SB2865 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 18348 RLC 33555 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2865

Introduced 2/14/2018, by Sen. Heather A. Steans

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1705/55.5 new
305 ILCS 5/5-5.4j new

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall progressively increase rates and reimbursements so that by July 1, 2018 direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $5.25 per hour above the highest of the federal, State, county, or municipal minimum wages, and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage, and by July 1, 2020 direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $6.75 per hour above the highest of the federal, State, county, or municipal minimum wages. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning wages for front-line personnel.

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

Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act is amended by adding Section 55.5 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1705/55.5 new)

Sec. 55.5. Increased wages for front-line personnel. As used in this Section, "front-line personnel" means direct support persons, aides, front-line supervisors, qualified intellectual disabilities professionals, nurses, and non-administrative support staff working in service settings outlined in this Section. The Department shall progressively increase rates and reimbursements so that by July 1, 2018 direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $5.25 per hour above the highest of the federal, State, county, or municipal minimum wages, and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage, and by July 1, 2020 direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $6.75 per hour above the highest of the federal, State, county, or municipal minimum wages, and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage.

The Department shall establish reimbursement rates which build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities under Section 54 of this Act, including, but not limited to, intermediate care for the developmentally disabled facilities, medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities, community-integrated living arrangements, community day services, employment, and other residential and day programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act.

Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 5-5.4j as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.4j new)

Sec. 5-5.4j. Increased wages for front-line personnel. As used in this Section, "front-line personnel" means direct support persons, aides, front-line supervisors, qualified intellectual disabilities professionals, nurses, and non-administrative support staff working in service settings outlined in this Section.

Under Section 55.5 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act, the payment rate for all facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health under the ID/DD Community Care Act as intermediate care for the developmentally disabled facilities and under the MC/DD Act as medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities shall be increased to fund rates and reimbursements so that by July 1, 2018 direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $5.25 per hour above the highest of the federal, State, county, or municipal minimum wages, and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage, and by July 1, 2020 direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $6.75 per hour above the highest of the federal, State, county, or municipal minimum wages and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage.

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