any building permit fee for improvements to the residence of the veteran with a disability if the improvements are required to accommodate a disability of the veteran. Provides that the applications, forms, and other paperwork required to obtain a building permit must still be submitted. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2025.
- To read the full text of SB 2751: Click
To file an electronic witness slip on SB 2751: 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
