HB5553 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37756 KTG 67884 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5553

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Sharon Chung

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1305/10-80 new

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer a program to provide grants to crisis walk-in centers that provide services in a homelike environment to persons experiencing a mental health crisis who would otherwise be placed in improper care settings. Provides that to be eligible for a grant under the program a crisis walk-in center must provide crisis intervention and support services to adults 18 years of age or older at a facility that operates a minimum of 8 to 16 hours per day, 5 to 7 days a week. Requires staff at the crisis walk-in center to include at least one certified peer recovery support specialist and at least one licensed mental health professional who is available during the center's hours of operation to assess the severity of a client's mental health crisis, assist in developing a safety plan, and connect a client to appropriate community resources and other long-term behavioral health providers. Provides that grants awarded under the program may be used to fund increased staffing, facility improvements, or security measures at existing crisis walk-in centers. Provides that grants may also be awarded to behavioral health providers for the establishment or operation of crisis walk-in centers in underserved communities. Permits the Department to adopt rules on application requirements and any other rules necessary to implement the program.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by adding Section 10-80 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/10-80 new)

Sec. 10-80. Crisis walk-in centers; grants. Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer a program to provide grants to crisis walk-in centers that provide services in a homelike environment to persons experiencing a mental health crisis who would otherwise be placed in improper care settings. To be eligible for a grant under the program a crisis walk-in center must provide crisis intervention and support services to adults 18 years of age or older at a facility that operates a minimum of 8 to 16 hours per day, 5 to 7 days a week. Staff at the crisis walk-in center must include at least one certified peer recovery support specialist and at least one licensed mental health professional who is available during the center's hours of operation to assess the severity of a client's mental health crisis, assist in developing a safety plan, and connect a client to appropriate community resources and other long-term behavioral health providers. Grants awarded under the program may be used to fund increased staffing, facility improvements, or security measures at existing crisis walk-in centers. Grants may also be awarded to behavioral health providers for the establishment or operation of crisis walk-in centers in underserved communities. The Department may adopt rules on application requirements and any other rules necessary to implement the program. For purposes of this Section, "licensed mental health professional" means a licensed psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, clinical professional counselor, or clinical social worker.