HB4970 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 20203 BDA 33654 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4970

Introduced , by Rep. Nicolle Grasse

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2310/2310-726 new

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Establishes the Office for Community Belonging and Connection in the Department of Public Health for certain purposes and with specified duties. Requires the Office to establish a 3-year pilot program to collect data on the epidemic of loneliness. Requires each State agency that coordinates with the Office to designate a Community Belonging Liaison to represent the agency in an interagency group. Describes the duties of the interagency group. Grants rulemaking powers to the Department. Effective January 1, 2027.

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 1. References to Act. This Act may be referred to as the Community Belonging and Connection Act.

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2310-726 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-726 new)

Sec. 2310-726. Office for Community Belonging and Connection.

(a) In this Section, "epidemic of loneliness" means a public health crisis that is characterized by widespread social disconnection and insufficient relationships and that was declared an epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General in 2023 due to its scale and serious health risks, including, without limitation, risks of heart disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, and premature death.

(b) For the purpose of addressing the epidemic of loneliness, the Office for Community Belonging and Connection is established in the Department. Requirements for officers and staff and other requirements for the Office for Community Belonging and Connection shall be established by rule adopted by the Department, consistent with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Office for Community Belonging and Connection shall, at a minimum:

(1) develop and implement evidence-informed initiatives that strengthen community belonging and reduce social isolation;

(2) coordinate interagency efforts across State agencies in the fields of health, aging, transportation, housing, education, veterans, and human services;

(3) administer Community Belonging and Connection Grants, subject to appropriation, to local entities demonstrating measurable outcomes; and

(4) submit an annual public report to the General Assembly detailing actions taken and outcomes achieved, as well as including data and analysis regarding:

(A) the economic impact of loneliness within communities and for local businesses in the State; and

(B) the correlation between community well-being and the prevalence of crime in communities in the State.

(d) The Office for Community Belonging and Connection shall establish a 3-year pilot program in 3 regions in the State representing rural, suburban, and urban communities. The pilot program shall collect data on the epidemic of loneliness and initiatives intended to address the epidemic of loneliness. This data shall include, without limitation, data on participation, reported loneliness, health outcomes, and civic engagement. The pilot program may implement initiatives intended to address the epidemic of loneliness. The results of the pilot program shall be used to inform recommendations regarding continuation, expansion, or modification of the pilot program and may be used for any other purpose under this Section. The Department, in consultation with the Office for Community Belonging and Connection, shall adopt rules implementing the pilot program under this subsection (d).

(e) Each State agency that coordinates with the Office for Community Belonging and Connection under paragraph (2) of subsection (c) or for any other purpose under this Section shall designate a Community Belonging Liaison to represent the State agency in an interagency group established in the Office for Community Belonging and Connection. The Community Belonging Liaisons from State agencies shall meet quarterly as an interagency group to coordinate implementation of any provision under this Section or rules adopted under this Section, as well as to share best practices regarding addressing the epidemic of loneliness in the State. This interagency group shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing expenditures, programs, and outcomes for each participating State agency. The interagency group, in consultation with the Office for Community Belonging and Connection, shall establish and publicly publish annual benchmarks for State government regarding the purposes under this Section. If an annual benchmark has not been met, as determined by the interagency group, the interagency group shall publicly publish a corrective action plan. The Department, in consultation with the Office for Community Belonging and Connection, the Department on Aging, the Department of Transportation, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Department of Natural Resources, the State Board of Education, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and the Department of Human Services, shall adopt rules implementing this subsection (e).

(f) The Department may adopt any rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this Section.

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