SB1164 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 06324 KTG 36365 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB1164

Introduced 1/30/2013, by Sen. William R. Haine

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Repeals the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act. Amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Adult Protective Services Act and amends various Acts to change references to the short title. Adds and defines new terms. Provides that within 6 months, the Department on Aging shall establish a centralized Adult Protective Services Helpline for the purposes of reporting the abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult. Requires the Department on Aging to make the helpline accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and to post its telephone number online. Requires the Department on Aging to report to the Department of Public Health's health care worker registry the identity and administrative finding against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated decision of significant abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult. Contains provisions concerning notice to caregivers; report challenges; registry hearings; a caregiver's rights to collateral action; removal from the registry; and the referral of registry reports to health care facilities; the establishment of a Statewide Fatality Review Team; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2013.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning adult protective services.

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

Section 2. The Open Meetings Act is amended by changing Section 2 as follows:

(5 ILCS 120/2) (from Ch. 102, par. 42)

Sec. 2. Open meetings.

(a) Openness required. All meetings of public bodies shall be open to the public unless excepted in subsection (c) and closed in accordance with Section 2a.

(b) Construction of exceptions. The exceptions contained in subsection (c) are in derogation of the requirement that public bodies meet in the open, and therefore, the exceptions are to be strictly construed, extending only to subjects clearly within their scope. The exceptions authorize but do not require the holding of a closed meeting to discuss a subject included within an enumerated exception.

(c) Exceptions. A public body may hold closed meetings to consider the following subjects:

(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

(3) The selection of a person to fill a public office, as defined in this Act, including a vacancy in a public office, when the public body is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the public body is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance.

(4) Evidence or testimony presented in open hearing, or in closed hearing where specifically authorized by law, to a quasi-adjudicative body, as defined in this Act, provided that the body prepares and makes available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning.

(5) The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired.

(6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body.

(7) The sale or purchase of securities, investments, or investment contracts. This exception shall not apply to the investment of assets or income of funds deposited into the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund.

(8) Security procedures and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property.

(9) Student disciplinary cases.

(10) The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

(11) Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

(12) The establishment of reserves or settlement of claims as provided in the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, if otherwise the disposition of a claim or potential claim might be prejudiced, or the review or discussion of claims, loss or risk management information, records, data, advice or communications from or with respect to any insurer of the public body or any intergovernmental risk management association or self insurance pool of which the public body is a member.

(13) Conciliation of complaints of discrimination in the sale or rental of housing, when closed meetings are authorized by the law or ordinance prescribing fair housing practices and creating a commission or administrative agency for their enforcement.

(14) Informant sources, the hiring or assignment of undercover personnel or equipment, or ongoing, prior or future criminal investigations, when discussed by a public body with criminal investigatory responsibilities.

(15) Professional ethics or performance when considered by an advisory body appointed to advise a licensing or regulatory agency on matters germane to the advisory body's field of competence.

(16) Self evaluation, practices and procedures or professional ethics, when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public body is a member.

(17) The recruitment, credentialing, discipline or formal peer review of physicians or other health care professionals for a hospital, or other institution providing medical care, that is operated by the public body.

(18) Deliberations for decisions of the Prisoner Review Board.

(19) Review or discussion of applications received under the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Act.

(20) The classification and discussion of matters classified as confidential or continued confidential by the State Government Suggestion Award Board.

(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06.

(22) Deliberations for decisions of the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board.

(23) The operation by a municipality of a municipal utility or the operation of a municipal power agency or municipal natural gas agency when the discussion involves (i) contracts relating to the purchase, sale, or delivery of electricity or natural gas or (ii) the results or conclusions of load forecast studies.

(24) Meetings of a residential health care facility resident sexual assault and death review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act.

(25) Meetings of an independent team of experts under Brian's Law.

(26) Meetings of a mortality review team appointed under the Department of Juvenile Justice Mortality Review Team Act.

(27) Confidential information, when discussed by one or more members of an elder abuse fatality review team, designated under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, while participating in a review conducted by that team of the death of an elderly person in which abuse or neglect is suspected, alleged, or substantiated; provided that before the review team holds a closed meeting, or closes an open meeting, to discuss the confidential information, each participating review team member seeking to disclose the confidential information in the closed meeting or closed portion of the meeting must state on the record during an open meeting or the open portion of a meeting the nature of the information to be disclosed and the legal basis for otherwise holding that information confidential.

(28) Correspondence and records (i) that may not be disclosed under Section 11-9 of the Public Aid Code or (ii) that pertain to appeals under Section 11-8 of the Public Aid Code.

(29) Meetings between internal or external auditors and governmental audit committees, finance committees, and their equivalents, when the discussion involves internal control weaknesses, identification of potential fraud risk areas, known or suspected frauds, and fraud interviews conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards of the United States of America.

(d) Definitions. For purposes of this Section:

"Employee" means a person employed by a public body whose relationship with the public body constitutes an employer-employee relationship under the usual common law rules, and who is not an independent contractor.

"Public office" means a position created by or under the Constitution or laws of this State, the occupant of which is charged with the exercise of some portion of the sovereign power of this State. The term "public office" shall include members of the public body, but it shall not include organizational positions filled by members thereof, whether established by law or by a public body itself, that exist to assist the body in the conduct of its business.

"Quasi-adjudicative body" means an administrative body charged by law or ordinance with the responsibility to conduct hearings, receive evidence or testimony and make determinations based thereon, but does not include local electoral boards when such bodies are considering petition challenges.

(e) Final action. No final action may be taken at a closed meeting. Final action shall be preceded by a public recital of the nature of the matter being considered and other information that will inform the public of the business being conducted.

(Source: P.A. 96-1235, eff. 1-1-11; 96-1378, eff. 7-29-10; 96-1428, eff. 8-11-10; 97-318, eff. 1-1-12; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11; 97-452, eff. 8-19-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 97-876, eff. 8-1-12.)

Section 3. The State Employee Indemnification Act is amended by changing Section 1 as follows:

(5 ILCS 350/1) (from Ch. 127, par. 1301)

Sec. 1. Definitions. For the purpose of this Act:

(a) The term "State" means the State of Illinois, the General Assembly, the court, or any State office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or committee, the governing boards of the public institutions of higher education created by the State, the Illinois National Guard, the Comprehensive Health Insurance Board, any poison control center designated under the Poison Control System Act that receives State funding, or any other agency or instrumentality of the State. It does not mean any local public entity as that term is defined in Section 1-206 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act or a pension fund.

(b) The term "employee" means any present or former elected or appointed officer, trustee or employee of the State, or of a pension fund, any present or former commissioner or employee of the Executive Ethics Commission or of the Legislative Ethics Commission, any present or former Executive, Legislative, or Auditor General's Inspector General, any present or former employee of an Office of an Executive, Legislative, or Auditor General's Inspector General, any present or former member of the Illinois National Guard while on active duty, individuals or organizations who contract with the Department of Corrections, the Comprehensive Health Insurance Board, or the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide services, individuals or organizations who contract with the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities) to provide services including but not limited to treatment and other services for sexually violent persons, individuals or organizations who contract with the Department of Military Affairs for youth programs, individuals or organizations who contract to perform carnival and amusement ride safety inspections for the Department of Labor, individual representatives of or designated organizations authorized to represent the Office of State Long-Term Ombudsman for the Department on Aging, individual representatives of or organizations designated by the Department on Aging in the performance of their duties as elder abuse provider agencies or regional administrative agencies under the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, individuals or organizations who perform volunteer services for the State where such volunteer relationship is reduced to writing, individuals who serve on any public entity (whether created by law or administrative action) described in paragraph (a) of this Section, individuals or not for profit organizations who, either as volunteers, where such volunteer relationship is reduced to writing, or pursuant to contract, furnish professional advice or consultation to any agency or instrumentality of the State, individuals who serve as foster parents for the Department of Children and Family Services when caring for a Department ward, individuals who serve as members of an independent team of experts under Brian's Law, and individuals who serve as arbitrators pursuant to Part 10A of Article II of the Code of Civil Procedure and the rules of the Supreme Court implementing Part 10A, each as now or hereafter amended, but does not mean an independent contractor except as provided in this Section. The term includes an individual appointed as an inspector by the Director of State Police when performing duties within the scope of the activities of a Metropolitan Enforcement Group or a law enforcement organization established under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act. An individual who renders professional advice and consultation to the State through an organization which qualifies as an "employee" under the Act is also an employee. The term includes the estate or personal representative of an employee.

(c) The term "pension fund" means a retirement system or pension fund created under the Illinois Pension Code.

(Source: P.A. 96-1235, eff. 1-1-11.)

Section 4. The Illinois Act on the Aging is amended by changing Section 4.01 as follows:

(20 ILCS 105/4.01) (from Ch. 23, par. 6104.01)

Sec. 4.01. Additional powers and duties of the Department. In addition to powers and duties otherwise provided by law, the Department shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To evaluate all programs, services, and facilities for the aged and for minority senior citizens within the State and determine the extent to which present public or private programs, services and facilities meet the needs of the aged.

(2) To coordinate and evaluate all programs, services, and facilities for the Aging and for minority senior citizens presently furnished by State agencies and make appropriate recommendations regarding such services, programs and facilities to the Governor and/or the General Assembly.

(3) To function as the sole State agency to develop a comprehensive plan to meet the needs of the State's senior citizens and the State's minority senior citizens.

(4) To receive and disburse State and federal funds made available directly to the Department including those funds made available under the Older Americans Act and the Senior Community Service Employment Program for providing services for senior citizens and minority senior citizens or for purposes related thereto, and shall develop and administer any State Plan for the Aging required by federal law.

(5) To solicit, accept, hold, and administer in behalf of the State any grants or legacies of money, securities, or property to the State of Illinois for services to senior citizens and minority senior citizens or purposes related thereto.

(6) To provide consultation and assistance to communities, area agencies on aging, and groups developing local services for senior citizens and minority senior citizens.

(7) To promote community education regarding the problems of senior citizens and minority senior citizens through institutes, publications, radio, television and the local press.

(8) To cooperate with agencies of the federal government in studies and conferences designed to examine the needs of senior citizens and minority senior citizens and to prepare programs and facilities to meet those needs.

(9) To establish and maintain information and referral sources throughout the State when not provided by other agencies.

(10) To provide the staff support that may reasonably be required by the Council.

(11) To make and enforce rules and regulations necessary and proper to the performance of its duties.

(12) To establish and fund programs or projects or experimental facilities that are specially designed as alternatives to institutional care.

(13) To develop a training program to train the counselors presently employed by the Department's aging network to provide Medicare beneficiaries with counseling and advocacy in Medicare, private health insurance, and related health care coverage plans. The Department shall report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the training program on or before December 1, 1986.

(14) To make a grant to an institution of higher learning to study the feasibility of establishing and implementing an affirmative action employment plan for the recruitment, hiring, training and retraining of persons 60 or more years old for jobs for which their employment would not be precluded by law.

(15) To present one award annually in each of the categories of community service, education, the performance and graphic arts, and the labor force to outstanding Illinois senior citizens and minority senior citizens in recognition of their individual contributions to either community service, education, the performance and graphic arts, or the labor force. The awards shall be presented to 4 senior citizens and minority senior citizens selected from a list of 44 nominees compiled annually by the Department. Nominations shall be solicited from senior citizens' service providers, area agencies on aging, senior citizens' centers, and senior citizens' organizations. The Department shall establish a central location within the State to be designated as the Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame for the public display of all the annual awards, or replicas thereof.

(16) To establish multipurpose senior centers through area agencies on aging and to fund those new and existing multipurpose senior centers through area agencies on aging, the establishment and funding to begin in such areas of the State as the Department shall designate by rule and as specifically appropriated funds become available.

(17) To develop the content and format of the acknowledgment regarding non-recourse reverse mortgage loans under Section 6.1 of the Illinois Banking Act; to provide independent consumer information on reverse mortgages and alternatives; and to refer consumers to independent counseling services with expertise in reverse mortgages.

(18) To develop a pamphlet in English and Spanish which may be used by physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches pursuant to the Medical Practice Act of 1987, pharmacists licensed pursuant to the Pharmacy Practice Act, and Illinois residents 65 years of age or older for the purpose of assisting physicians, pharmacists, and patients in monitoring prescriptions provided by various physicians and to aid persons 65 years of age or older in complying with directions for proper use of pharmaceutical prescriptions. The pamphlet may provide space for recording information including but not limited to the following:

(a) name and telephone number of the patient;

(b) name and telephone number of the prescribing physician;

(c) date of prescription;

(d) name of drug prescribed;

(e) directions for patient compliance; and

(f) name and telephone number of dispensing pharmacy.

In developing the pamphlet, the Department shall consult with the Illinois State Medical Society, the Center for Minority Health Services, the Illinois Pharmacists Association and senior citizens organizations. The Department shall distribute the pamphlets to physicians, pharmacists and persons 65 years of age or older or various senior citizen organizations throughout the State.

(19) To conduct a study of the feasibility of implementing the Senior Companion Program throughout the State.

(20) The reimbursement rates paid through the community care program for chore housekeeping services and home care aides shall be the same.

(21) From funds appropriated to the Department from the Meals on Wheels Fund, a special fund in the State treasury that is hereby created, and in accordance with State and federal guidelines and the intrastate funding formula, to make grants to area agencies on aging, designated by the Department, for the sole purpose of delivering meals to homebound persons 60 years of age and older.

(22) To distribute, through its area agencies on aging, information alerting seniors on safety issues regarding emergency weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold, flooding, tornadoes, electrical storms, and other severe storm weather. The information shall include all necessary instructions for safety and all emergency telephone numbers of organizations that will provide additional information and assistance.

(23) To develop guidelines for the organization and implementation of Volunteer Services Credit Programs to be administered by Area Agencies on Aging or community based senior service organizations. The Department shall hold public hearings on the proposed guidelines for public comment, suggestion, and determination of public interest. The guidelines shall be based on the findings of other states and of community organizations in Illinois that are currently operating volunteer services credit programs or demonstration volunteer services credit programs. The Department shall offer guidelines for all aspects of the programs including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) types of services to be offered by volunteers;

(b) types of services to be received upon the redemption of service credits;

(c) issues of liability for the volunteers and the administering organizations;

(d) methods of tracking service credits earned and service credits redeemed;

(e) issues of time limits for redemption of service credits;

(f) methods of recruitment of volunteers;

(g) utilization of community volunteers, community service groups, and other resources for delivering services to be received by service credit program clients;

(h) accountability and assurance that services will be available to individuals who have earned service credits; and

(i) volunteer screening and qualifications.

The Department shall submit a written copy of the guidelines to the General Assembly by July 1, 1998.

(24) To function as the sole State agency to receive and disburse State and federal funds for providing adult protective services in a domestic living situation.

(Source: P.A. 95-298, eff. 8-20-07; 95-689, eff. 10-29-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-918, eff. 6-9-10.)

Section 10. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by changing Section 1-17 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/1-17)

Sec. 1-17. Inspector General.

