HB4612 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18371 BAB 31813 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4612

Introduced 2/3/2026, by Rep. Suzanne M. Ness

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

210 ILCS 9/30.5 new
210 ILCS 9/81 new
210 ILCS 9/135
210 ILCS 35/5.6 new
210 ILCS 35/8.7 new
210 ILCS 40/10.4
210 ILCS 40/10.5 new

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that an assisted living establishment or a shared housing establishment shall only make referrals to its residents for home services providers that are licensed under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act. Establishes penalties for violating the referral requirement. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Community Living Facilities Licensing Act, and the Life Care Facilities Act to require that the Department of Public Health to distribute to each establishment or facility a one-page, 8.5 by 11 inch public safety announcement flyer in at least 12-point type and that the each establishment or facility post the flyer in a prominent location for all visitors to see. Effective January 1, 2027.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 1. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The health, safety, and welfare of residents of assisted living establishments and shared housing establishments are paramount concerns of the General Assembly.

(2) Residents of such establishments often rely on referrals from the establishment for necessary home services.

(3) Utilizing untrained or unlicensed home services providers poses a significant risk of harm to vulnerable residents, including improper care, neglect, or financial exploitation.

(4) Ensuring that all referred home services providers are licensed under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act is necessary to ensure a minimum standard of competency, training, and accountability.

Section 5. The Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act is amended by adding Sections 30.5 and 81 and by changing Section 135 as follows:

(210 ILCS 9/30.5 new)

Sec. 30.5. Referral of licensed home services providers.

(a) In this Section, "referral" means the act of directing a resident, verbally or in writing, to a specific, nonaffiliated home services provider agency.

(b) An establishment shall only make referrals to its residents for home services providers that are licensed under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act.

(210 ILCS 9/81 new)

Sec. 81. Public safety announcement. The Department shall distribute to each establishment a one-page, 8.5 by 11 inch public safety announcement flyer in at least 12-point type. Each establishment shall post the flyer in a prominent location for all visitors to see. The flyer shall, at a minimum, contain the following information:

(1) important information about choosing caregivers;

(2) an explanation of the differences between licensed and unlicensed home care and home health providers;

(3) common risks associated with unlicensed home care and home health providers; and

(4) information on how to verify if an agency is licensed through the State of Illinois.

(210 ILCS 9/135)

Sec. 135. Civil penalties.

(a) The Department may assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 against any establishment subject to this Act for violations of this Act. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation.

(b) Beginning 180 days after the adoption of rules under this Act, the Department may assess a civil penalty not to exceed $3,000 against any establishment subject to this Act for caring for a resident who exceeds the care needs defined in this Act. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation.

(b-5) An establishment that violates Section 30.5 shall be liable for a civil penalty, payable to the Department, of $1,000 per violation, which shall be recovered in a civil action brought on behalf of the State by the Attorney General in the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurred.

(c) The Department is authorized to hold hearings in contested cases regarding appeals of the penalties assessed pursuant to this Section.

(Source: P.A. 91-656, eff. 1-1-01.)

Section 10. The Community Living Facilities Licensing Act is amended by adding Sections 5.6 and 8.7 as follows:

(210 ILCS 35/5.6 new)

Sec. 5.6. Referral of licensed home services providers.

(a) In this Section, "referral" means the act of directing a resident, verbally or in writing, to a specific, nonaffiliated home services provider agency.

(b) A Community Living Facility shall only make referrals to its residents for home services providers that are licensed under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act.

(c) A Community Living Facility that violates this Section shall be liable for a civil penalty, payable to the Department, of $1,000 per violation, which shall be recovered in a civil action brought on behalf of the State by the Attorney General in the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurred.

(210 ILCS 35/8.7 new)

Sec. 8.7. Public safety announcement. The Department shall distribute to each Community Living Facility a one-page, 8.5 by 11 inch public safety announcement flyer in at least 12-point type. Each Community Living Facility shall post the flyer in a prominent location for all visitors to see. The flyer shall, at a minimum, contain the following information:

(1) important information about choosing caregivers;

(2) an explanation of the differences between licensed and unlicensed home care and home health providers;

(3) common risks associated with unlicensed home care and home health providers; and

(4) information on how to verify if an agency is licensed through the State of Illinois.

Section 15. The Life Care Facilities Act is amended by changing Section 10.4 and by adding Section 10.5 as follows:

(210 ILCS 40/10.4)

Sec. 10.4. Provision of at-home continuing care.

(a) The Department shall adopt rules that:

(1) establish standards for providers of at-home continuing care;

(2) provide for the certification and registration of providers of at-home continuing care and the annual renewal of certificates of registration;

(3) provide for and encourage the establishment of at-home continuing care programs;

(4) set minimum requirements for any individual who is employed by or under contract with a provider of at-home continuing care and who will enter a provider of at-home continuing care's subscriber's home to provide at-home continuing care services, including requirements for criminal background checks of such an individual who will have routine, direct access to a subscriber;

(5) establish standards for the renewal of certificates of registration for providers of at-home continuing care;

(6) establish standards for the number of executed agreements necessary to begin operation as a provider of at-home continuing care;

(7) establish standards for when and how a provider of at-home continuing care or a subscriber may rescind an at-home continuing care agreement before at-home continuing care services are provided to the subscriber;

(8) allow a subscriber to rescind an agreement for at-home continuing care services at any time if the terms of the agreement violate this Section;

(9) establish that a provider may terminate an agreement to provide at-home continuing care services or discharge a subscriber only for just cause; and

(10) establish procedures to carry out a termination or discharge under paragraph (9).

