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| | HB3623 Engrossed | | LRB099 07222 JLK 27319 b |
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| 1 | | AN ACT concerning health.
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| 2 | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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| 3 | | represented in the General Assembly:
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| 4 | | Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and |
| 5 | | Duties Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is |
| 6 | | amended by adding Section 2310-376.5 as follows:
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| 7 | | (20 ILCS 2310/2310-376.5 new) |
| 8 | | Sec. 2310-376.5. Hepatitis C testing programs; training of |
| 9 | | counselors. |
| 10 | | (a) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall: |
| 11 | | (1) establish a program to heighten awareness and |
| 12 | | enhance knowledge and understanding of hepatitis C, |
| 13 | | including activities to promote public awareness of risk |
| 14 | | factors, the value of early detection, available screening |
| 15 | | services, and available treatment options for hepatitis C; |
| 16 | | (2) conduct a study examining both the current and |
| 17 | | future statuses of the disease in the State; |
| 18 | | (3) communicate to health care providers and employers |
| 19 | | the benefits of disease awareness and prevention; and |
| 20 | | (4) develop a prevention program to reduce the risk of |
| 21 | | transmission of hepatitis C. |
| 22 | | (b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of |
| 23 | | this Section, the Department shall also, subject to |
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| 1 | | appropriation, establish voluntary hepatitis C testing |
| 2 | | programs that provide confidential counseling and testing at |
| 3 | | facilities that provide voluntary HIV testing. The Department |
| 4 | | may contract with public and private entities to perform the |
| 5 | | testing. |
| 6 | | (c) Any test results obtained under subsection (b) of this |
| 7 | | Section shall not be used for insurance purposes, to screen or |
| 8 | | determine suitability for employment, or to terminate a |
| 9 | | person's employment. |
| 10 | | (d) A person who violates subsection (c) of this Section is |
| 11 | | liable to the person injured by the violation, who may bring a |
| 12 | | civil action for damages and recover from the violator the |
| 13 | | greater of $1000 or actual damages, and reasonable attorney's |
| 14 | | fees for each violation. A person may, in addition, bring an |
| 15 | | action to restrain a violation or threatened violation of |
| 16 | | subsection (c). |
| 17 | | (e) The Department shall also, subject to appropriation, |
| 18 | | develop and offer a hepatitis C counseling training course that |
| 19 | | includes information relating to the special needs of persons |
| 20 | | with positive hepatitis C test results, including the |
| 21 | | importance of early intervention and treatment and recognition |
| 22 | | of psychosocial needs. The Department may impose a fee for the |
| 23 | | course to persons other than employees of entities receiving |
| 24 | | State or federal funds for hepatitis C counseling and testing |
| 25 | | program through a contract with the Department. The Department |
| 26 | | shall maintain a registry of persons who successfully complete |