(a) Nature and purpose. It is the express intent of the General Assembly to ensure the health, safety, and financial condition of individuals receiving services in this State due to mental illness, developmental disability, or both by protecting those persons from acts of abuse, neglect, or both by service providers. To that end, the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Human Services is created to investigate and report upon allegations of the abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of individuals receiving services within mental health facilities, developmental disabilities facilities, and community agencies operated, licensed, funded or certified by the Department of Human Services, but not licensed or certified by any other State agency. It is also the express intent of the General Assembly to authorize the Inspector General to investigate alleged or suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of adults with disabilities living in domestic settings in the community under the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act.

(b) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this Section:

"Adult student with a disability" means an adult student, age 18 through 21, inclusive, with an Individual Education Program, other than a resident of a facility licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services in accordance with the Child Care Act of 1969. For purposes of this definition, "through age 21, inclusive", means through the day before the student's 22nd birthday.

"Agency" or "community agency" means (i) a community agency licensed, funded, or certified by the Department, but not licensed or certified by any other human services agency of the State, to provide mental health service or developmental disabilities service, or (ii) a program licensed, funded, or certified by the Department, but not licensed or certified by any other human services agency of the State, to provide mental health service or developmental disabilities service.

"Aggravating circumstance" means a factor that is attendant to a finding and that tends to compound or increase the culpability of the accused.

"Allegation" means an assertion, complaint, suspicion, or incident involving any of the following conduct by an employee, facility, or agency against an individual or individuals: mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.

"Day" means working day, unless otherwise specified.

"Deflection" means a situation in which an individual is presented for admission to a facility or agency, and the facility staff or agency staff do not admit the individual. "Deflection" includes triage, redirection, and denial of admission.

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

"Developmentally disabled" means having a developmental disability.

"Developmental disability" means "developmental disability" as defined in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.

"Egregious neglect" means a finding of neglect as determined by the Inspector General that (i) represents a gross failure to adequately provide for, or a callused indifference to, the health, safety, or medical needs of an individual and (ii) results in an individual's death or other serious deterioration of an individual's physical condition or mental condition.

"Employee" means any person who provides services at the facility or agency on-site or off-site. The service relationship can be with the individual or with the facility or agency. Also, "employee" includes any employee or contractual agent of the Department of Human Services or the community agency involved in providing or monitoring or administering mental health or developmental disability services. This includes but is not limited to: owners, operators, payroll personnel, contractors, subcontractors, and volunteers.

"Facility" or "State-operated facility" means a mental health facility or developmental disabilities facility operated by the Department.

"Financial exploitation" means taking unjust advantage of an individual's assets, property, or financial resources through deception, intimidation, or conversion for the employee's, facility's, or agency's own advantage or benefit.

"Finding" means the Office of Inspector General's determination regarding whether an allegation is substantiated, unsubstantiated, or unfounded.

"Health care worker registry" or "registry" means the health care worker registry created by the Nursing Home Care Act.

"Individual" means any person receiving mental health service, developmental disabilities service, or both from a facility or agency, while either on-site or off-site.

"Mental abuse" means the use of demeaning, intimidating, or threatening words, signs, gestures, or other actions by an employee about an individual and in the presence of an individual or individuals that results in emotional distress or maladaptive behavior, or could have resulted in emotional distress or maladaptive behavior, for any individual present.

"Mental illness" means "mental illness" as defined in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.

"Mentally ill" means having a mental illness.

"Mitigating circumstance" means a condition that (i) is attendant to a finding, (ii) does not excuse or justify the conduct in question, but (iii) may be considered in evaluating the severity of the conduct, the culpability of the accused, or both the severity of the conduct and the culpability of the accused.

"Neglect" means an employee's, agency's, or facility's failure to provide adequate medical care, personal care, or maintenance and that, as a consequence, (i) causes an individual pain, injury, or emotional distress, (ii) results in either an individual's maladaptive behavior or the deterioration of an individual's physical condition or mental condition, or (iii) places the individual's health or safety at substantial risk.

"Physical abuse" means an employee's non-accidental and inappropriate contact with an individual that causes bodily harm. "Physical abuse" includes actions that cause bodily harm as a result of an employee directing an individual or person to physically abuse another individual.

"Recommendation" means an admonition, separate from a finding, that requires action by the facility, agency, or Department to correct a systemic issue, problem, or deficiency identified during an investigation.

"Required reporter" means any employee who suspects, witnesses, or is informed of an allegation of any one or more of the following: mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.

"Secretary" means the Chief Administrative Officer of the Department.

"Sexual abuse" means any sexual contact or intimate physical contact between an employee and an individual, including an employee's coercion or encouragement of an individual to engage in sexual behavior that results in sexual contact, intimate physical contact, sexual behavior, or intimate physical behavior.

"Substantiated" means there is a preponderance of the evidence to support the allegation.

"Unfounded" means there is no credible evidence to support the allegation.

"Unsubstantiated" means there is credible evidence, but less than a preponderance of evidence to support the allegation.

(c) Appointment. The Governor shall appoint, and the Senate shall confirm, an Inspector General. The Inspector General shall be appointed for a term of 4 years and shall function within the Department of Human Services and report to the Secretary and the Governor.

(d) Operation and appropriation. The Inspector General shall function independently within the Department with respect to the operations of the Office, including the performance of investigations and issuance of findings and recommendations. The appropriation for the Office of Inspector General shall be separate from the overall appropriation for the Department.

(e) Powers and duties. The Inspector General shall investigate reports of suspected mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of individuals in any mental health or developmental disabilities facility or agency and shall have authority to take immediate action to prevent any one or more of the following from happening to individuals under its jurisdiction: mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Upon written request of an agency of this State, the Inspector General may assist another agency of the State in investigating reports of the abuse, neglect, or abuse and neglect of persons with mental illness, persons with developmental disabilities, or persons with both. To comply with the requirements of subsection (k) of this Section, the Inspector General shall also review all reportable deaths for which there is no allegation of abuse or neglect. Nothing in this Section shall preempt any duties of the Medical Review Board set forth in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. The Inspector General shall have no authority to investigate alleged violations of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Allegations of misconduct under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act shall be referred to the Office of the Governor's Executive Inspector General for investigation.

(f) Limitations. The Inspector General shall not conduct an investigation within an agency or facility if that investigation would be redundant to or interfere with an investigation conducted by another State agency. The Inspector General shall have no supervision over, or involvement in, the routine programmatic, licensing, funding, or certification operations of the Department. Nothing in this subsection limits investigations by the Department that may otherwise be required by law or that may be necessary in the Department's capacity as central administrative authority responsible for the operation of the State's mental health and developmental disabilities facilities.

(g) Rulemaking authority. The Inspector General shall promulgate rules establishing minimum requirements for reporting allegations as well as for initiating, conducting, and completing investigations based upon the nature of the allegation or allegations. The rules shall clearly establish that if 2 or more State agencies could investigate an allegation, the Inspector General shall not conduct an investigation that would be redundant to, or interfere with, an investigation conducted by another State agency. The rules shall further clarify the method and circumstances under which the Office of Inspector General may interact with the licensing, funding, or certification units of the Department in preventing further occurrences of mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, egregious neglect, and financial exploitation.

(h) Training programs. The Inspector General shall (i) establish a comprehensive program to ensure that every person authorized to conduct investigations receives ongoing training relative to investigation techniques, communication skills, and the appropriate means of interacting with persons receiving treatment for mental illness, developmental disability, or both mental illness and developmental disability, and (ii) establish and conduct periodic training programs for facility and agency employees concerning the prevention and reporting of any one or more of the following: mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, egregious neglect, or financial exploitation. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prevent the Office of Inspector General from conducting any other training as determined by the Inspector General to be necessary or helpful.

(i) Duty to cooperate.

(1) The Inspector General shall at all times be granted access to any facility or agency for the purpose of investigating any allegation, conducting unannounced site visits, monitoring compliance with a written response, or completing any other statutorily assigned duty. The Inspector General shall conduct unannounced site visits to each facility at least annually for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations on systemic issues relative to preventing, reporting, investigating, and responding to all of the following: mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, egregious neglect, or financial exploitation.

(2) Any employee who fails to cooperate with an Office of the Inspector General investigation is in violation of this Act. Failure to cooperate with an investigation includes, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following: (i) creating and transmitting a false report to the Office of the Inspector General hotline, (ii) providing false information to an Office of the Inspector General Investigator during an investigation, (iii) colluding with other employees to cover up evidence, (iv) colluding with other employees to provide false information to an Office of the Inspector General investigator, (v) destroying evidence, (vi) withholding evidence, or (vii) otherwise obstructing an Office of the Inspector General investigation. Additionally, any employee who, during an unannounced site visit or written response compliance check, fails to cooperate with requests from the Office of the Inspector General is in violation of this Act.

(j) Subpoena powers. The Inspector General shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and compel the production of all documents and physical evidence relating to his or her investigations and any hearings authorized by this Act. This subpoena power shall not extend to persons or documents of a labor organization or its representatives insofar as the persons are acting in a representative capacity to an employee whose conduct is the subject of an investigation or the documents relate to that representation. Any person who otherwise fails to respond to a subpoena or who knowingly provides false information to the Office of the Inspector General by subpoena during an investigation is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(k) Reporting allegations and deaths.

(1) Allegations. If an employee witnesses, is told of, or has reason to believe an incident of mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation has occurred, the employee, agency, or facility shall report the allegation by phone to the Office of the Inspector General hotline according to the agency's or facility's procedures, but in no event later than 4 hours after the initial discovery of the incident, allegation, or suspicion of any one or more of the following: mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. A required reporter as defined in subsection (b) of this Section who knowingly or intentionally fails to comply with these reporting requirements is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(2) Deaths. Absent an allegation, a required reporter shall, within 24 hours after initial discovery, report by phone to the Office of the Inspector General hotline each of the following:

(i) Any death of an individual occurring within 14 calendar days after discharge or transfer of the individual from a residential program or facility.

(ii) Any death of an individual occurring within 24 hours after deflection from a residential program or facility.

(iii) Any other death of an individual occurring at an agency or facility or at any Department-funded site.

(3) Retaliation. It is a violation of this Act for any employee or administrator of an agency or facility to take retaliatory action against an employee who acts in good faith in conformance with his or her duties as a required reporter.

(l) Reporting to law enforcement.

(1) Reporting criminal acts. Within 24 hours after determining that there is credible evidence indicating that a criminal act may have been committed or that special expertise may be required in an investigation, the Inspector General shall notify the Department of State Police or other appropriate law enforcement authority, or ensure that such notification is made. The Department of State Police shall investigate any report from a State-operated facility indicating a possible murder, sexual assault, or other felony by an employee. All investigations conducted by the Inspector General shall be conducted in a manner designed to ensure the preservation of evidence for possible use in a criminal prosecution.

(2) Reporting allegations of adult students with disabilities. Upon receipt of a reportable allegation regarding an adult student with a disability, the Department's Office of the Inspector General shall determine whether the allegation meets the criteria for the Domestic Abuse Program under the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act. If the allegation is reportable to that program, the Office of the Inspector General shall initiate an investigation. If the allegation is not reportable to the Domestic Abuse Program, the Office of the Inspector General shall make an expeditious referral to the respective law enforcement entity. If the alleged victim is already receiving services from the Department, the Office of the Inspector General shall also make a referral to the respective Department of Human Services' Division or Bureau.

(m) Investigative reports. Upon completion of an investigation, the Office of Inspector General shall issue an investigative report identifying whether the allegations are substantiated, unsubstantiated, or unfounded. Within 10 business days after the transmittal of a completed investigative report substantiating an allegation, or if a recommendation is made, the Inspector General shall provide the investigative report on the case to the Secretary and to the director of the facility or agency where any one or more of the following occurred: mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, egregious neglect, or financial exploitation. In a substantiated case, the investigative report shall include any mitigating or aggravating circumstances that were identified during the investigation. If the case involves substantiated neglect, the investigative report shall also state whether egregious neglect was found. An investigative report may also set forth recommendations. All investigative reports prepared by the Office of the Inspector General shall be considered confidential and shall not be released except as provided by the law of this State or as required under applicable federal law. Unsubstantiated and unfounded reports shall not be disclosed except as allowed under Section 6 of the Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act. Raw data used to compile the investigative report shall not be subject to release unless required by law or a court order. "Raw data used to compile the investigative report" includes, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following: the initial complaint, witness statements, photographs, investigator's notes, police reports, or incident reports. If the allegations are substantiated, the accused shall be provided with a redacted copy of the investigative report. Death reports where there was no allegation of abuse or neglect shall only be released pursuant to applicable State or federal law or a valid court order.

(n) Written responses and reconsideration requests.

(1) Written responses. Within 30 calendar days from receipt of a substantiated investigative report or an investigative report which contains recommendations, absent a reconsideration request, the facility or agency shall file a written response that addresses, in a concise and reasoned manner, the actions taken to: (i) protect the individual; (ii) prevent recurrences; and (iii) eliminate the problems identified. The response shall include the implementation and completion dates of such actions. If the written response is not filed within the allotted 30 calendar day period, the Secretary shall determine the appropriate corrective action to be taken.

(2) Reconsideration requests. The facility, agency, victim or guardian, or the subject employee may request that the Office of Inspector General reconsider or clarify its finding based upon additional information.

(o) Disclosure of the finding by the Inspector General. The Inspector General shall disclose the finding of an investigation to the following persons: (i) the Governor, (ii) the Secretary, (iii) the director of the facility or agency, (iv) the alleged victims and their guardians, (v) the complainant, and (vi) the accused. This information shall include whether the allegations were deemed substantiated, unsubstantiated, or unfounded.

(p) Secretary review. Upon review of the Inspector General's investigative report and any agency's or facility's written response, the Secretary shall accept or reject the written response and notify the Inspector General of that determination. The Secretary may further direct that other administrative action be taken, including, but not limited to, any one or more of the following: (i) additional site visits, (ii) training, (iii) provision of technical assistance relative to administrative needs, licensure or certification, or (iv) the imposition of appropriate sanctions.

(q) Action by facility or agency. Within 30 days of the date the Secretary approves the written response or directs that further administrative action be taken, the facility or agency shall provide an implementation report to the Inspector General that provides the status of the action taken. The facility or agency shall be allowed an additional 30 days to send notice of completion of the action or to send an updated implementation report. If the action has not been completed within the additional 30 day period, the facility or agency shall send updated implementation reports every 60 days until completion. The Inspector General shall conduct a review of any implementation plan that takes more than 120 days after approval to complete, and shall monitor compliance through a random review of approved written responses, which may include, but are not limited to: (i) site visits, (ii) telephone contact, and (iii) requests for additional documentation evidencing compliance.

(r) Sanctions. Sanctions, if imposed by the Secretary under Subdivision (p)(iv) of this Section, shall be designed to prevent further acts of mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, egregious neglect, or financial exploitation or some combination of one or more of those acts at a facility or agency, and may include any one or more of the following:

(1) Appointment of on-site monitors.

(2) Transfer or relocation of an individual or individuals.

(3) Closure of units.

(4) Termination of any one or more of the following: (i) Department licensing, (ii) funding, or (iii) certification.

The Inspector General may seek the assistance of the Illinois Attorney General or the office of any State's Attorney in implementing sanctions.

(s) Health care worker registry.

