093_HB1102

 
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 1        AN ACT in relation to caregiving.

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


 4        Section 1.  Short title. This Act may  be  cited  as  the
 5    Family Caregivers Support Coordinating Council Act.

 6        Section 5.  Definitions. In this Act:
 7        "Family caregiver" means a family member who provides for
 8    the health and personal care of an elderly or disabled person
 9    (including  a  disabled  child)  at  the  elderly or disabled
10    person's place of residence. Such care includes, but  is  not
11    limited  to, food and nutrition, shelter, hygiene, prescribed
12    medication, and medical care and treatment.
13        "Council"   means   the   Family    Caregivers    Support
14    Coordinating Council created under Section 10.

15        Section   10.  Council   created;   purpose.  The  Family
16    Caregivers  Support  Coordinating  Council  is  created.  The
17    purpose of the Council is to coordinate  statewide  planning,
18    development,  and  implementation of family caregiver support
19    services.

20        Section 15. Council membership.
21        (a) The Council shall consist of the  following  members,
22    appointed by the Governor:
23             (1)  Three  representatives  from  the Department on
24        Aging.
25             (2) Three representatives  from  the  Department  of
26        Human Services.
27             (3)  One representative from an area agency on aging
28        as defined in the Illinois Act on the Aging.
 
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 1             (4) One representative from the Governor's  Planning
 2        Council on Developmental Disabilities.
 3             (5)  Two  consumers  of  respite  care  services  as
 4        defined in the Respite Program Act.
 5             (6) Three family caregivers.
 6             (7)  Three  representatives  of  organizations  that
 7        provide  or have an interest or expertise in respite care
 8        services.
 9        (b) In appointing members to the Council,  the  Governor,
10    to  the  extent  possible, shall consider groups representing
11    individuals with the following:
12             (1) Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
13             (2) Developmental disabilities.
14             (3) Physical disabilities.
15             (4) Chronic illnesses.
16             (5) Mental  or  emotional  conditions  that  require
17        supervision.
18             (6) Vulnerability to abuse or neglect.
19        (c)  The  Governor shall appoint Council members to serve
20    for terms of 3 years. Upon the expiration of a member's term,
21    the Governor may reappoint the member for another term or may
22    appoint another individual.
23        (d) The Governor shall appoint a chairman of the  Council
24    from among the members.
25        (e)  Council  members  shall  serve without compensation,
26    except that they shall be  reimbursed  for  their  reasonable
27    expenses  actually  incurred  in  performing  their  official
28    duties.

29          Section  20. Staff support. The Department on Aging and
30    the Department of Human Services shall provide staff  support
31    to   the   Council.   The  2  departments  shall  execute  an
32    interagency agreement providing for the shared responsibility
33    of providing that support.
 
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 1        Section 25. Council responsibilities. The  Council  shall
 2    do the following:
 3             (1) Solicit and gather concerns of family caregivers
 4        by   conducting   surveys,   holding   public   hearings,
 5        establishing  a  telephone hotline for public access, and
 6        other appropriate means.
 7             (2) Develop and distribute to interested  parties  a
 8        handbook  of  current  respite and other family caregiver
 9        services available in this State.
10             (3) Review successful respite care programs in other
11        states.
12             (4)  Identify  best  practices  and  suggest  policy
13        changes to enhance the level of State support for  family
14        caregivers.
15             (5) Develop a model family caregiver support program
16        that  incorporates  best practices from existing programs
17        in this State and in other states.
18             (6) Coordinate activities of existing  and  proposed
19        family  caregiver  support services between the State and
20        local public agencies.
21             (7) Research available funding sources  and  explore
22        possibilities for additional funds.
23             (8)   Identify   unmet   needs  and  priorities  for
24        additional funds.

25        Section 30. Annual report. By January 1, 2005 and January
26    1 of each year thereafter, the Council shall submit a  report
27    on its activities to the Governor and the General Assembly.