HJ0036 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0036 LRB097 12046 KTG 55796 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, There are approximately 2,200,000 persons with disabilities residing in the State of Illinois, most of whom need assistive technology for daily living, education, independence, and employment; and

WHEREAS, A great number of persons with disabilities in Illinois will purchase assistive technology with manufacturing defects or deceptive warranty terms, thereby diminishing their educational and employment opportunities and increasing their dependence upon federal and State support and forcing them to unnecessarily rely upon community based resources and family members for financial support and daily living assistance; and

WHEREAS, It is almost always more cost-effective to purchase appropriate assistive technology for a person with a disability to enable that person to reach his or her potential for independent living, education, and employment than to provide public assistance and government-funded personal care assistance for that person; and

WHEREAS, The Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training Centers Act was enacted by the 90th General Assembly to ensure that persons with disabilities obtain comprehensive services regarding assistive technology including (i) comprehensive individual evaluations for a broad range of assistive technology needs for persons with all types of disabilities for use in the home, at school, in employment, and in the community, and (ii) training regarding assistive technology options available to the consumer and training in the proper use of assistive technology; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training Centers Task Force to study the effectiveness of the Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training Centers Act in protecting consumers from manufacturing defects and warranty abuses by assistive technology manufacturers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit a report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2011 on the results of the study, and should the Task Force determine, after conducting the study, that the Act fails to adequately protect consumers from manufacturing defects and warranty abuses by assistive technology manufacturers, the Task Force shall include in its report recommendations for any necessary legislative changes to the Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of 6 members appointed as follows: 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a representative of the disability community; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; one member appointed by the President of the Senate; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and one member appointed by the Governor, all of whom shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Human Services shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.