(1) Reporting to the registry. The Inspector General shall report to the Department of Public Health's health care worker registry, a public registry, the identity and finding of each employee of a facility or agency against whom there is a final investigative report containing a substantiated allegation of physical or sexual abuse or egregious neglect of an individual.

(2) Notice to employee. Prior to reporting the name of an employee, the employee shall be notified of the Department's obligation to report and shall be granted an opportunity to request an administrative hearing, the sole purpose of which is to determine if the substantiated finding warrants reporting to the registry. Notice to the employee shall contain a clear and concise statement of the grounds on which the report to the registry is based, offer the employee an opportunity for a hearing, and identify the process for requesting such a hearing. Notice is sufficient if provided by certified mail to the employee's last known address. If the employee fails to request a hearing within 30 days from the date of the notice, the Inspector General shall report the name of the employee to the registry. Nothing in this subdivision (s)(2) shall diminish or impair the rights of a person who is a member of a collective bargaining unit under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act or under any other federal labor statute.

(3) Registry hearings. If the employee requests an administrative hearing, the employee shall be granted an opportunity to appear before an administrative law judge to present reasons why the employee's name should not be reported to the registry. The Department shall bear the burden of presenting evidence that establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the substantiated finding warrants reporting to the registry. After considering all the evidence presented, the administrative law judge shall make a recommendation to the Secretary as to whether the substantiated finding warrants reporting the name of the employee to the registry. The Secretary shall render the final decision. The Department and the employee shall have the right to request that the administrative law judge consider a stipulated disposition of these proceedings.

(4) Testimony at registry hearings. A person who makes a report or who investigates a report under this Act shall testify fully in any judicial proceeding resulting from such a report, as to any evidence of abuse or neglect, or the cause thereof. No evidence shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communications between the alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect, or the individual alleged as the victim in the report, and the person making or investigating the report. Testimony at hearings is exempt from the confidentiality requirements of subsection (f) of Section 10 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.

(5) Employee's rights to collateral action. No reporting to the registry shall occur and no hearing shall be set or proceed if an employee notifies the Inspector General in writing, including any supporting documentation, that he or she is formally contesting an adverse employment action resulting from a substantiated finding by complaint filed with the Illinois Civil Service Commission, or which otherwise seeks to enforce the employee's rights pursuant to any applicable collective bargaining agreement. If an action taken by an employer against an employee as a result of a finding of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or egregious neglect is overturned through an action filed with the Illinois Civil Service Commission or under any applicable collective bargaining agreement and if that employee's name has already been sent to the registry, the employee's name shall be removed from the registry.

(6) Removal from registry. At any time after the report to the registry, but no more than once in any 12-month period, an employee may petition the Department in writing to remove his or her name from the registry. Upon receiving notice of such request, the Inspector General shall conduct an investigation into the petition. Upon receipt of such request, an administrative hearing will be set by the Department. At the hearing, the employee shall bear the burden of presenting evidence that establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, that removal of the name from the registry is in the public interest. The parties may jointly request that the administrative law judge consider a stipulated disposition of these proceedings.

(t) Review of Administrative Decisions. The Department shall preserve a record of all proceedings at any formal hearing conducted by the Department involving health care worker registry hearings. Final administrative decisions of the Department are subject to judicial review pursuant to provisions of the Administrative Review Law.

(u) Quality Care Board. There is created, within the Office of the Inspector General, a Quality Care Board to be composed of 7 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. One of the members shall be designated as chairman by the Governor. Of the initial appointments made by the Governor, 4 Board members shall each be appointed for a term of 4 years and 3 members shall each be appointed for a term of 2 years. Upon the expiration of each member's term, a successor shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. In the case of a vacancy in the office of any member, the Governor shall appoint a successor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Members appointed by the Governor shall be qualified by professional knowledge or experience in the area of law, investigatory techniques, or in the area of care of the mentally ill or developmentally disabled. Two members appointed by the Governor shall be persons with a disability or a parent of a person with a disability. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

The Board shall meet quarterly, and may hold other meetings on the call of the chairman. Four members shall constitute a quorum allowing the Board to conduct its business. The Board may adopt rules and regulations it deems necessary to govern its own procedures.

The Board shall monitor and oversee the operations, policies, and procedures of the Inspector General to ensure the prompt and thorough investigation of allegations of neglect and abuse. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Board may do the following:

(1) Provide independent, expert consultation to the Inspector General on policies and protocols for investigations of alleged abuse, neglect, or both abuse and neglect.

(2) Review existing regulations relating to the operation of facilities.

(3) Advise the Inspector General as to the content of training activities authorized under this Section.

(4) Recommend policies concerning methods for improving the intergovernmental relationships between the Office of the Inspector General and other State or federal offices.

(v) Annual report. The Inspector General shall provide to the General Assembly and the Governor, no later than January 1 of each year, a summary of reports and investigations made under this Act for the prior fiscal year with respect to individuals receiving mental health or developmental disabilities services. The report shall detail the imposition of sanctions, if any, and the final disposition of any corrective or administrative action directed by the Secretary. The summaries shall not contain any confidential or identifying information of any individual, but shall include objective data identifying any trends in the number of reported allegations, the timeliness of the Office of the Inspector General's investigations, and their disposition, for each facility and Department-wide, for the most recent 3-year time period. The report shall also identify, by facility, the staff-to-patient ratios taking account of direct care staff only. The report shall also include detailed recommended administrative actions and matters for consideration by the General Assembly.

(w) Program audit. The Auditor General shall conduct a program audit of the Office of the Inspector General on an as-needed basis, as determined by the Auditor General. The audit shall specifically include the Inspector General's compliance with the Act and effectiveness in investigating reports of allegations occurring in any facility or agency. The Auditor General shall conduct the program audit according to the provisions of the Illinois State Auditing Act and shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later than January 1 following the audit period.

(x) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to mean that a patient is a victim of abuse or neglect because of health care services appropriately provided or not provided by health care professionals.

(y) Nothing in this Section shall require a facility, including its employees, agents, medical staff members, and health care professionals, to provide a service to a patient in contravention of that patient's stated or implied objection to the provision of that service on the ground that that service conflicts with the patient's religious beliefs or practices, nor shall the failure to provide a service to a patient be considered abuse under this Section if the patient has objected to the provision of that service based on his or her religious beliefs or practices.

(Source: P.A. 95-545, eff. 8-28-07; 96-339, eff. 7-1-10; 96-407, eff. 8-13-09; 96-555, eff. 8-18-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 96-1446, eff. 8-20-10.)

(20 ILCS 2435/Act rep.)

Section 11. The Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act is repealed.

Section 12. The Illinois Police Training Act is amended by changing Section 7 as follows:

(50 ILCS 705/7) (from Ch. 85, par. 507)

Sec. 7. Rules and standards for schools. The Board shall adopt rules and minimum standards for such schools which shall include but not be limited to the following:

a. The curriculum for probationary police officers which shall be offered by all certified schools shall include but not be limited to courses of arrest, search and seizure, civil rights, human relations, cultural diversity, including racial and ethnic sensitivity, criminal law, law of criminal procedure, vehicle and traffic law including uniform and non-discriminatory enforcement of the Illinois Vehicle Code, traffic control and accident investigation, techniques of obtaining physical evidence, court testimonies, statements, reports, firearms training, first-aid (including cardiopulmonary resuscitation), handling of juvenile offenders, recognition of mental conditions which require immediate assistance and methods to safeguard and provide assistance to a person in need of mental treatment, recognition of elder abuse and neglect, as defined in Section 2 of the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, crimes against the elderly, law of evidence, the hazards of high-speed police vehicle chases with an emphasis on alternatives to the high-speed chase, and physical training. The curriculum shall include specific training in techniques for immediate response to and investigation of cases of domestic violence and of sexual assault of adults and children. The curriculum shall include training in techniques designed to promote effective communication at the initial contact with crime victims and ways to comprehensively explain to victims and witnesses their rights under the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act and the Crime Victims Compensation Act. The curriculum shall also include a block of instruction aimed at identifying and interacting with persons with autism and other developmental disabilities, reducing barriers to reporting crimes against persons with autism, and addressing the unique challenges presented by cases involving victims or witnesses with autism and other developmental disabilities. The curriculum for permanent police officers shall include but not be limited to (1) refresher and in-service training in any of the courses listed above in this subparagraph, (2) advanced courses in any of the subjects listed above in this subparagraph, (3) training for supervisory personnel, and (4) specialized training in subjects and fields to be selected by the board.

b. Minimum courses of study, attendance requirements and equipment requirements.

c. Minimum requirements for instructors.

d. Minimum basic training requirements, which a probationary police officer must satisfactorily complete before being eligible for permanent employment as a local law enforcement officer for a participating local governmental agency. Those requirements shall include training in first aid (including cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

e. Minimum basic training requirements, which a probationary county corrections officer must satisfactorily complete before being eligible for permanent employment as a county corrections officer for a participating local governmental agency.

f. Minimum basic training requirements which a probationary court security officer must satisfactorily complete before being eligible for permanent employment as a court security officer for a participating local governmental agency. The Board shall establish those training requirements which it considers appropriate for court security officers and shall certify schools to conduct that training.

A person hired to serve as a court security officer must obtain from the Board a certificate (i) attesting to his or her successful completion of the training course; (ii) attesting to his or her satisfactory completion of a training program of similar content and number of hours that has been found acceptable by the Board under the provisions of this Act; or (iii) attesting to the Board's determination that the training course is unnecessary because of the person's extensive prior law enforcement experience.

Individuals who currently serve as court security officers shall be deemed qualified to continue to serve in that capacity so long as they are certified as provided by this Act within 24 months of the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1996. Failure to be so certified, absent a waiver from the Board, shall cause the officer to forfeit his or her position.

All individuals hired as court security officers on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1996 shall be certified within 12 months of the date of their hire, unless a waiver has been obtained by the Board, or they shall forfeit their positions.

The Sheriff's Merit Commission, if one exists, or the Sheriff's Office if there is no Sheriff's Merit Commission, shall maintain a list of all individuals who have filed applications to become court security officers and who meet the eligibility requirements established under this Act. Either the Sheriff's Merit Commission, or the Sheriff's Office if no Sheriff's Merit Commission exists, shall establish a schedule of reasonable intervals for verification of the applicants' qualifications under this Act and as established by the Board.

(Source: P.A. 97-815, eff. 1-1-13; 97-862, eff. 1-1-13; revised 8-3-12.)

Section 13. The Illinois Banking Act is amended by changing Section 48.1 as follows:

(205 ILCS 5/48.1) (from Ch. 17, par. 360)

Sec. 48.1. Customer financial records; confidentiality.

(a) For the purpose of this Section, the term "financial records" means any original, any copy, or any summary of:

(1) a document granting signature authority over a deposit or account;

(2) a statement, ledger card or other record on any deposit or account, which shows each transaction in or with respect to that account;

(3) a check, draft or money order drawn on a bank or issued and payable by a bank; or

(4) any other item containing information pertaining to any relationship established in the ordinary course of a bank's business between a bank and its customer, including financial statements or other financial information provided by the customer.

(b) This Section does not prohibit:

(1) The preparation, examination, handling or maintenance of any financial records by any officer, employee or agent of a bank having custody of the records, or the examination of the records by a certified public accountant engaged by the bank to perform an independent audit.

(2) The examination of any financial records by, or the furnishing of financial records by a bank to, any officer, employee or agent of (i) the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate, (ii) after May 31, 1997, a state regulatory authority authorized to examine a branch of a State bank located in another state, (iii) the Comptroller of the Currency, (iv) the Federal Reserve Board, or (v) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for use solely in the exercise of his duties as an officer, employee, or agent.

(3) The publication of data furnished from financial records relating to customers where the data cannot be identified to any particular customer or account.

(4) The making of reports or returns required under Chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(5) Furnishing information concerning the dishonor of any negotiable instrument permitted to be disclosed under the Uniform Commercial Code.

(6) The exchange in the regular course of business of (i) credit information between a bank and other banks or financial institutions or commercial enterprises, directly or through a consumer reporting agency or (ii) financial records or information derived from financial records between a bank and other banks or financial institutions or commercial enterprises for the purpose of conducting due diligence pursuant to a purchase or sale involving the bank or assets or liabilities of the bank.

(7) The furnishing of information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities where the bank reasonably believes it has been the victim of a crime.

(8) The furnishing of information under the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.

(9) The furnishing of information under the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act.

(10) The furnishing of information under the federal Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act Title 31, United States Code, Section 1051 et seq.

(11) The furnishing of information under any other statute that by its terms or by regulations promulgated thereunder requires the disclosure of financial records other than by subpoena, summons, warrant, or court order.

(12) The furnishing of information about the existence of an account of a person to a judgment creditor of that person who has made a written request for that information.

(13) The exchange in the regular course of business of information between commonly owned banks in connection with a transaction authorized under paragraph (23) of Section 5 and conducted at an affiliate facility.

(14) The furnishing of information in accordance with the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Any bank governed by this Act shall enter into an agreement for data exchanges with a State agency provided the State agency pays to the bank a reasonable fee not to exceed its actual cost incurred. A bank providing information in accordance with this item shall not be liable to any account holder or other person for any disclosure of information to a State agency, for encumbering or surrendering any assets held by the bank in response to a lien or order to withhold and deliver issued by a State agency, or for any other action taken pursuant to this item, including individual or mechanical errors, provided the action does not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. A bank shall have no obligation to hold, encumber, or surrender assets until it has been served with a subpoena, summons, warrant, court or administrative order, lien, or levy.

(15) The exchange in the regular course of business of information between a bank and any commonly owned affiliate of the bank, subject to the provisions of the Financial Institutions Insurance Sales Law.

(16) The furnishing of information to law enforcement authorities, the Illinois Department on Aging and its regional administrative and provider agencies, the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General, or public guardians: (i) upon subpoena by the investigatory entity or the guardian, or (ii) if there is suspicion by the bank that a customer who is an elderly or disabled person has been or may become the victim of financial exploitation. For the purposes of this item (16), the term: (i) "elderly person" means a person who is 60 or more years of age, (ii) "disabled person" means a person who has or reasonably appears to the bank to have a physical or mental disability that impairs his or her ability to seek or obtain protection from or prevent financial exploitation, and (iii) "financial exploitation" means tortious or illegal use of the assets or resources of an elderly or disabled person, and includes, without limitation, misappropriation of the elderly or disabled person's assets or resources by undue influence, breach of fiduciary relationship, intimidation, fraud, deception, extortion, or the use of assets or resources in any manner contrary to law. A bank or person furnishing information pursuant to this item (16) shall be entitled to the same rights and protections as a person furnishing information under the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, and the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act.

(17) The disclosure of financial records or information as necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction requested or authorized by the customer, or in connection with:

(A) servicing or processing a financial product or service requested or authorized by the customer;

(B) maintaining or servicing a customer's account with the bank; or

(C) a proposed or actual securitization or secondary market sale (including sales of servicing rights) related to a transaction of a customer.

Nothing in this item (17), however, authorizes the sale of the financial records or information of a customer without the consent of the customer.

(18) The disclosure of financial records or information as necessary to protect against actual or potential fraud, unauthorized transactions, claims, or other liability.

