Public Act 0632 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4278 Enrolled LRB100 17484 MJP 32653 b

Public Act 100-0632

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Veterans' Affairs Act is amended by adding Section 2.01c as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/2.01c new)

Sec. 2.01c. Veterans Home; notice of infectious disease.

(a) As used in this Section, "infectious disease" means any disease caused by a living organism or other pathogen, including a fungus, bacteria, parasite, protozoan, prion, or virus, that has a history of or potential for a significant mortality rate among elderly or vulnerable populations, including, but not limited to, strains of influenza, Legionnaires' disease, and pneumonia.

(b) If a Veterans Home administrator or a member of the administrative staff is notified that, within one month or less, 2 or more persons residing within the Veterans Home are diagnosed with an infectious disease by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches; a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act; a long-term care facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act; a freestanding emergency center licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act; a local health department; or any other State agency or government entity, then, within 24 hours after the facility is notified of the second diagnosis, the Veterans Home must:

(1) provide a written notification of the incidence of the infectious disease to each resident of the facility and the resident's emergency contact or next of kin;

(2) post a notification of the incidence of the infectious disease in a conspicuous place near the main entrance to the Veterans Home; and

(3) provide a written notification to the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Public Health of the incidence of the infectious disease and of compliance with the written notification requirements of paragraph (1). In addition to the initial written notifications, the Veterans Home must provide written notifications of any updates on the incidence of the infectious disease and any options that are available to the residents.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Public Health must post the notification of the incidence of the infectious disease, any updates, and any options that are available to the residents on their websites as soon as practicable after receiving the notification, but in no event shall the notice be posted later than the end of the next business day.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.