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 April 15, 2024.
NOTE: April 19, 2024, is the 3rd Reading deadline for substantive House bills in the House.
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 April 15, 2024.
House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
April 16, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 118
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Supporting Newcomer Students Program, State Board of Education, HB 4785
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
HB 5430, Representative William “Will” Davis
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the resident district for a student who, as a result of the student’s medically complex status resides exclusively at a full-time residential care facility, shall be the school district in which the residential facility is located if the residential facility provides the student with a regular fixed night-time residence for reasons other than placement in a specific school district and the student is not enrolled in a school district outside the district in which the residential facility is located. Provides that as a resident of the district in which the residential facility is located, the educational costs for a student shall be provided directly by the State Board of Education and shall be calculated based on the applicable per diem rate provided by the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board, with such per diem rate being based solely upon the audited submission of the cost financial report for the residential facility for special education students during the applicable school year. Provides that a residential facility shall submit monthly invoices to the State Board of Education for the education costs of a student in a residential facility. Provides that the State Board of Education shall ensure that a representative of the resident school district of the student in a residential facility attend and participate in an individualized education program meeting for the student, and shall proffer a nonpublic facility placement contract for each student and the school district shall immediately execute and return the nonpublic facility placement contract to the residential facility. Provides that for a student in a residential facility, an educational surrogate shall be appointed who shall have authority to execute an individualized education program in the place of the student’s parent or guardian on behalf of the student. Provides for restrictions on withholding payment to a residential facility. Provides that the provisions apply only to a special education student who lives at and relies on residential facility as the student’s overnight residence but who has not been enrolled by the student’s parent or guardian in a school district. Effective immediately.
House Appropriations—General Services Committee
April 17, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Stratton Building, Room D-1
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Secretary of State, DoIT, Elections, Commission on Equity and Inclusion, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
House Appropriations-Health & Human Service
April 18, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
Capitol Building, Room 114, Virtual Room 1, www.ilga.gov
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Aging, HB 5003, HB 5227, HB 5249
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
HB 4677, HA 1 and HA 2, Representative Anna Moeller
Creates the Illinois Caregiver Assistance and Resource Portal Act. Requires the Department on Aging, in consultation with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, to be responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Illinois Caregiver Assistance and Resource Portal (Portal). Provides that the Portal shall serve as a centralized and trusted online platform offering a wide range of resources related to caregiving, including, but not limited to: (1) information on State and federal programs, benefits, and resources on caregiving, long-term care, and at-home care for Illinois residents who are 50 years of age or older; (2) educational materials, articles, and videos on caregiving best practices; and (3) accommodations for users with different language preferences, ensuring the information is accessible to diverse audiences. Sets forth additional resources and information that the Portal may feature, such as information on caregiving resources, home and community-based services that support family caregivers, nursing home care, services and programs offered by Area Agencies on Aging, relevant health care and financial assistance programs, and local support group opportunities for caregivers. Requires the Portal to be designed to be user-friendly and accessible to individuals of all ages and abilities and to include features such as search functionality, language accessibility, and compatibility with assistive technologies to ensure that a diverse range of caregivers can use it. Contains provisions concerning required outreach and promotional campaign efforts to raise awareness of the Portal, reporting requirements, and State and federal funding for the Portal. Requires the Portal to be implemented one year after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.
- To read the full text of HB 4677: Click
- To read the full text of HA 1: Click
- To read the full text of HA 2: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 4677: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 4677, HA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on HB 4677, HA 2: Click
Senate Education Committee
April 16, 2024, 2:30 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 212
Springfield, IL
SB 1400, Senator Kimberly Lightford
Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning student discipline policies, provides that the State Board of Education shall draft and publish model policy guidelines for the development of reciprocal reporting systems and school bus safety protocols and for evidence-based early intervention procedures. In provisions concerning the suspension or expulsion of students, makes changes concerning a student’s gross disobedience or misconduct posing an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, when school exclusions should be used, the number and duration of expulsions and suspensions, the implementation of proactive evidence-based interventions that improve behavioral outcomes for all students, non-exclusionary discipline, out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less, model policy guidelines for the re-engagement of students, professional development, and the removal of children with disabilities who violate the student discipline policies from their current placement. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
April 16, 2024, 3:30 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 400
Springfield, IL
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.
- To read the full text of SB 2760: Click
- To read the full text of SA 1: Click
- To file an electronic witness slip on SB 2760, SA 1: Click
Senate Appropriations-Health and Human Services Committee
April 17, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 212
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: SB3831 Dept. of Aging, SB3849 DPH, SB3861 Coroner Training Board, SB3853 Dept. Veteran Affairs, SB3301, SB 3831, SB 3849, SB 3861, SB 3853, SB 3301
- To file an electronic witness slip for the subject matter hearing: Click
Senate Appropriations-Public Safety and Infrastructure
April 17, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 409
Springfield, IL
SUBJECT MATTER: SB3837 DJJ, SB3868 ICJIA, SB3838 Corrections, SB79, SB2944, SB2975, SB3226, SB3419, SB3610, SB 3837, SB 3868, SB 3838, SB 79, SB 2944, SB 2975, SB 3226, SB 3419, SB 3610
- 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