(19)(a) The disclosure of financial records or information related to a private label credit program between a financial institution and a private label party in connection with that private label credit program. Such information is limited to outstanding balance, available credit, payment and performance and account history, product references, purchase information, and information related to the identity of the customer.

(b)(l) For purposes of this paragraph (19) of subsection (b) of Section 48.1, a "private label credit program" means a credit program involving a financial institution and a private label party that is used by a customer of the financial institution and the private label party primarily for payment for goods or services sold, manufactured, or distributed by a private label party.

(2) For purposes of this paragraph (19) of subsection (b) of Section 48.l, a "private label party" means, with respect to a private label credit program, any of the following: a retailer, a merchant, a manufacturer, a trade group, or any such person's affiliate, subsidiary, member, agent, or service provider.

(c) Except as otherwise provided by this Act, a bank may not disclose to any person, except to the customer or his duly authorized agent, any financial records or financial information obtained from financial records relating to that customer of that bank unless:

(1) the customer has authorized disclosure to the person;

(2) the financial records are disclosed in response to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order which meets the requirements of subsection (d) of this Section; or

(3) the bank is attempting to collect an obligation owed to the bank and the bank complies with the provisions of Section 2I of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

(d) A bank shall disclose financial records under paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this Section under a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order only after the bank mails a copy of the subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order to the person establishing the relationship with the bank, if living, and, otherwise his personal representative, if known, at his last known address by first class mail, postage prepaid, unless the bank is specifically prohibited from notifying the person by order of court or by applicable State or federal law. A bank shall not mail a copy of a subpoena to any person pursuant to this subsection if the subpoena was issued by a grand jury under the Statewide Grand Jury Act.

(e) Any officer or employee of a bank who knowingly and willfully furnishes financial records in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

(f) Any person who knowingly and willfully induces or attempts to induce any officer or employee of a bank to disclose financial records in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

(g) A bank shall be reimbursed for costs that are reasonably necessary and that have been directly incurred in searching for, reproducing, or transporting books, papers, records, or other data of a customer required or requested to be produced pursuant to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order. The Commissioner shall determine the rates and conditions under which payment may be made.

(Source: P.A. 94-495, eff. 8-8-05; 94-851, eff. 6-13-06; 95-661, eff. 1-1-08.)

Section 14. The Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 is amended by changing Section 3-8 as follows:

(205 ILCS 105/3-8) (from Ch. 17, par. 3303-8)

Sec. 3-8. Access to books and records; communication with members.

(a) Every member or holder of capital shall have the right to inspect the books and records of the association that pertain to his account. Otherwise, the right of inspection and examination of the books and records shall be limited as provided in this Act, and no other person shall have access to the books and records or shall be entitled to a list of the members.

(b) For the purpose of this Section, the term "financial records" means any original, any copy, or any summary of (i) a document granting signature authority over a deposit or account; (ii) a statement, ledger card, or other record on any deposit or account that shows each transaction in or with respect to that account; (iii) a check, draft, or money order drawn on an association or issued and payable by an association; or (iv) any other item containing information pertaining to any relationship established in the ordinary course of an association's business between an association and its customer, including financial statements or other financial information provided by the member or holder of capital.

(c) This Section does not prohibit:

(1) The preparation, examination, handling, or maintenance of any financial records by any officer, employee, or agent of an association having custody of those records or the examination of those records by a certified public accountant engaged by the association to perform an independent audit.

(2) The examination of any financial records by, or the furnishing of financial records by an association to, any officer, employee, or agent of the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate or federal depository institution regulator for use solely in the exercise of his duties as an officer, employee, or agent.

(3) The publication of data furnished from financial records relating to members or holders of capital where the data cannot be identified to any particular member, holder of capital, or account.

(4) The making of reports or returns required under Chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(5) Furnishing information concerning the dishonor of any negotiable instrument permitted to be disclosed under the Uniform Commercial Code.

(6) The exchange in the regular course of business of (i) credit information between an association and other associations or financial institutions or commercial enterprises, directly or through a consumer reporting agency or (ii) financial records or information derived from financial records between an association and other associations or financial institutions or commercial enterprises for the purpose of conducting due diligence pursuant to a purchase or sale involving the association or assets or liabilities of the association.

(7) The furnishing of information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities where the association reasonably believes it has been the victim of a crime.

(8) The furnishing of information pursuant to the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.

(9) The furnishing of information pursuant to the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act.

(10) The furnishing of information pursuant to the federal "Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act", (Title 31, United States Code, Section 1051 et seq.).

(11) The furnishing of information pursuant to any other statute that by its terms or by regulations promulgated thereunder requires the disclosure of financial records other than by subpoena, summons, warrant, or court order.

(12) The exchange of information between an association and an affiliate of the association; as used in this item, "affiliate" includes any company, partnership, or organization that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with an association.

(13) The furnishing of information in accordance with the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Any association governed by this Act shall enter into an agreement for data exchanges with a State agency provided the State agency pays to the association a reasonable fee not to exceed its actual cost incurred. An association providing information in accordance with this item shall not be liable to any account holder or other person for any disclosure of information to a State agency, for encumbering or surrendering any assets held by the association in response to a lien or order to withhold and deliver issued by a State agency, or for any other action taken pursuant to this item, including individual or mechanical errors, provided the action does not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. An association shall have no obligation to hold, encumber, or surrender assets until it has been served with a subpoena, summons, warrant, court or administrative order, lien, or levy.

(14) The furnishing of information to law enforcement authorities, the Illinois Department on Aging and its regional administrative and provider agencies, the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General, or public guardians: (i) upon subpoena by the investigatory entity or the guardian, or (ii) if there is suspicion by the association that a customer who is an elderly or disabled person has been or may become the victim of financial exploitation. For the purposes of this item (14), the term: (i) "elderly person" means a person who is 60 or more years of age, (ii) "disabled person" means a person who has or reasonably appears to the association to have a physical or mental disability that impairs his or her ability to seek or obtain protection from or prevent financial exploitation, and (iii) "financial exploitation" means tortious or illegal use of the assets or resources of an elderly or disabled person, and includes, without limitation, misappropriation of the elderly or disabled person's assets or resources by undue influence, breach of fiduciary relationship, intimidation, fraud, deception, extortion, or the use of assets or resources in any manner contrary to law. An association or person furnishing information pursuant to this item (14) shall be entitled to the same rights and protections as a person furnishing information under the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, and the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act.

(15) The disclosure of financial records or information as necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction requested or authorized by the member or holder of capital, or in connection with:

(A) servicing or processing a financial product or service requested or authorized by the member or holder of capital;

(B) maintaining or servicing an account of a member or holder of capital with the association; or

(C) a proposed or actual securitization or secondary market sale (including sales of servicing rights) related to a transaction of a member or holder of capital.

Nothing in this item (15), however, authorizes the sale of the financial records or information of a member or holder of capital without the consent of the member or holder of capital.

(16) The disclosure of financial records or information as necessary to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, unauthorized transactions, claims, or other liability.

(17)(a) The disclosure of financial records or information related to a private label credit program between a financial institution and a private label party in connection with that private label credit program. Such information is limited to outstanding balance, available credit, payment and performance and account history, product references, purchase information, and information related to the identity of the customer.

(b)(l) For purposes of this paragraph (17) of subsection (c) of Section 3-8, a "private label credit program" means a credit program involving a financial institution and a private label party that is used by a customer of the financial institution and the private label party primarily for payment for goods or services sold, manufactured, or distributed by a private label party.

(2) For purposes of this paragraph (17) of subsection (c) of Section 3-8, a "private label party" means, with respect to a private label credit program, any of the following: a retailer, a merchant, a manufacturer, a trade group, or any such person's affiliate, subsidiary, member, agent, or service provider.

(d) An association may not disclose to any person, except to the member or holder of capital or his duly authorized agent, any financial records relating to that member or holder of capital of that association unless:

(1) The member or holder of capital has authorized disclosure to the person; or

(2) The financial records are disclosed in response to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order that meets the requirements of subsection (e) of this Section.

(e) An association shall disclose financial records under subsection (d) of this Section pursuant to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order only after the association mails a copy of the subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order to the person establishing the relationship with the association, if living, and, otherwise, his personal representative, if known, at his last known address by first class mail, postage prepaid, unless the association is specifically prohibited from notifying that person by order of court.

(f)(1) Any officer or employee of an association who knowingly and willfully furnishes financial records in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

(2) Any person who knowingly and willfully induces or attempts to induce any officer or employee of an association to disclose financial records in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

(g) However, if any member desires to communicate with the other members of the association with reference to any question pending or to be presented at a meeting of the members, the association shall give him upon request a statement of the approximate number of members entitled to vote at the meeting and an estimate of the cost of preparing and mailing the communication. The requesting member then shall submit the communication to the Commissioner who, if he finds it to be appropriate and truthful, shall direct that it be prepared and mailed to the members upon the requesting member's payment or adequate provision for payment of the expenses of preparation and mailing.

(h) An association shall be reimbursed for costs that are necessary and that have been directly incurred in searching for, reproducing, or transporting books, papers, records, or other data of a customer required to be reproduced pursuant to a lawful subpoena, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order.

(Source: P.A. 94-495, eff. 8-8-05; 94-851, eff. 6-13-06; 95-661, eff. 1-1-08.)

Section 15. The Savings Bank Act is amended by changing Section 4013 as follows:

(205 ILCS 205/4013) (from Ch. 17, par. 7304-13)

Sec. 4013. Access to books and records; communication with members and shareholders.

(a) Every member or shareholder shall have the right to inspect books and records of the savings bank that pertain to his accounts. Otherwise, the right of inspection and examination of the books and records shall be limited as provided in this Act, and no other person shall have access to the books and records nor shall be entitled to a list of the members or shareholders.

(b) For the purpose of this Section, the term "financial records" means any original, any copy, or any summary of (1) a document granting signature authority over a deposit or account; (2) a statement, ledger card, or other record on any deposit or account that shows each transaction in or with respect to that account; (3) a check, draft, or money order drawn on a savings bank or issued and payable by a savings bank; or (4) any other item containing information pertaining to any relationship established in the ordinary course of a savings bank's business between a savings bank and its customer, including financial statements or other financial information provided by the member or shareholder.

(c) This Section does not prohibit:

(1) The preparation examination, handling, or maintenance of any financial records by any officer, employee, or agent of a savings bank having custody of records or examination of records by a certified public accountant engaged by the savings bank to perform an independent audit.

(2) The examination of any financial records by, or the furnishing of financial records by a savings bank to, any officer, employee, or agent of the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate or the federal depository institution regulator for use solely in the exercise of his duties as an officer, employee, or agent.

(3) The publication of data furnished from financial records relating to members or holders of capital where the data cannot be identified to any particular member, shareholder, or account.

(4) The making of reports or returns required under Chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(5) Furnishing information concerning the dishonor of any negotiable instrument permitted to be disclosed under the Uniform Commercial Code.

(6) The exchange in the regular course of business of (i) credit information between a savings bank and other savings banks or financial institutions or commercial enterprises, directly or through a consumer reporting agency or (ii) financial records or information derived from financial records between a savings bank and other savings banks or financial institutions or commercial enterprises for the purpose of conducting due diligence pursuant to a purchase or sale involving the savings bank or assets or liabilities of the savings bank.

(7) The furnishing of information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities where the savings bank reasonably believes it has been the victim of a crime.

(8) The furnishing of information pursuant to the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.

(9) The furnishing of information pursuant to the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act.

(10) The furnishing of information pursuant to the federal "Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act", (Title 31, United States Code, Section 1051 et seq.).

(11) The furnishing of information pursuant to any other statute which by its terms or by regulations promulgated thereunder requires the disclosure of financial records other than by subpoena, summons, warrant, or court order.

(12) The furnishing of information in accordance with the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Any savings bank governed by this Act shall enter into an agreement for data exchanges with a State agency provided the State agency pays to the savings bank a reasonable fee not to exceed its actual cost incurred. A savings bank providing information in accordance with this item shall not be liable to any account holder or other person for any disclosure of information to a State agency, for encumbering or surrendering any assets held by the savings bank in response to a lien or order to withhold and deliver issued by a State agency, or for any other action taken pursuant to this item, including individual or mechanical errors, provided the action does not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. A savings bank shall have no obligation to hold, encumber, or surrender assets until it has been served with a subpoena, summons, warrant, court or administrative order, lien, or levy.

(13) The furnishing of information to law enforcement authorities, the Illinois Department on Aging and its regional administrative and provider agencies, the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General, or public guardians: (i) upon subpoena by the investigatory entity or the guardian, or (ii) if there is suspicion by the savings bank that a customer who is an elderly or disabled person has been or may become the victim of financial exploitation. For the purposes of this item (13), the term: (i) "elderly person" means a person who is 60 or more years of age, (ii) "disabled person" means a person who has or reasonably appears to the savings bank to have a physical or mental disability that impairs his or her ability to seek or obtain protection from or prevent financial exploitation, and (iii) "financial exploitation" means tortious or illegal use of the assets or resources of an elderly or disabled person, and includes, without limitation, misappropriation of the elderly or disabled person's assets or resources by undue influence, breach of fiduciary relationship, intimidation, fraud, deception, extortion, or the use of assets or resources in any manner contrary to law. A savings bank or person furnishing information pursuant to this item (13) shall be entitled to the same rights and protections as a person furnishing information under the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, and the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act.

(14) The disclosure of financial records or information as necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction requested or authorized by the member or holder of capital, or in connection with:

(A) servicing or processing a financial product or service requested or authorized by the member or holder of capital;

(B) maintaining or servicing an account of a member or holder of capital with the savings bank; or

(C) a proposed or actual securitization or secondary market sale (including sales of servicing rights) related to a transaction of a member or holder of capital.

Nothing in this item (14), however, authorizes the sale of the financial records or information of a member or holder of capital without the consent of the member or holder of capital.

(15) The exchange in the regular course of business of information between a savings bank and any commonly owned affiliate of the savings bank, subject to the provisions of the Financial Institutions Insurance Sales Law.

(16) The disclosure of financial records or information as necessary to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, unauthorized transactions, claims, or other liability.

(17)(a) The disclosure of financial records or information related to a private label credit program between a financial institution and a private label party in connection with that private label credit program. Such information is limited to outstanding balance, available credit, payment and performance and account history, product references, purchase information, and information related to the identity of the customer.

(b)(l) For purposes of this paragraph (17) of subsection (c) of Section 4013, a "private label credit program" means a credit program involving a financial institution and a private label party that is used by a customer of the financial institution and the private label party primarily for payment for goods or services sold, manufactured, or distributed by a private label party.

(2) For purposes of this paragraph (17) of subsection (c) of Section 4013, a "private label party" means, with respect to a private label credit program, any of the following: a retailer, a merchant, a manufacturer, a trade group, or any such person's affiliate, subsidiary, member, agent, or service provider.

(d) A savings bank may not disclose to any person, except to the member or holder of capital or his duly authorized agent, any financial records relating to that member or shareholder of the savings bank unless:

(1) the member or shareholder has authorized disclosure to the person; or

(2) the financial records are disclosed in response to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order that meets the requirements of subsection (e) of this Section.

