Public Act 93-0599 SB989 Enrolled LRB093 03231 DRJ 03248 b AN ACT in relation to public aid. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 5-2.05 as follows: (305 ILCS 5/5-2.05 new) Sec. 5-2.05. Disabled children. (a) The Department of Public Aid may offer, to children with developmental disabilities and severely mentally ill or emotionally disturbed children who otherwise would not qualify for medical assistance under this Article due to family income, home-based and community-based services instead of institutional placement, as allowed under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2. (b) The Department of Public Aid, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and the Division of Specialized Care for Children, University of Illinois-Chicago, shall also report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2004 regarding the status of existing services offered under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2. This report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: (1) The number of persons eligible for these services. (2) The number of persons who applied for these services. (3) The number of persons who currently receive these services. (4) The nature, scope, and cost of services provided under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2. (5) The comparative cost of providing those services in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate care facility. (6) The funding sources for the provision of services, including federal financial participation. (7) The qualifications, skills, and availability of caregivers for children receiving services. The report shall also include information regarding the extent to which the existing programs could provide coverage for mentally disabled children who are currently being provided services in an institution who could otherwise be served in a less-restrictive, community-based setting for the same or a lower cost. Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.