HB4011 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 11865 KTG 17201 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4011

Introduced 3/4/2021, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

405 ILCS 30/4.3

Amends the Community Services Act. Removes language requiring the Department of Human Services to establish a Family Support Services Voucher Pilot Program and instead requires the Department to coordinate and fund the Voucher Respite Program. Provides that the Voucher Respite Program shall be a subset of specified programs with the exception that administration of the Program shall not be limited to agencies that provide respite services. Provides that the purpose of the Program is to increase the number of families who are able to access respite services; provide families with greater flexibility over services; and prevent or delay the need for more intensive long-term care and support. Makes other conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2021.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning mental health.

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

Section 5. The Community Services Act is amended by changing Section 4.3 as follows:

(405 ILCS 30/4.3)

Sec. 4.3. Voucher Respite Program Family Support Services Voucher Pilot Program.

(a) In this Section:

"Family member" means a family member as defined by rules adopted by the Department of Human Services.

"Voucher respite services" "Family support services" means the services and activities described in subsection (d).

(b) The Department of Human Services shall coordinate and fund the establish a Family Support Services Voucher Respite Pilot Program which shall be a subset conversion of the programs program defined in Section 4.1 with the exception that administration of the Voucher Respite Program shall not be limited to agencies that provide respite services. The Voucher Respite Program may be administered by entities meeting the standards outlined by the Department. The Department shall establish Voucher Respite contracts with community entities throughout the State in order to meet the service needs of families. The Department may establish no more than 5 pilot programs.

(c) The purpose of the Voucher Respite Program the pilot program is to do the following:

(1) Increase the number of families who are able to access respite family support services.

(2) Provide families with greater flexibility control over family support services.

(3) Ensure that the diverse family support services needs of families can be accommodated.

(4) Prevent or delay the need for more intensive long-term care and support. Encourage a family's contribution toward payment for the family support services they receive.

(5) (Blank). Serve as a pilot program to evaluate the merits of a family support services voucher program in comparison to the traditional respite program.

(d) The Department shall contract with community entities agencies to issue vouchers to participating families, or to employ a voucher-like method that similarly makes services available based on the choice of families. A family may use the vouchers to purchase the following services and activities or to otherwise provide for those services and activities:

(1) Services of an in-home caregiver to supervise the family member with a developmental disability in the home or in the community or both when other family members are not present.

(2) Services of a person to accompany the family member with a developmental disability on outings, community activities, and similar activities.

(3) Registration of the family member with a developmental disability in park district programs, extracurricular school activities, community college classes, and other similar types of community-based programs.

(4) Services of home health care personnel if medical training or expertise is required to meet the needs of the family member with a developmental disability.

(e) Families may employ the following types of individuals to provide family support services:

(1) Related family members who do not reside in the same home as the family member with a developmental disability.

(2) Friends or neighbors whom the family designates as capable of meeting the needs of the family member with a developmental disability.

(3) Individuals recruited from the community (for example, church members or college students).

(4) Individuals who work with the family member with a developmental disability in a different capacity (for example, classroom aide or day program staff).

(5) Persons whose services are contracted for through a home health agency licensed under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act.

(f) Voucher respite services Family support services moneys under the pilot program may not be used to purchase or provide for any of the following services or activities:

(1) Out-of-home medical services.

(2) Medical, therapeutic, or developmental evaluations.

(3) Any product or item (for example, sports equipment, therapeutic devices, or clothing).

(4) Respite Family support services provided by a family member whose primary residence is the same as that of the family member with a developmental disability.

(5) Services of a person to accompany the family on an overnight trip.

(6) Any service or activity that should be provided by the school in which the family member with a developmental disability is enrolled or that occurs as part of that school's typical school routine.

(7) Child care services while the primary caretaker works.

(g) (Blank) The Department of Human Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly by March 1, 2000 evaluating the merits of the pilot program.

(Source: P.A. 94-379, eff. 1-1-06.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2021.