(e) A savings bank shall disclose financial records under subsection (d) of this Section pursuant to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order only after the savings bank mails a copy of the subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order to the person establishing the relationship with the savings bank, if living, and otherwise, his personal representative, if known, at his last known address by first class mail, postage prepaid, unless the savings bank is specifically prohibited from notifying the person by order of court.

(f) Any officer or employee of a savings bank who knowingly and willfully furnishes financial records in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

(g) Any person who knowingly and willfully induces or attempts to induce any officer or employee of a savings bank to disclose financial records in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

(h) If any member or shareholder desires to communicate with the other members or shareholders of the savings bank with reference to any question pending or to be presented at an annual or special meeting, the savings bank shall give that person, upon request, a statement of the approximate number of members or shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting and an estimate of the cost of preparing and mailing the communication. The requesting member shall submit the communication to the Commissioner who, upon finding it to be appropriate and truthful, shall direct that it be prepared and mailed to the members upon the requesting member's or shareholder's payment or adequate provision for payment of the expenses of preparation and mailing.

(i) A savings bank shall be reimbursed for costs that are necessary and that have been directly incurred in searching for, reproducing, or transporting books, papers, records, or other data of a customer required to be reproduced pursuant to a lawful subpoena, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order.

(j) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, a savings bank may sell or otherwise make use of lists of customers' names and addresses. All other information regarding a customer's account are subject to the disclosure provisions of this Section. At the request of any customer, that customer's name and address shall be deleted from any list that is to be sold or used in any other manner beyond identification of the customer's accounts.

(Source: P.A. 94-495, eff. 8-8-05; 94-851, eff. 6-13-06; 95-661, eff. 1-1-08.)

Section 16. The Illinois Credit Union Act is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:

(205 ILCS 305/10) (from Ch. 17, par. 4411)

Sec. 10. Credit union records; member financial records.

(1) A credit union shall establish and maintain books, records, accounting systems and procedures which accurately reflect its operations and which enable the Department to readily ascertain the true financial condition of the credit union and whether it is complying with this Act.

(2) A photostatic or photographic reproduction of any credit union records shall be admissible as evidence of transactions with the credit union.

(3)(a) For the purpose of this Section, the term "financial records" means any original, any copy, or any summary of (1) a document granting signature authority over an account, (2) a statement, ledger card or other record on any account which shows each transaction in or with respect to that account, (3) a check, draft or money order drawn on a financial institution or other entity or issued and payable by or through a financial institution or other entity, or (4) any other item containing information pertaining to any relationship established in the ordinary course of business between a credit union and its member, including financial statements or other financial information provided by the member.

(b) This Section does not prohibit:

(1) The preparation, examination, handling or maintenance of any financial records by any officer, employee or agent of a credit union having custody of such records, or the examination of such records by a certified public accountant engaged by the credit union to perform an independent audit.

(2) The examination of any financial records by or the furnishing of financial records by a credit union to any officer, employee or agent of the Department, the National Credit Union Administration, Federal Reserve board or any insurer of share accounts for use solely in the exercise of his duties as an officer, employee or agent.

(3) The publication of data furnished from financial records relating to members where the data cannot be identified to any particular customer of account.

(4) The making of reports or returns required under Chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

(5) Furnishing information concerning the dishonor of any negotiable instrument permitted to be disclosed under the Uniform Commercial Code.

(6) The exchange in the regular course of business of (i) credit information between a credit union and other credit unions or financial institutions or commercial enterprises, directly or through a consumer reporting agency or (ii) financial records or information derived from financial records between a credit union and other credit unions or financial institutions or commercial enterprises for the purpose of conducting due diligence pursuant to a merger or a purchase or sale of assets or liabilities of the credit union.

(7) The furnishing of information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities where the credit union reasonably believes it has been the victim of a crime.

(8) The furnishing of information pursuant to the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.

(9) The furnishing of information pursuant to the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act.

(10) The furnishing of information pursuant to the federal "Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act", Title 31, United States Code, Section 1051 et sequentia.

(11) The furnishing of information pursuant to any other statute which by its terms or by regulations promulgated thereunder requires the disclosure of financial records other than by subpoena, summons, warrant or court order.

(12) The furnishing of information in accordance with the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Any credit union governed by this Act shall enter into an agreement for data exchanges with a State agency provided the State agency pays to the credit union a reasonable fee not to exceed its actual cost incurred. A credit union providing information in accordance with this item shall not be liable to any account holder or other person for any disclosure of information to a State agency, for encumbering or surrendering any assets held by the credit union in response to a lien or order to withhold and deliver issued by a State agency, or for any other action taken pursuant to this item, including individual or mechanical errors, provided the action does not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. A credit union shall have no obligation to hold, encumber, or surrender assets until it has been served with a subpoena, summons, warrant, court or administrative order, lien, or levy.

(13) The furnishing of information to law enforcement authorities, the Illinois Department on Aging and its regional administrative and provider agencies, the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General, or public guardians: (i) upon subpoena by the investigatory entity or the guardian, or (ii) if there is suspicion by the credit union that a member who is an elderly or disabled person has been or may become the victim of financial exploitation. For the purposes of this item (13), the term: (i) "elderly person" means a person who is 60 or more years of age, (ii) "disabled person" means a person who has or reasonably appears to the credit union to have a physical or mental disability that impairs his or her ability to seek or obtain protection from or prevent financial exploitation, and (iii) "financial exploitation" means tortious or illegal use of the assets or resources of an elderly or disabled person, and includes, without limitation, misappropriation of the elderly or disabled person's assets or resources by undue influence, breach of fiduciary relationship, intimidation, fraud, deception, extortion, or the use of assets or resources in any manner contrary to law. A credit union or person furnishing information pursuant to this item (13) shall be entitled to the same rights and protections as a person furnishing information under the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, and the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act.

(14) The disclosure of financial records or information as necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction requested or authorized by the member, or in connection with:

(A) servicing or processing a financial product or service requested or authorized by the member;

(B) maintaining or servicing a member's account with the credit union; or

(C) a proposed or actual securitization or secondary market sale (including sales of servicing rights) related to a transaction of a member.

Nothing in this item (14), however, authorizes the sale of the financial records or information of a member without the consent of the member.

(15) The disclosure of financial records or information as necessary to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, unauthorized transactions, claims, or other liability.

(16)(a) The disclosure of financial records or information related to a private label credit program between a financial institution and a private label party in connection with that private label credit program. Such information is limited to outstanding balance, available credit, payment and performance and account history, product references, purchase information, and information related to the identity of the customer.

(b)(l) For purposes of this paragraph (16) of subsection (b) of Section 10, a "private label credit program" means a credit program involving a financial institution and a private label party that is used by a customer of the financial institution and the private label party primarily for payment for goods or services sold, manufactured, or distributed by a private label party.

(2) For purposes of this paragraph (16) of subsection (b) of Section 10, a "private label party" means, with respect to a private label credit program, any of the following: a retailer, a merchant, a manufacturer, a trade group, or any such person's affiliate, subsidiary, member, agent, or service provider.

(c) Except as otherwise provided by this Act, a credit union may not disclose to any person, except to the member or his duly authorized agent, any financial records relating to that member of the credit union unless:

(1) the member has authorized disclosure to the person;

(2) the financial records are disclosed in response to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order that meets the requirements of subparagraph (d) of this Section; or

(3) the credit union is attempting to collect an obligation owed to the credit union and the credit union complies with the provisions of Section 2I of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

(d) A credit union shall disclose financial records under subparagraph (c)(2) of this Section pursuant to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order only after the credit union mails a copy of the subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order to the person establishing the relationship with the credit union, if living, and otherwise his personal representative, if known, at his last known address by first class mail, postage prepaid unless the credit union is specifically prohibited from notifying the person by order of court or by applicable State or federal law. In the case of a grand jury subpoena, a credit union shall not mail a copy of a subpoena to any person pursuant to this subsection if the subpoena was issued by a grand jury under the Statewide Grand Jury Act or notifying the person would constitute a violation of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978.

(e)(1) Any officer or employee of a credit union who knowingly and wilfully furnishes financial records in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $1,000.

(2) Any person who knowingly and wilfully induces or attempts to induce any officer or employee of a credit union to disclose financial records in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $1,000.

(f) A credit union shall be reimbursed for costs which are reasonably necessary and which have been directly incurred in searching for, reproducing or transporting books, papers, records or other data of a member required or requested to be produced pursuant to a lawful subpoena, summons, warrant, citation to discover assets, or court order. The Secretary and the Director may determine, by rule, the rates and conditions under which payment shall be made. Delivery of requested documents may be delayed until final reimbursement of all costs is received.

(Source: P.A. 97-133, eff. 1-1-12.)

Section 17. The Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act is amended by changing Sections 6.3 and 6.7 as follows:

(210 ILCS 55/6.3)

Sec. 6.3. Home services agencies; standards; fees.

(a) Before January 1, 2008, the Department shall adopt standards for the licensure and operation of home services agencies operated in this State. The structure of the standards shall be based on the concept of home services and its focus on assistance with activities of daily living, housekeeping, personal laundry, and companionship being provided to an individual intended to enable that individual to remain safely and comfortably in his or her own personal residence. As home services do not include services that would be required to be performed by an individual licensed under the Nurse Practice Act, the standards shall be developed from a similar concept. After consideration and recommendations by the Home Health and Home Services Advisory Committee, the Department shall adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary for the proper regulation of home services agencies. Requirements for licensure as a home services agency shall include the following:

(1) Compliance with the requirements of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

(2) Notification, in a form and manner established by the Department by rule, to home services workers and consumers as to the party or parties responsible under State and federal laws for payment of employment taxes, social security taxes, and workers' compensation, liability, the day-to-day supervision of workers, and the hiring, firing, and discipline of workers with the placement arrangement for home services.

(3) Compliance with rules, as adopted by the Department, in regard to (i) reporting by the licensee of any known or suspected incidences of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult, as defined in the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, by a home services worker employed by or placed by the licensee or (ii) reports to a law enforcement agency in connection with any other individual protected under the laws of the State of Illinois.

(4) Compliance with rules, as adopted by the Department, addressing the health, safety, and well-being of clients receiving home services.

(b) The Department may establish fees for home services agency licensure in rules in a manner that will make the program self-supporting. The amount of the licensure fees shall be based on the funding required for operation of the licensure program. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Department may not charge any fee to a certified local health department in connection with the licensure of a home services agency.

(Source: P.A. 95-639, eff. 10-5-07; 96-577, eff. 8-18-09.)

(210 ILCS 55/6.7)

Sec. 6.7. Home nursing agencies; standards; fees.

(a) Before January 1, 2008, the Department shall adopt standards for the licensure and operation of home nursing agencies operated in this State. After consideration and recommendations by the Home Health and Home Services Advisory Committee, the Department shall adopt such rules as are necessary for the proper regulation of home nursing agencies. Requirements for licensure as a home nursing agency shall include the following:

(1) Compliance with the requirements of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

(2) Notification, in a form and manner established by the Department by rule, to home nursing agency workers and consumers as to the party or parties responsible under State and federal laws for payment of employment taxes, social security taxes, and workers' compensation, liability, the day-to-day supervision of workers, and the hiring, firing, and discipline of workers with the placement arrangement for home nursing services.

(3) Compliance with rules, as adopted by the Department, in regard to (i) reporting by the licensee of any known or suspected incidences of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult, as defined in the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, by a home nursing care worker employed by or placed by the licensee or (ii) reports to a law enforcement agency in connection with any other individual protected under the laws of the State of Illinois.

(4) Compliance with rules, as adopted by the Department, addressing the health, safety, and well-being of clients receiving home nursing services.

(b) The Department may establish fees for home nursing agency licensure in rules in a manner that will make the program self-supporting. The amount of the licensure fees shall be based on the funding required for the operation of the licensure program. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Department may not charge any fee to a certified local health department in connection with the licensure of a home nursing agency.

(Source: P.A. 96-577, eff. 8-18-09.)

Section 18. The Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act is amended by changing Section 16 as follows:

(225 ILCS 20/16) (from Ch. 111, par. 6366)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)

Sec. 16. Privileged Communications and Exceptions.

1. No licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker shall disclose any information acquired from persons consulting the social worker in a professional capacity, except that which may be voluntarily disclosed under the following circumstances:

(a) In the course of formally reporting, conferring or consulting with administrative superiors, colleagues or consultants who share professional responsibility, including a professional responsibility to maintain confidentiality, in which instance all recipients of such information are similarly bound to regard the communication as privileged;

(b) With the written consent of the person who provided the information;

(c) In case of death or disability, with the written consent of a personal representative, other person authorized to sue, or the beneficiary of an insurance policy on the person's life, health or physical condition;

(d) When a communication reveals the intended commission of a crime or harmful act and such disclosure is judged necessary by the licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker to protect any person from a clear, imminent risk of serious mental or physical harm or injury, or to forestall a serious threat to the public safety;

(e) When the person waives the privilege by bringing any public charges against the licensee; or

(f) When the information is acquired during the course of investigating a report or working on a case of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation by a designated Elder Abuse Provider Agency and disclosure of the information is in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act.

2. When the person is a minor under the laws of the State of Illinois and the information acquired by the licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker indicates the minor was the victim or subject of a crime, the licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker may be required to testify in any judicial proceedings in which the commission of that crime is the subject of inquiry and when, after in camera review of the information that the licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker acquired, the court determines that the interests of the minor in having the information held privileged are outweighed by the requirements of justice, the need to protect the public safety or the need to protect the minor, except as provided under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

3. Any person having access to records or any one who participates in providing social work services or who, in providing any human services, is supervised by a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker, is similarly bound to regard all information and communications as privileged in accord with this Section.

4. Nothing shall be construed to prohibit a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker from voluntarily testifying in court hearings concerning matters of adoption, child abuse, child neglect or other matters pertaining to children, except as provided under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

5. The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, as now or hereafter amended, is incorporated herein as if all of its provisions were included in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-71, eff. 7-23-09.)

Section 19. The Respiratory Care Practice Act is amended by changing Section 95 as follows:

(225 ILCS 106/95)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)

Sec. 95. Grounds for discipline.

(a) The Department may refuse to issue, renew, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, or take other disciplinary action as the Department considers appropriate, including the issuance of fines not to exceed $5,000 for each violation, with regard to any license for any one or more of the following:

(1) Material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department or to any other State or federal agency.

(2) Violations of this Act, or any of its rules.

(3) Conviction of any crime under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof that is a felony or a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty, or of any crime that is directly related to the practice of the profession.

(4) Making any misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining a license.

(5) Professional incompetence or negligence in the rendering of respiratory care services.

(6) Malpractice.

(7) Aiding or assisting another person in violating any rules or provisions of this Act.

(8) Failing to provide information within 60 days in response to a written request made by the Department.

(9) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public.

(10) Violating the rules of professional conduct adopted by the Department.

(11) Discipline by another jurisdiction, if at least one of the grounds for the discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to those set forth in this Act.

(12) Directly or indirectly giving to or receiving from any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association any fee, commission, rebate, or other form of compensation for any professional services not actually rendered. Nothing in this paragraph (12) affects any bona fide independent contractor or employment arrangements among health care professionals, health facilities, health care providers, or other entities, except as otherwise prohibited by law. Any employment arrangements may include provisions for compensation, health insurance, pension, or other employment benefits for the provision of services within the scope of the licensee's practice under this Act. Nothing in this paragraph (12) shall be construed to require an employment arrangement to receive professional fees for services rendered.

