Public Act 094-0406
 		





HB0595 Enrolled
LRB094 07033 RSP 37173 b






    AN ACT in relation to educational materials on hepatitis C 
for veterans.

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


 
    Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and 
Duties Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is 
amended  by changing Section 2310-376 as follows:
 



    (20 ILCS 2310/2310-376)



    Sec. 2310-376. Hepatitis C education and outreach. 

    (a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the 
following:


        (1) The World Health Organization characterizes 
    Hepatitis C as a disease
of
primary concern to humanity.


        (2) Hepatitis C is considered a silent killer; no 
    recognizable signs or
symptoms occur until severe liver 
    damage has occurred.


        (3) Studies indicate that nearly 4 million Americans 
    (1.8 percent of the
population) carry the virus HCV that 
    causes the disease.


        (4) 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in the 
    United States,
and
only 25 to 30 percent are diagnosed.


        (5) 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from the disease each 
    year.


        (6) 200,000 Illinois residents may be carriers and 
    could develop the
debilitating and potentially deadly 
    liver disease.


        (7) Inmates of correctional facilities have a higher 
    incidence of
Hepatitis
C and, upon their release, present a 
    significant health risk to the general
population.

        (8) Illinois members of the armed services are subject 
    to an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis due to their 
    possible receipt of contaminated blood during a 
    transfusion occurring for  the  treatment of wounds and due 
    to their service in areas of the World where the disease is 
    more prevalent and healthcare is less capable of detecting 
    and treating the disease. Many of these service members are   
    unaware of the danger of Hepatitis and their increased risk 
    of contracting the disease.

    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall conduct 
an education and
outreach campaign, in
addition to its overall 
effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois, in
order to

raise awareness about and promote prevention of Hepatitis C.

    (c) Subject to appropriation, in addition to the education 
and outreach campaign provided in subsection (b), the 
Department shall develop and make available to physicians, 
other health care providers, members of the armed services, and 
other persons subject to an increased risk of contracting 
Hepatitis, educational materials, in written and electronic 
forms, on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the 
disease.  These materials shall include the recommendations of 
the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and any 
other persons or entities determined by the Department to have 
particular expertise on Hepatitis, including the American 
Liver Foundation.  These materials shall be written in terms 
that are understandable by members of the general public.

    (d) The Department shall establish an Advisory Council on 
Hepatitis to develop a Hepatitis prevention plan. The 
Department shall specify the membership, members' terms, 
provisions for removal of members, chairmen, and purpose of the 
Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall consist of one 
representative from each of the following State agencies or 
offices, appointed by the head of each agency or office:

        (1) The Department of Public Health.

        (2) The Department of Public Aid.

        (3) The Department of Corrections.

        (4) The Department of Veterans' Affairs.

        (5) The Department on Aging.

        (6) The Department of Human Services.

        (7) The Department of State Police.

        (8) The office of the State Fire Marshal.

    The Director shall appoint representatives of 
organizations and advocates in the State of Illinois, 
including, but not limited to, the American Liver Foundation. 
The Director shall also appoint interested members of the 
public, including consumers and providers of health services 
and representatives of local public health agencies, to provide 
recommendations and information to the members of the Advisory 
Council.  Members of the Advisory Council shall serve on a 
voluntary, unpaid basis and are not entitled to reimbursement 
for mileage or other costs they incur in connection with 
performing their duties.

(Source: P.A. 93-129, eff. 1-1-04.)

 

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