Public Act 096-1183
 
HB4922 EnrolledLRB096 16221 KTG 31477 b


  
    AN ACT concerning aging.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  



 
 
    Section 5. The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act is 
amended  by changing Section 15 as follows:
 
    (320 ILCS 50/15)

    Sec. 15. Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review 
Committee.

    (a) The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review Committee 
is
created. The Committee shall consist of 17 members as 
follows:


        (1) Twelve members appointed as follows: 2 members of 
    the General
Assembly and 1 member of the general public, 
    appointed by the President of the
Senate; 2 members of the 
    General Assembly and 1 member of the general public,

    appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2 members 
    of the General
Assembly and 1 member of the general public, 
    appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; 
    and 2 members of the General Assembly and 1 member of
the 
    general public, appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
    House of
Representatives.
These members shall serve at the 
    pleasure of the appointing authority.


        (2) The Director of Aging or his or her designee.


        (3) The Director of Revenue or his or her designee.


        (4) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services or 
    his or her designee.


        (5) The Secretary of Human Services or his or her 
    designee.


        (6) The Director of Public Health or his or her 
    designee.


    (b) Members appointed from the general public shall 
represent the
following associations, organizations, and 
interests: statewide
membership-based senior advocacy 
organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers,
pharmacists,

dispensing pharmacies, physicians, and providers of services 
to senior
citizens.
 No single organization may have more than 
one representative appointed as a
member from the general 
public.


    (c) The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of

Representatives shall each designate one member of the 
Committee to serve as
co-chairs.


    (d) Committee members shall serve without compensation or

reimbursement for expenses.


    (e) The Committee shall meet at the call of the co-chairs, 
but at
least quarterly.


    (f) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather 
testimony
from interested parties regarding pharmaceutical 
assistance for Illinois
seniors, including changes to existing 
and proposed programs.


    (f-5) The Committee may review federal legislation with 
regard to e-prescribing to determine what provisions, if any, 
would improve health care in Illinois. 
    (f-6) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather 
testimony regarding federal procedure for pandemic 
preparedness and response to determine whether or not the State 
should update its preparedness procedures and tactics. 
    (g) The Committee may advise appropriate State agencies 
regarding
the establishment of proposed programs or changes to 
existing programs. The
State agencies shall take into 
consideration any recommendations made by the
Committee.


    (h) The Committee shall report to the General Assembly and 
the
Governor annually or as it deems necessary regarding 
proposed or recommended
changes to pharmaceutical assistance 
programs that benefit Illinois seniors and
any associated costs 
of those changes.


    (h-5) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather 
testimony from interested parties regarding prescription drug 
abuse to determine whether the State should increase penalties 
against those engaged in conduct potentially harmful to 
Illinois residents, particularly those under age 25. In order 
to do this, the Committee may review guidelines from State 
universities addressing prescription drug abuse. 
    (i) In the event that a prescription drug benefit is added 
to the federal
Medicare
program, the Committee shall make 
recommendations for the realignment of State-operated senior 
prescription drug programs so
that Illinois residents qualify 
for at least substantially the same level of benefits
available 
to them prior
to implementation of the Medicare prescription 
drug benefit, provided that a resident remains eligible for 
such a State-operated program. The Committee shall report its 
recommendations to the General
Assembly and
the Governor by 
January 1, 2005.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

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