(13) A finding by the Department that the licensee, after having the license placed on probationary status, has violated the terms of the probation.

(14) Abandonment of a patient.

(15) Willfully filing false reports relating to a licensee's practice including, but not limited to, false records filed with a federal or State agency or department.

(16) Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

(17) Providing respiratory care, other than pursuant to an order.

(18) Physical or mental disability including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skills that results in the inability to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(19) Solicitation of professional services by using false or misleading advertising.

(20) Failure to file a tax return, or to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax penalty, or interest, as required by any tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue or any successor agency or the Internal Revenue Service or any successor agency.

(21) Irregularities in billing a third party for services rendered or in reporting charges for services not rendered.

(22) Being named as a perpetrator in an indicated report by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and upon proof by clear and convincing evidence that the licensee has caused a child to be an abused child or neglected child as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

(23) Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug that results in an inability to practice with reasonable skill, judgment, or safety.

(24) Being named as a perpetrator in an indicated report by the Department on Aging under the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, and upon proof by clear and convincing evidence that the licensee has caused an elderly person to be abused or neglected as defined in the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act.

(25) Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected elder abuse or neglect as required by the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act.

(b) The determination by a court that a licensee is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code will result in an automatic suspension of his or her license. The suspension will end upon a finding by a court that the licensee is no longer subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission, the issuance of an order so finding and discharging the patient, and the recommendation of the Board to the Director that the licensee be allowed to resume his or her practice.

(Source: P.A. 96-1482, eff. 11-29-10.)

Section 20. The Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 75 and 80 as follows:

(225 ILCS 107/75)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2023)

Sec. 75. Privileged communications and exceptions.

(a) No licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor shall disclose any information acquired from persons consulting the counselor in a professional capacity, except that which may be voluntarily disclosed under the following circumstances:

(1) In the course of formally reporting, conferring, or consulting with administrative superiors, colleagues, or consultants who share professional responsibility, in which instance all recipients of the information are similarly bound to regard the communication as privileged;

(2) With the written consent of the person who provided the information;

(3) In the case of death or disability, with the written consent of a personal representative, other person authorized to sue, or the beneficiary of an insurance policy on the person's life, health or physical condition;

(4) When a communication reveals the intended commission of a crime or harmful act and such disclosure is judged necessary by the licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor to protect any person from a clear, imminent risk of serious mental or physical harm or injury, or to forestall a serious threat to the public safety; or

(5) When the person waives the privilege by bringing any public charges against the licensee.

(b) When the person is a minor under the laws of the State of Illinois and the information acquired by the licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor indicates the minor was the victim or subject of a crime, the licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor may be required to testify in any judicial proceedings in which the commission of that crime is the subject of inquiry when, after in camera review of the information that the licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor acquired, the court determines that the interests of the minor in having the information held privileged are outweighed by the requirements of justice, the need to protect the public safety or the need to protect the minor, except as provided under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

(c) Any person having access to records or anyone who participates in providing professional counseling or clinical professional counseling services, or, in providing any human services, is supervised by a licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor, is similarly bound to regard all information and communications as privileged in accord with this Section.

(d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor from voluntarily testifying in court hearings concerning matters of adoption, child abuse, child neglect or other matters pertaining to children, except as provided under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and matters pertaining to elders as set forth in the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act.

(e) The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act is incorporated herein as if all of its provisions were included in this Act. In the event of a conflict between the application of this Section and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act to a specific situation, the provisions of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act shall control.

(f) Licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical professional counselors when performing professional counseling services or clinical professional counseling services shall comply with counselor licensure rules and laws contained in this Section and Section 80 of this Act regardless of their employment or work setting.

(Source: P.A. 97-706, eff. 6-25-12.)

(225 ILCS 107/80)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2023)

Sec. 80. Grounds for discipline.

(a) The Department may refuse to issue, renew, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, or take other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as the Department deems appropriate, including the issuance of fines not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, with regard to any license for any one or more of the following:

(1) Material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department or to any other State agency.

(2) Violations or negligent or intentional disregard of this Act or rules adopted under this Act.

(3) Conviction by plea of guilty or nolo contendere, finding of guilt, jury verdict, or entry of judgment or by sentencing of any crime, including, but not limited to, convictions, preceding sentences of supervision, conditional discharge, or first offender probation, under the laws of any jurisdiction of the United States: (i) that is a felony or (ii) that is a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty, or that is directly related to the practice of the profession.

(4) Fraud or any misrepresentation in applying for or procuring a license under this Act or in connection with applying for renewal of a license under this Act.

(5) Professional incompetence or gross negligence in the rendering of professional counseling or clinical professional counseling services.

(6) Malpractice.

(7) Aiding or assisting another person in violating any provision of this Act or any rules.

(8) Failing to provide information within 60 days in response to a written request made by the Department.

(9) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public and violating the rules of professional conduct adopted by the Department.

(10) Habitual or excessive use or abuse of drugs as defined in law as controlled substances, alcohol, or any other substance which results in inability to practice with reasonable skill, judgment, or safety.

(11) Discipline by another jurisdiction, the District of Columbia, territory, county, or governmental agency, if at least one of the grounds for the discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to those set forth in this Section.

(12) Directly or indirectly giving to or receiving from any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association any fee, commission, rebate or other form of compensation for any professional service not actually rendered. Nothing in this paragraph (12) affects any bona fide independent contractor or employment arrangements among health care professionals, health facilities, health care providers, or other entities, except as otherwise prohibited by law. Any employment arrangements may include provisions for compensation, health insurance, pension, or other employment benefits for the provision of services within the scope of the licensee's practice under this Act. Nothing in this paragraph (12) shall be construed to require an employment arrangement to receive professional fees for services rendered.

(13) A finding by the Board that the licensee, after having the license placed on probationary status, has violated the terms of probation.

(14) Abandonment of a client.

(15) Willfully filing false reports relating to a licensee's practice, including but not limited to false records filed with federal or State agencies or departments.

(16) Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and in matters pertaining to elders or suspected elder abuse as set forth in the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act.

(17) Being named as a perpetrator in an indicated report by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and upon proof by clear and convincing evidence that the licensee has caused a child to be an abused child or neglected child as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

(18) Physical or mental illness or disability, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of abilities and skills which results in the inability to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(19) Solicitation of professional services by using false or misleading advertising.

(20) Allowing one's license under this Act to be used by an unlicensed person in violation of this Act.

(21) A finding that licensure has been applied for or obtained by fraudulent means.

(22) Practicing under a false or, except as provided by law, an assumed name.

(23) Gross and willful overcharging for professional services including filing statements for collection of fees or monies for which services are not rendered.

(24) Rendering professional counseling or clinical professional counseling services without a license or practicing outside the scope of a license.

(25) Clinical supervisors failing to adequately and responsibly monitor supervisees.

All fines imposed under this Section shall be paid within 60 days after the effective date of the order imposing the fine.

(b) The Department shall deny, without hearing, any application or renewal for a license under this Act to any person who has defaulted on an educational loan guaranteed by the Illinois State Assistance Commission or any governmental agency of this State in accordance with item (5) of subsection (a) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(b-5) The Department may refuse to issue or may suspend without hearing, as provided for in the Code of Civil Procedure, the license of any person who fails to file a return, pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return, or pay any final assessment of the tax, penalty, or interest as required by any tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, until such time as the requirements of any such tax Act are satisfied in accordance with subsection (g) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(b-10) In cases where the Department of Healthcare and Family Services has previously determined a licensee or a potential licensee is more than 30 days delinquent in the payment of child support and has subsequently certified the delinquency to the Department, the Department may refuse to issue or renew or may revoke or suspend that person's license or may take other disciplinary action against that person based solely upon the certification of delinquency made by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in accordance with item (5) of subsection (a) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(c) The determination by a court that a licensee is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code will result in an automatic suspension of his or her license. The suspension will end upon a finding by a court that the licensee is no longer subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission, the issuance of an order so finding and discharging the patient, and the recommendation of the Board to the Secretary that the licensee be allowed to resume professional practice.

(c-5) In enforcing this Act, the Department, upon a showing of a possible violation, may compel an individual licensed to practice under this Act, or who has applied for licensure under this Act, to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both, as required by and at the expense of the Department. The Department may order the examining physician to present testimony concerning the mental or physical examination of the licensee or applicant. No information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communications between the licensee or applicant and the examining physician. The examining physicians shall be specifically designated by the Department. The individual to be examined may have, at his or her own expense, another physician of his or her choice present during all aspects of this examination. The examination shall be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Failure of an individual to submit to a mental or physical examination, when directed, shall result in an automatic suspension without hearing.

A person holding a license under this Act or who has applied for a license under this Act who, because of a physical or mental illness or disability, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skill, is unable to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety, may be required by the Department to submit to care, counseling, or treatment by physicians approved or designated by the Department as a condition, term, or restriction for continued, reinstated, or renewed licensure to practice. Submission to care, counseling, or treatment as required by the Department shall not be considered discipline of a license. If the licensee refuses to enter into a care, counseling, or treatment agreement or fails to abide by the terms of the agreement, the Department may file a complaint to revoke, suspend, or otherwise discipline the license of the individual. The Secretary may order the license suspended immediately, pending a hearing by the Department. Fines shall not be assessed in disciplinary actions involving physical or mental illness or impairment.

In instances in which the Secretary immediately suspends a person's license under this Section, a hearing on that person's license must be convened by the Department within 15 days after the suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The Department shall have the authority to review the subject individual's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records.

An individual licensed under this Act and affected under this Section shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the Department that he or she can resume practice in compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the provisions of his or her license.

(d) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 96-1482, eff. 11-29-10; 97-706, eff. 6-25-12.)

Section 21. The Elder Abuse and Neglect Act is amended by changing the title of the Act and by changing Sections 1, 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.1, 5, 8, 9, and 15 and by adding Section 7.5 as follows:

(320 ILCS 20/Act title)

An Act in relation to adult protective services the abuse and neglect of elderly persons.

(320 ILCS 20/1) (from Ch. 23, par. 6601)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Adult Protective Services Act "Elder Abuse and Neglect Act".

(Source: P.A. 85-1184.)

(320 ILCS 20/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 6602)

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) "Abuse" means causing any physical, mental or sexual injury to an eligible adult, including exploitation of such adult's financial resources.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that an eligible adult is a victim of abuse, neglect, or self-neglect for the sole reason that he or she is being furnished with or relies upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone, in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that an eligible adult is a victim of abuse because of health care services provided or not provided by licensed health care professionals.

(a-5) "Abuser" means a person who abuses, neglects, or financially exploits an eligible adult.

(a-6) "Adult with disabilities" means a person aged 18 through 59 who resides in a domestic living situation and whose disability impairs his or her ability to seek or obtain protection from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(a-7) "Caregiver" means a person who either as a result of a family relationship, voluntarily, or in exchange for compensation has assumed responsibility for all or a portion of the care of an eligible adult who needs assistance with activities of daily living.

(b) "Department" means the Department on Aging of the State of Illinois.

(c) "Director" means the Director of the Department.

(c-5) "Disability" means a physical or mental disability, including, but not limited to, a developmental disability, an intellectual disability, or a mental illness as defined under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.

(d) "Domestic living situation" means a residence where the eligible adult at the time of the report lives alone or with his or her family or a caregiver, or others, or a board and care home or other community-based unlicensed facility, but is not:

(1) A licensed facility as defined in Section 1-113 of the Nursing Home Care Act, Section 1-113 of the ID/DD Community Care Act, or Section 1-113 of the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act;

(1.5) A facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act;

(1.7) A facility licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act;

(2) A "life care facility" as defined in the Life Care Facilities Act;

(3) A home, institution, or other place operated by the federal government or agency thereof or by the State of Illinois;

(4) A hospital, sanitarium, or other institution, the principal activity or business of which is the diagnosis, care, and treatment of human illness through the maintenance and operation of organized facilities therefor, which is required to be licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act;

(5) A "community living facility" as defined in the Community Living Facilities Licensing Act;

(6) (Blank);

(7) A "community-integrated living arrangement" as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act or a "community residential alternative" as licensed under that Act;

(8) An assisted living or shared housing establishment as defined in the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act; or

(9) A supportive living facility as described in Section 5-5.01a of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(e) "Eligible adult" means either an adult with disabilities age 18 through 59 or a person aged 60 years of age or older who resides in a domestic living situation and is, or is alleged to be, abused, neglected, or financially exploited by another individual or who neglects himself or herself.

(f) "Emergency" means a situation in which an eligible adult is living in conditions presenting a risk of death or physical, mental or sexual injury and the provider agency has reason to believe the eligible adult is unable to consent to services which would alleviate that risk.

(f-5) "Mandated reporter" means any of the following persons while engaged in carrying out their professional duties:

(1) a professional or professional's delegate while engaged in: (i) social services, (ii) law enforcement, (iii) education, (iv) the care of an eligible adult or eligible adults, or (v) any of the occupations required to be licensed under the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, the Dietitian Nutritionist Practice Act, the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Naprapathic Practice Act, the Nurse Practice Act, the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act, the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Illinois Physical Therapy Act, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act, the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004, and the Illinois Public Accounting Act;

(2) an employee of a vocational rehabilitation facility prescribed or supervised by the Department of Human Services;

(3) an administrator, employee, or person providing services in or through an unlicensed community based facility;

(4) any religious practitioner who provides treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination, except as to information received in any confession or sacred communication enjoined by the discipline of the religious denomination to be held confidential;

(5) field personnel of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Public Health, and Department of Human Services, and any county or municipal health department;

(6) personnel of the Department of Human Services, the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, the State Fire Marshal, local fire departments, the Department on Aging and its subsidiary Area Agencies on Aging and provider agencies, and the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman;

(7) any employee of the State of Illinois not otherwise specified herein who is involved in providing services to eligible adults, including professionals providing medical or rehabilitation services and all other persons having direct contact with eligible adults;

(8) a person who performs the duties of a coroner or medical examiner; or

(9) a person who performs the duties of a paramedic or an emergency medical technician.

(g) "Neglect" means another individual's failure to provide an eligible adult with or willful withholding from an eligible adult the necessities of life including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter or health care. This subsection does not create any new affirmative duty to provide support to eligible adults. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that an eligible adult is a victim of neglect because of health care services provided or not provided by licensed health care professionals.

(h) "Provider agency" means any public or nonprofit agency in a planning and service area appointed by the regional administrative agency with prior approval by the Department on Aging to receive and assess reports of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.

(i) "Regional administrative agency" means any public or nonprofit agency in a planning and service area so designated by the Department, provided that the designated Area Agency on Aging shall be designated the regional administrative agency if it so requests. The Department shall assume the functions of the regional administrative agency for any planning and service area where another agency is not so designated.

