SR0055LRB102 14863 ECR 20216 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, In 1990, The LaSalle Veterans' Home opened in a 
3residential area on the northeast side of LaSalle in LaSalle 
4County on a campus of slightly more than four acres; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, The LaSalle Veterans' Home can house over 180 
6residents and employs over 230 staff; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a severe, potentially lethal virus 
8spread through close human interaction; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, On November 1, 2020, the first four cases of a 
10large scale COVID-19 outbreak were reported at the LaSalle 
11Veterans' Home; this outbreak would shortly claim the lives of 
1233 residents; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Between November 1, 2020 and January 4, 2021, 
14more than 200 residents and staff tested positive for the 
15coronavirus, leading to the deaths of 36 resident veterans; 
16and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), 
18in coordination with the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, 
19conducted an onsite visit on November 12, 2020; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, The LaSalle Veterans' Home followed the 
2recommendations of  IDPH and completed remediations of key 
3findings in the November 12, 2020 onsite visit; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, In December of 2020, Senate and House hearings 
5were conducted without the presence of an individual with 
6decision-making authority from the IDPH; therefore, be it
  
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL 
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is 
9directed to conduct a performance audit of the Illinois 
10Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Illinois Department of 
11Public Health's management of the 2020 coronavirus outbreak at 
12the LaSalle Veterans' Home; and be it further
  
 
13    RESOLVED, That this performance audit include, but not be 
14limited to, the following determinations:
15        (1) The responses of the Department of Veterans' 
16    Affairs and Department of Public Health to the outbreak of 
17    COVID-19 in November and December of 2020;
18        (2) The type, cost, and timing of any infrastructure 
19    or other building improvements intended to contain the 
20    further spread of coronavirus;
21        (3) The nature of changes made by the Departments in 
22    operating protocols and staff training thereon intended to 
23    contain the further spread of coronavirus or prevent its 
 
 
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1    reoccurrence;
2        (4) The nature and extent of monitoring conducted by 
3    the Departments to determine whether the improvements and 
4    protocols put in place are effective to ensure the safety 
5    of residents and staff at the LaSalle Veterans' Home; and
6        (5) The amount of State moneys received and the amount 
7    of state moneys expended by the Departments or any other 
8    State agency during State fiscal years 2021 for any 
9    improvements, monitoring, and other measures taken to 
10    address the coronavirus pandemic at the LaSalle Veterans' 
11    Home; and be it further;
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Veterans' 
13Affairs, Illinois Department of Public Health, and any other 
14State agency or other entity or person that may have 
15information relevant to this audit cooperate fully and 
16promptly with the Auditor General's Office in its audit; and 
17be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as 
19soon as practical and report its findings and recommendations 
20upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 
213-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further
  
 
22    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
23presented to the Auditor General.