HB0904 Engrossed LRB094 07005 DRJ 37128 b

1     AN ACT concerning health.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and
5 Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
6 amended by changing Section 2310-376 as follows:
 
7     (20 ILCS 2310/2310-376)
8     Sec. 2310-376. Hepatitis C education and outreach.
9     (a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the
10 following:
11         (1) The World Health Organization characterizes
12     Hepatitis C as a disease of primary concern to humanity.
13         (2) Hepatitis C is considered a silent killer; no
14     recognizable signs or symptoms occur until severe liver
15     damage has occurred.
16         (3) Studies indicate that nearly 4 million Americans
17     (1.8 percent of the population) carry the virus HCV that
18     causes the disease.
19         (4) 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in the
20     United States, and only 25 to 30 percent are diagnosed.
21         (5) 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from the disease each
22     year.
23         (6) 200,000 Illinois residents may be carriers and
24     could develop the debilitating and potentially deadly
25     liver disease.
26         (7) Inmates of correctional facilities have a higher
27     incidence of Hepatitis C and, upon their release, present a
28     significant health risk to the general population.
29     (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall conduct
30 an education and outreach campaign, in addition to its overall
31 effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois, in order to
32 raise awareness about and promote prevention of Hepatitis C.

 

 

HB0904 Engrossed - 2 - LRB094 07005 DRJ 37128 b

1     (c) The Department shall establish an Advisory Council on
2 Hepatitis to develop a Hepatitis prevention plan. The
3 Department shall specify the membership, members' terms,
4 provisions for removal of members, chairmen, and purpose of the
5 Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall consist of one
6 representative from each of the following State agencies or
7 offices, appointed by the head of each agency or office:
8         (1) The Department of Public Health.
9         (2) The Department of Public Aid.
10         (3) The Department of Corrections.
11         (4) The Department of Veterans' Affairs.
12         (5) The Department on Aging.
13         (6) The Department of Human Services.
14         (7) The Department of State Police.
15         (8) The office of the State Fire Marshal.
16     The Director shall appoint representatives of
17 organizations and advocates in the State of Illinois,
18 including, but not limited to, the American Liver Foundation.
19 The Director shall also appoint interested members of the
20 public, including consumers and providers of health services
21 and representatives of local public health agencies, to provide
22 recommendations and information to the members of the Advisory
23 Council. Members of the Advisory Council shall serve on a
24 voluntary, unpaid basis and are not entitled to reimbursement
25 for mileage or other costs they incur in connection with
26 performing their duties.
27 (Source: P.A. 93-129, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
28     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
29 becoming law.