(i-5) "Self-neglect" means a condition that is the result of an eligible adult's inability, due to physical or mental impairments, or both, or a diminished capacity, to perform essential self-care tasks that substantially threaten his or her own health, including: providing essential food, clothing, shelter, and health care; and obtaining goods and services necessary to maintain physical health, mental health, emotional well-being, and general safety. The term includes compulsive hoarding, which is characterized by the acquisition and retention of large quantities of items and materials that produce an extensively cluttered living space, which significantly impairs the performance of essential self-care tasks or otherwise substantially threatens life or safety.

(j) "Substantiated case" means a reported case of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect in which a provider agency, after assessment, determines that there is reason to believe abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation has occurred.

(Source: P.A. 96-339, eff. 7-1-10; 96-526, eff. 1-1-10; 96-572, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-38, eff. 6-28-11; 97-227, eff. 1-1-12; 97-300, eff. 8-11-11; 97-706, eff. 6-25-12; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 97-1141, eff. 12-28-12.)

(320 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 6603)

Sec. 3. Responsibilities.

(a) The Department shall establish, design, and manage a protective services program of response and services for eligible adults persons 60 years of age and older who have been, or are alleged to be, victims of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect. The Department shall contract with or fund or, contract with and fund, regional administrative agencies, provider agencies, or both, for the provision of protective services those functions, and, contingent on adequate funding, with attorneys or legal services provider agencies for the provision of legal assistance pursuant to this Act. The program shall include the following services for eligible adults who have been removed from their residences for the purpose of cleanup or repairs: temporary housing; counseling; and caseworker services to try to ensure that the conditions necessitating the removal do not reoccur.

(a-1) Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the Department shall establish a centralized Adult Protective Services Helpline for the purposes of reporting the abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult. The helpline shall perform intake and determine appropriate referrals, as necessary. The Department shall make the helpline accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and shall post its telephone number online.

(b) Each regional administrative agency shall designate provider agencies within its planning and service area with prior approval by the Department on Aging, monitor the use of services, provide technical assistance to the provider agencies and be involved in program development activities.

(c) Provider agencies shall assist, to the extent possible, eligible adults who need agency services to allow them to continue to function independently. Such assistance shall include but not be limited to receiving reports of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect, conducting face-to-face assessments of such reported cases, determination of substantiated cases, referral of substantiated cases for necessary support services, referral of criminal conduct to law enforcement in accordance with Department guidelines, and provision of case work and follow-up services on substantiated cases. In the case of a report of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect that places an eligible adult at risk of injury or death, a provider agency shall respond to the report on an emergency basis in accordance with guidelines established by the Department by administrative rule and shall ensure that it is capable of responding to such a report 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. A provider agency may use an on-call system to respond to reports of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect after hours and on weekends.

(d) Upon sufficient appropriations to implement a statewide program, the Department shall implement a program, based on the recommendations of the Elder Self-Neglect Steering Committee, for (i) responding to reports of possible self-neglect, (ii) protecting the autonomy, rights, privacy, and privileges of adults during investigations of possible self-neglect and consequential judicial proceedings regarding competency, (iii) collecting and sharing relevant information and data among the Department, provider agencies, regional administrative agencies, and relevant seniors, (iv) developing working agreements between provider agencies and law enforcement, where practicable, and (v) developing procedures for collecting data regarding incidents of self-neglect.

(Source: P.A. 95-76, eff. 6-1-08; 96-526, eff. 1-1-10; 96-572, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

(320 ILCS 20/3.5)

Sec. 3.5. Other Responsibilities. The Department shall also be responsible for the following activities, contingent upon adequate funding:

(a) promotion of a wide range of endeavors for the purpose of preventing elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect in both domestic and institutional settings, including, but not limited to, promotion of public and professional education to increase awareness of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect, to increase reports, and to improve response by various legal, financial, social, and health systems;

(b) coordination of efforts with other agencies, councils, and like entities, to include but not be limited to, the Office of the Attorney General, the State Police, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, the State Triad, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Departments of Public Health, Public Aid, and Human Services, the Family Violence Coordinating Council, the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, and other entities which may impact awareness of, and response to, elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect;

(c) collection and analysis of data;

(d) monitoring of the performance of regional administrative agencies and adult elder abuse provider agencies;

(e) promotion of prevention activities;

(f) establishing and coordinating an aggressive training program on the unique nature of adult elder abuse cases with other agencies, councils, and like entities, to include but not be limited to the Office of the Attorney General, the State Police, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, the State Triad, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the State Departments of Public Health, Healthcare and Family Services Public Aid, and Human Services, the Family Violence Coordinating Council, the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, and other entities that may impact awareness of and response to elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect;

(g) solicitation of financial institutions for the purpose of making information available to the general public warning of financial exploitation of adults the elderly and related financial fraud or abuse, including such information and warnings available through signage or other written materials provided by the Department on the premises of such financial institutions, provided that the manner of displaying or distributing such information is subject to the sole discretion of each financial institution;

(g-1) developing by joint rulemaking with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation minimum training standards which shall be used by financial institutions for their current and new employees with direct customer contact; the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall retain sole visitation and enforcement authority under this subsection (g-1); the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall provide bi-annual reports to the Department setting forth aggregate statistics on the training programs required under this subsection (g-1); and

(h) coordinating efforts with utility and electric companies to send notices in utility bills to explain to persons 60 years of age or older their rights regarding telemarketing and home repair fraud.

(Source: P.A. 96-1103, eff. 7-19-10.)

(320 ILCS 20/4) (from Ch. 23, par. 6604)

Sec. 4. Reports of abuse or neglect.

(a) Any person who suspects the abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect of an eligible adult may report this suspicion to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department.

(a-5) If any mandated reporter has reason to believe that an eligible adult, who because of dysfunction is unable to seek assistance for himself or herself, has, within the previous 12 months, been subjected to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, the mandated reporter shall, within 24 hours after developing such belief, report this suspicion to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department. The agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or the Department may establish a manner in which a mandated reporter can make the required report through an Internet reporting tool. Information sent and received through the Internet reporting tool is subject to the same rules in this Act as other types of confidential reporting established by the designated agency or the Department. Whenever a mandated reporter is required to report under this Act in his or her capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, facility, board and care home, or agency, he or she shall make a report to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department in accordance with the provisions of this Act and may also notify the person in charge of the institution, facility, board and care home, or agency or his or her designated agent that the report has been made. Under no circumstances shall any person in charge of such institution, facility, board and care home, or agency, or his or her designated agent to whom the notification has been made, exercise any control, restraint, modification, or other change in the report or the forwarding of the report to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department. The privileged quality of communication between any professional person required to report and his or her patient or client shall not apply to situations involving abused, neglected, or financially exploited eligible adults and shall not constitute grounds for failure to report as required by this Act.

(a-7) A person making a report under this Act in the belief that it is in the alleged victim's best interest shall be immune from criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary action on account of making the report, notwithstanding any requirements concerning the confidentiality of information with respect to such eligible adult which might otherwise be applicable.

(a-9) Law enforcement officers shall continue to report incidents of alleged abuse pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, notwithstanding any requirements under this Act.

(b) Any person, institution or agency participating in the making of a report, providing information or records related to a report, assessment, or services, or participating in the investigation of a report under this Act in good faith, or taking photographs or x-rays as a result of an authorized assessment, shall have immunity from any civil, criminal or other liability in any civil, criminal or other proceeding brought in consequence of making such report or assessment or on account of submitting or otherwise disclosing such photographs or x-rays to any agency designated to receive reports of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect. Any person, institution or agency authorized by the Department to provide assessment, intervention, or administrative services under this Act shall, in the good faith performance of those services, have immunity from any civil, criminal or other liability in any civil, criminal, or other proceeding brought as a consequence of the performance of those services. For the purposes of any civil, criminal, or other proceeding, the good faith of any person required to report, permitted to report, or participating in an investigation of a report of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect shall be presumed.

(c) The identity of a person making a report of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect under this Act may be disclosed by the Department or other agency provided for in this Act only with such person's written consent or by court order, but is otherwise confidential.

(d) The Department shall by rule establish a system for filing and compiling reports made under this Act.

(e) Any physician who willfully fails to report as required by this Act shall be referred to the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Board for action in accordance with subdivision (A)(22) of Section 22 of the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Any dentist or dental hygienist who willfully fails to report as required by this Act shall be referred to the Department of Professional Regulation for action in accordance with paragraph 19 of Section 23 of the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Any optometrist who willfully fails to report as required by this Act shall be referred to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for action in accordance with paragraph (15) of subsection (a) of Section 24 of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Any other mandated reporter required by this Act to report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation who willfully fails to report the same is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 96-378, eff. 1-1-10; 96-526, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-860, eff. 7-30-12.)

(320 ILCS 20/4.1)

Sec. 4.1. Employer discrimination. No employer shall discharge, demote or suspend, or threaten to discharge, demote or suspend, or in any manner discriminate against any employee who makes any good faith oral or written report of suspected elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation or who is or will be a witness or testify in any investigation or proceeding concerning a report of suspected elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.

(Source: P.A. 90-628, eff. 1-1-99.)

(320 ILCS 20/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 6605)

Sec. 5. Procedure.

(a) A provider agency designated to receive reports of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect under this Act shall, upon receiving such a report, conduct a face-to-face assessment with respect to such report, in accord with established law and Department protocols, procedures, and policies. Face-to-face assessments, casework, and follow-up of reports of self-neglect by the provider agencies designated to receive reports of self-neglect shall be subject to sufficient appropriation for statewide implementation of assessments, casework, and follow-up of reports of self-neglect. In the absence of sufficient appropriation for statewide implementation of assessments, casework, and follow-up of reports of self-neglect, the designated adult protective services elder abuse provider agency shall refer all reports of self-neglect to the appropriate agency or agencies as designated by the Department for any follow-up. The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, a visit to the residence of the eligible adult who is the subject of the report and may include interviews or consultations with service agencies or individuals who may have knowledge of the eligible adult's circumstances. If, after the assessment, the provider agency determines that the case is substantiated it shall develop a service care plan for the eligible adult and may report its findings to the appropriate law enforcement agency in accord with established law and Department protocols, procedures, and policies. In developing a case the plan, the provider agency may consult with any other appropriate provider of services, and such providers shall be immune from civil or criminal liability on account of such acts. The plan shall include alternative suggested or recommended services which are appropriate to the needs of the eligible adult and which involve the least restriction of the eligible adult's activities commensurate with his or her needs. Only those services to which consent is provided in accordance with Section 9 of this Act shall be provided, contingent upon the availability of such services.

(b) A provider agency shall refer evidence of crimes against an eligible adult to the appropriate law enforcement agency according to Department policies. A referral to law enforcement may be made at intake or any time during the case. Where a provider agency has reason to believe the death of an eligible adult may be the result of abuse or neglect, the agency shall immediately report the matter to the coroner or medical examiner and shall cooperate fully with any subsequent investigation.

(c) If any person other than the alleged victim refuses to allow the provider agency to begin an investigation, interferes with the provider agency's ability to conduct an investigation, or refuses to give access to an eligible adult, the appropriate law enforcement agency must be consulted regarding the investigation.

(Source: P.A. 94-1064, eff. 1-1-07.)

(320 ILCS 20/7.5 new)

Sec. 7.5. Health Care Worker Registry.

(a) Reporting to the registry. The Department on Aging shall report to the Department of Public Health's health care worker registry the identity and administrative finding against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated decision of significant abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult under this Act. An administrative finding placed in the registry will preclude any caregiver from providing direct care in exchange for compensation in Illinois.

(b) Definitions. As used in this Section:

"Direct care" includes, but is not limited to, the provision of nursing care or assistance with feeding, dressing, movement, bathing, toileting, or other personal needs or assistance with financial transactions.

"Significant" means a finding of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation as determined by the Department that (i) represents a meaningful failure to adequately provide for, or a material indifference to, the financial, health, safety, or medical needs of an eligible adult or (ii) results in an eligible adult's death or other serious deterioration of an eligible adult's financial resources, physical condition, or mental condition.

(c) Notice to caregiver. Prior to reporting, the Department on Aging shall notify the caregiver of its obligation to make a report to the registry. Notice to the caregiver shall contain a clear and concise statement of the grounds upon which the report to the registry is based and shall set forth the procedures for challenging a report to the registry. Notice is sufficient if provided by certified mail to the caregiver's last known address. If the caregiver does not reply within 30 calendar days after the date of the notice, the Department shall report the name of the caregiver to the registry. Nothing in this subsection shall diminish or impair the rights of a person who is a member of a collective bargaining unit under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act or under any other federal labor statute.

(d) Report challenges. The process by which a challenge to reporting is filed shall be established through the Department's administrative rules. Upon receiving a timely challenge by a caregiver in response to the notice of a registry report, the Department shall conduct an investigation and issue an administrative decision as to whether the verified and substantiated decision warrants reporting the caregiver's name to the registry. A written copy of the decision shall be provided to the caregiver.

(e) Registry hearings. If a caregiver's report challenge is not successful, then he or she may request an administrative hearing within 30 calendar days after the date of decision. If the request is timely, the Department on Aging shall not make a report to the registry and the caregiver shall be granted an opportunity to appear in person at a hearing. The caregiver shall present reasons why the abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation is not significant or should not otherwise be reported to the registry. The administrative law judge presiding over the hearing shall summarize pertinent findings of fact and conclusions of law and make a recommendation to the Director of the Department on Aging as to whether the verified and substantiated finding warrants reporting the name of the caregiver to the registry. The Director shall render and adopt the final decision. The parties may jointly request that the administrative law judge consider a stipulated disposition of these proceedings.

(f) Caregiver's rights to collateral action. The Department on Aging shall not make any report to the registry if a caregiver notifies the Department in writing, including any supporting documentation, that he or she is formally challenging an adverse employment action resulting from a verified and substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation by complaint filed with the Illinois Civil Service Commission, or which otherwise seeks to enforce the caregiver's rights pursuant to any applicable collective bargaining agreement. If an action taken by an employer against a caregiver as a result of a finding of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation is overturned through an action filed with the Illinois Civil Service Commission or under any applicable collective bargaining agreement and if that caregiver's name has already been sent to the registry, the caregiver's name shall be removed from the registry.

(g) Removal from registry. At any time after a report to the registry, but no more than once in each successive 3-year period thereafter, for a maximum of 3 such requests, a caregiver may write to the Director of the Department on Aging to request removal of his or her name from the registry. The caregiver shall bear the burden of showing cause that establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, that removal of his or her name from the registry is in the public interest. Upon receiving such a request, the Department on Aging shall conduct an investigation and consider any evidentiary material provided. The Department shall issue a decision either granting or denying removal within 60 calendar days, and shall issue such decision to the caregiver and the registry. The waiver process at the Department of Public Health does not apply to registry reports from the Department on Aging.

(h) Referral of registry reports to health care facilities. In the event an eligible adult receiving services from a provider agency changes his or her residence from a domestic living situation to that of a health care facility, the provider agency shall use reasonable efforts to promptly inform the health care facility and the State Long Term Care Ombudsman about any registry reports relating to the eligible adult. For purposes of this Section, a health care facility includes, but is not limited to, a long-term care facility, a hospital, a hospice, a shared housing or assisted living establishment, a community living facility, or other government-operated facility.