(b) The Department shall certify and register a person as a provider of at-home continuing care services under this Section if the Department determines that:

(1) a reasonable financial plan has been developed to provide at-home continuing care services, including a plan for the number of agreements to be executed before beginning operation;

(2) a market for the at-home continuing care program exists;

(3) the provider has submitted all proposed advertisements, advertising campaigns, and other promotional materials for the program;

(4) the form and substance of all advertisements, advertising campaigns, and other promotional materials submitted are not deceptive, misleading, or likely to mislead; and

(5) an actuarial forecast supports the market for the program.

(c) A provider may not enter into an agreement to provide at-home continuing care services until the Department issues a preliminary certificate of registration to the provider. An application for a preliminary certificate of registration shall:

(1) be filed in a form determined by the Department by rule; and

(2) include:

(A) a copy of the proposed at-home continuing care agreement; and

(B) the form and substance of any proposed advertisements, advertising campaigns, or other promotional materials for the program that are available at the time of filing the application and that have not been filed previously with the Department.

(d) The Department shall issue a preliminary certificate of registration to a provider under subsection (c) if the Department determines that:

(1) the proposed at-home continuing care agreement is satisfactory;

(2) the provider has submitted all proposed advertisements, advertising campaigns, and other promotional materials for the program; and

(3) the form and substance of all advertisements, advertising campaigns, and other promotional materials submitted are not deceptive, misleading, or likely to mislead.

(e) A person may not provide at-home continuing care services until the Department issues a certificate of registration to the person. An application for a certificate of registration shall:

(1) be filed in a form determined by the Department by rule; and

(2) include:

(A) verification that the required number of agreements has been executed;

(B) the form and substance of any proposed advertisements, advertising campaigns, or other promotional materials for the program that are available at the time of filing and that have not been filed previously with the Department; and

(C) verification that any other license or certificate required by other appropriate State units has been issued to the provider.

(f) The Department shall issue a certificate of registration to a provider under subsection (e) if the Department determines that:

(1) the information and documents submitted and application for a preliminary certificate of registration are current and accurate or have been updated to make them accurate;

(2) the required agreements have been executed;

(3) any other license or certificate required by other appropriate State units has been issued to the provider;

(4) the provider has submitted all proposed advertisements, advertising campaigns, and other promotional materials for the program; and

(5) the material submitted is not an advertisement, advertising campaign, or other promotional material that is deceptive, misleading, or likely to mislead.

If a provider intends to advertise before the Department issues a certificate of registration, the provider shall submit to the Department any advertisement, advertising campaign, or other promotional material before using it.

(f-5) In this subsection, "referral" means the act of directing a resident, verbally or in writing, to a specific, nonaffiliated at-home continuing care or other home services provider agency. A facility shall only make referrals to its residents for providers of at-home continuing care, or other home service providers, that are licensed under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act. In addition to being grounds for discipline under subsection (i), a facility that violates this subsection shall be liable for a civil penalty, payable to the Department, of $1,000 per violation, which shall be recovered in a civil action brought on behalf of the State by the Attorney General in the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurred.

(g) Every 2 years, within 120 days after the end of a provider's fiscal year, a provider shall file an application for a renewal certificate of registration with the Department. The application shall:

(A) be filed in a form determined by the Department by rule; and

(B) contain any reasonable and pertinent information that the Department requires.

(h) The Department shall issue a renewal certificate of registration under subsection (g) if the Department determines that:

(1) all required documents have been filed and are satisfactory;

(2) any revised agreements for at-home continuing care services meet the Department's requirements;

(3) the provider has submitted all proposed advertisements, advertising campaigns, and other promotional materials for the program; and

(4) the form and substance of all advertisements, advertising campaigns, and other promotional materials submitted are not deceptive, misleading, or likely to mislead.

(i) The Department may deny, suspend, or revoke a preliminary, initial, or renewal certificate of registration under this Section for cause. The Department shall set forth in writing its reasons for a denial, suspension, or revocation. A provider may appeal a denial in writing. Grounds for a denial, suspension, or revocation include, but are not limited to:

(1) violation of this Section;

(2) violation of a rule adopted by the Department under this Section;

(3) misrepresentation; or

(4) submission of false information.

(Source: P.A. 103-332, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(210 ILCS 40/10.5 new)

Sec. 10.5. Public safety announcement. The Department shall distribute to each facility a one-page, 8.5 by 11 inch public safety announcement flyer in at least 12-point type. Each facility shall post the flyer in a prominent location for all visitors to see. The flyer shall, at a minimum, contain the following information:

(1) important information about choosing caregivers;

(2) an explanation of the differences between licensed and unlicensed home care and home health providers;

(3) common risks associated with unlicensed home care and home health providers; and

(4) information on how to verify if an agency is licensed through the State of Illinois.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2027.