(320 ILCS 20/8) (from Ch. 23, par. 6608)

Sec. 8. Access to records. All records concerning reports of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect and all records generated as a result of such reports shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except as specifically authorized by this Act or other applicable law. In accord with established law and Department protocols, procedures, and policies, access to such records, but not access to the identity of the person or persons making a report of alleged abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect as contained in such records, shall be provided, upon request, to the following persons and for the following persons:

(1) Department staff, provider agency staff, other aging network staff, and regional administrative agency staff, including staff of the Chicago Department on Aging while that agency is designated as a regional administrative agency, in the furtherance of their responsibilities under this Act;

(2) A law enforcement agency investigating known or suspected elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect. Where a provider agency has reason to believe that the death of an eligible adult may be the result of abuse or neglect, the agency shall immediately provide the appropriate law enforcement agency with all records pertaining to the eligible adult;

(2.5) A law enforcement agency, fire department agency, or fire protection district having proper jurisdiction pursuant to a written agreement between a provider agency and the law enforcement agency, fire department agency, or fire protection district under which the provider agency may furnish to the law enforcement agency, fire department agency, or fire protection district a list of all eligible adults who may be at imminent risk of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect;

(3) A physician who has before him or her or who is involved in the treatment of an eligible adult whom he or she reasonably suspects may be abused, neglected, financially exploited, or self-neglected or who has been referred to the Adult Protective Services Elder Abuse and Neglect Program;

(4) An eligible adult reported to be abused, neglected, financially exploited, or self-neglected, or such adult's authorized guardian or agent, unless such guardian or agent is the abuser or the alleged abuser;

(4.5) An executor or administrator of the estate of an eligible adult who is deceased;

(5) In cases regarding elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, a court or a guardian ad litem, upon its or his or her finding that access to such records may be necessary for the determination of an issue before the court. However, such access shall be limited to an in camera inspection of the records, unless the court determines that disclosure of the information contained therein is necessary for the resolution of an issue then pending before it;

(5.5) In cases regarding self-neglect, a guardian ad litem;

(6) A grand jury, upon its determination that access to such records is necessary in the conduct of its official business;

(7) Any person authorized by the Director, in writing, for audit or bona fide research purposes;

(8) A coroner or medical examiner who has reason to believe that an eligible adult has died as the result of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect. The provider agency shall immediately provide the coroner or medical examiner with all records pertaining to the eligible adult;

(8.5) A coroner or medical examiner having proper jurisdiction, pursuant to a written agreement between a provider agency and the coroner or medical examiner, under which the provider agency may furnish to the office of the coroner or medical examiner a list of all eligible adults who may be at imminent risk of death as a result of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect; and

(9) Department of Financial and Professional Regulation staff and members of the Illinois Medical Disciplinary Board or the Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board in the course of investigating alleged violations of the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act by provider agency staff or other licensing bodies at the discretion of the Director of the Department on Aging; and

(10) Department staff in the course of conducting an administrative hearing to determine whether a verified and substantiated finding of significant abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult by a caregiver warrants reporting to the health care worker registry.

(Source: P.A. 96-526, eff. 1-1-10; 97-864, eff. 1-1-13.)

(320 ILCS 20/9) (from Ch. 23, par. 6609)

Sec. 9. Authority to consent to services.

(a) If an eligible adult consents to services being provided according to the case plan, such services shall be arranged to meet the adult's needs, based upon the availability of resources to provide such services. If an adult withdraws his or her consent or refuses to accept such services, the services shall not be provided.

(b) If it reasonably appears to the Department or other agency designated under this Act that a person is an eligible adult and lacks the capacity to consent to necessary services, including an assessment, the Department or other agency may seek the appointment of a guardian as provided in Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975 for the purpose of consenting to such services, together with an order for an evaluation of the eligible adult's physical, psychological, and medical condition and decisional capacity.

(c) A guardian of the person of an eligible adult may consent to services being provided according to the case plan. If an eligible adult lacks capacity to consent to services, an agent having authority under a power of attorney may consent to services. If the guardian or agent is the alleged abuser and he or she withdraws his or her consent, or refuses to allow services to be provided to the eligible adult, the Department, an agency designated under this Act, or the office of the Attorney General may request a court order seeking appropriate remedies, and may in addition request removal of the guardian and appointment of a successor guardian or request removal of the agent and appointment of a guardian.

(d) If an emergency exists and the Department or other agency designated under this Act reasonably believes that a person is an eligible adult and lacks the capacity to consent to necessary services, the Department or other agency may request an ex parte order from the circuit court of the county in which the petitioner or respondent resides or in which the alleged abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect occurred, authorizing an assessment of a report of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect or the provision of necessary services, or both, including relief available under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 in accord with established law and Department protocols, procedures, and policies. Petitions filed under this subsection shall be treated as expedited proceedings.

(d-5) For purposes of this Section, an eligible adult "lacks the capacity to consent" if he or she reasonably appears either (i) unable to receive and evaluate information related to the assessment or services or (ii) unable to communicate decisions related to the assessment or services.

(e) Within 15 days after the entry of the ex parte emergency order, the order shall expire, or, if the need for assessment or services continues, the provider agency shall petition for the appointment of a guardian as provided in Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975 for the purpose of consenting to such assessment or services or to protect the eligible adult from further harm.

(f) If the court enters an ex parte order under subsection (d) for an assessment of a report of alleged or suspected self-neglect, or for the provision of necessary services in connection with alleged or suspected self-neglect, or for both, the court, as soon as is practicable thereafter, shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the eligible adult who is the subject of the order, for the purpose of reviewing the reasonableness of the order. The guardian ad litem shall review the order and, if the guardian ad litem reasonably believes that the order is unreasonable, the guardian ad litem shall file a petition with the court stating the guardian ad litem's belief and requesting that the order be vacated.

(Source: P.A. 96-526, eff. 1-1-10.)

(320 ILCS 20/15)

Sec. 15. Abuse Elder abuse fatality review teams.

(a) In this Section, "review team" means a regional interagency elder abuse fatality review team established under this Section.

(a-5) The Department shall establish, lead, and direct a Statewide Fatality Review Team. The Team shall have authority to consider suspicious deaths of victims of alleged, suspected, or substantiated abuse or neglect in domestic living situations in areas in which there is no regional interagency abuse team.

(b) The Department, or any other State or county agency with Department approval, may establish, lead, and direct regional interagency elder abuse fatality review teams (i) to assist local agencies in identifying and reviewing suspicious deaths of elderly victims of alleged, suspected, or substantiated abuse or neglect in domestic living situations and (ii) to facilitate communications between officials responsible for autopsies and inquests and persons involved in reporting or investigating alleged or suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of eligible adults under this Act persons 60 years of age or older.

(b-5) The Statewide Fatality Review Team and each regional Each such team shall be composed of representatives of entities and individuals including, but not limited to, the Department on Aging, coroners or medical examiners (or both), State's Attorneys, local police departments, forensic units, and service providers of services for persons 60 years of age or older in domestic living situations.

(c) The Statewide Fatality Review Team and each regional A review team shall review cases of deaths of eligible adults persons 60 years of age or older in domestic living situations (i) involving blunt force trauma or an undetermined manner or suspicious cause of death, (ii) if requested by the deceased's attending physician, (iii) upon referral by a health care provider, or (iv) constituting an open or closed case from a senior protective services agency, law enforcement agency, or State's Attorney's office that involves alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. A team may also review other cases of deaths of eligible adults persons 60 years of age or older if the alleged abuse or neglect occurred while the person was residing in a domestic living situation.

A review team shall meet not less than 6 times a year to discuss cases for its possible review. Each review team, with the advice and consent of the Department, shall establish criteria to be used by review teams in discussing cases of alleged, suspected, or substantiated abuse or neglect for review and shall conduct its activities in accordance with any applicable policies and procedures established by the Department.

(d) Any document or oral or written communication shared within or produced by a review team relating to a case discussed or reviewed by the review team is confidential and is not subject to disclosure to or discoverable by another party except for use by a local State's Attorney's office in investigating and pursuing a criminal prosecution against a caregiver.

Any document or oral or written communication provided to a review team by an individual or entity, and created by that individual or entity solely for the use of the review team, is confidential and is not subject to disclosure to or discoverable by another party except for use by a local State's Attorney's office in investigating and pursuing a criminal prosecution against a caregiver.

Each entity or individual represented on an elder abuse fatality review team may share with other members of the team information in the entity's or individual's possession concerning the decedent who is the subject of the review or concerning any person who was in contact with the decedent, as well as any other information deemed by the entity or individual to be pertinent to the review. Any such information shared by an entity or individual with other members of a team is confidential. The intent of this paragraph is to permit the disclosure to members of a team of any information deemed confidential or privileged or prohibited from disclosure by any other provision of law. Release of confidential communication between domestic violence advocates and a domestic violence victim shall follow subsection (d) of Section 227 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 which allows for the waiver of privilege afforded to guardians, executors, or administrators of the estate of the domestic violence victim. This provision relating to the release of confidential communication between domestic violence advocates and a domestic violence victim shall exclude adult protective service providers.

A coroner's or medical examiner's office may share with a review team medical records that have been made available to the coroner's or medical examiner's office in connection with that office's investigation of a death.

(e) The Statewide Fatality Review Team or the regional review team's A review team's recommendation in relation to a case discussed or reviewed by the review team, including, but not limited to, a recommendation concerning a resulting an investigation or prosecution in relation to such a case, may be disclosed by such a the review team upon the completion of its review and at the discretion of a majority of its members considering such matters who reviewed the case.

(f) The Department, in consultation with coroners, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies, shall use aggregate data gathered by review teams and review teams' recommendations to create an annual report and may use those data and recommendations to develop education, prevention, prosecution, or other strategies designed to improve the coordination of services for persons 60 years of age or older and their families. The Department or other State or county agency, in consultation with coroners, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies, also may use aggregate data gathered by review teams to create a database of at-risk individuals.

(Source: P.A. 95-402, eff. 6-1-08.)

Section 25. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is amended by changing Sections 114-13.5 and 115-10.3 as follows:

(725 ILCS 5/114-13.5)

Sec. 114-13.5. Evidence deposition; elder abuse. In a prosecution for abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult as defined in the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, the eligible adult may give testimony in the form of an evidence deposition and not be required to appear in court to testify.

(Source: P.A. 93-301, eff. 1-1-04.)

(725 ILCS 5/115-10.3)

Sec. 115-10.3. Hearsay exception regarding elder adults.

(a) In a prosecution for a physical act, abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation perpetrated upon or against an eligible adult, as defined in the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, who has been diagnosed by a physician to suffer from (i) any form of dementia, developmental disability, or other form of mental incapacity or (ii) any physical infirmity, including but not limited to prosecutions for violations of Sections 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-3.1, 10-4, 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, 11-1.60, 11-11, 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-3.05, 12-3.2, 12-3.3, 12-4, 12-4.1, 12-4.2, 12-4.5, 12-4.6, 12-4.7, 12-5, 12-6, 12-7.3, 12-7.4, 12-11, 12-11.1, 12-13, 12-14, 12-15, 12-16, 12-21, 16-1, 16-1.3, 17-1, 17-3, 17-56, 18-1, 18-2, 18-3, 18-4, 18-5, 18-6, 19-6, 20-1.1, 24-1.2, and 33A-2, or subsection (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961, the following evidence shall be admitted as an exception to the hearsay rule:

(1) testimony by an eligible adult, of an out of court statement made by the eligible adult, that he or she complained of such act to another; and

(2) testimony of an out of court statement made by the eligible adult, describing any complaint of such act or matter or detail pertaining to any act which is an element of an offense which is the subject of a prosecution for a physical act, abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation perpetrated upon or against the eligible adult.

(b) Such testimony shall only be admitted if:

(1) The court finds in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury that the time, content, and circumstances of the statement provide sufficient safeguards of reliability; and

(2) The eligible adult either:

(A) testifies at the proceeding; or

(B) is unavailable as a witness and there is corroborative evidence of the act which is the subject of the statement.

(c) If a statement is admitted pursuant to this Section, the court shall instruct the jury that it is for the jury to determine the weight and credibility to be given the statement and that, in making the determination, it shall consider the condition of the eligible adult, the nature of the statement, the circumstances under which the statement was made, and any other relevant factor.

(d) The proponent of the statement shall give the adverse party reasonable notice of his or her intention to offer the statement and the particulars of the statement.

(Source: P.A. 96-1551, Article 1, Section 965, eff. 7-1-11; 96-1551, Article 2, Section 1040, eff. 7-1-11; 96-1551, Article 10, Section 10-145, eff. 7-1-11; 97-1108, eff. 1-1-13; 97-1109, eff. 1-1-13.)

Section 30. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by changing Section 8-2701 as follows:

(735 ILCS 5/8-2701)

Sec. 8-2701. Admissibility of evidence; out of court statements; elder abuse.

(a) An out of court statement made by an eligible adult, as defined in the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, who has been diagnosed by a physician to suffer from (i) any form of dementia, developmental disability, or other form of mental incapacity or (ii) any physical infirmity which prevents the eligible adult's appearance in court, describing any act of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, or testimony by an eligible adult of an out of court statement made by the eligible adult that he or she complained of such acts to another, is admissible in any civil proceeding, if:

(1) the court conducts a hearing outside the presence of the jury and finds that the time, content, and circumstances of the statement provide sufficient safeguards of reliability; and

(2) the eligible adult either:

(A) testifies at the proceeding; or

(B) is unavailable as a witness and there is corroborative evidence of the act which is the subject of the statement.

(b) If a statement is admitted pursuant to this Section, the court shall instruct the jury that it is for the jury to determine the weight and credibility to be given to the statement and that, in making its determination, it shall consider the condition of the eligible adult, the nature of the statement, the circumstances under which the statement was made, and any other relevant factors.

(c) The proponent of the statement shall give the adverse party reasonable notice of an intention to offer the statement and the particulars of the statement.

(Source: P.A. 90-628, eff. 1-1-99.)

Section 35. The Probate Act of 1975 is amended by changing Section 11a-10 as follows:

(755 ILCS 5/11a-10) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 11a-10)

Sec. 11a-10. Procedures preliminary to hearing.

(a) Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to Section 11a-8, the court shall set a date and place for hearing to take place within 30 days. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to report to the court concerning the respondent's best interests consistent with the provisions of this Section, except that the appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required when the court determines that such appointment is not necessary for the protection of the respondent or a reasonably informed decision on the petition. If the guardian ad litem is not a licensed attorney, he or she shall be qualified, by training or experience, to work with or advocate for the developmentally disabled, mentally ill, physically disabled, the elderly, or persons disabled because of mental deterioration, depending on the type of disability that is alleged in the petition. The court may allow the guardian ad litem reasonable compensation. The guardian ad litem may consult with a person who by training or experience is qualified to work with persons with a developmental disability, persons with mental illness, or physically disabled persons, or persons disabled because of mental deterioration, depending on the type of disability that is alleged. The guardian ad litem shall personally observe the respondent prior to the hearing and shall inform him orally and in writing of the contents of the petition and of his rights under Section 11a-11. The guardian ad litem shall also attempt to elicit the respondent's position concerning the adjudication of disability, the proposed guardian, a proposed change in residential placement, changes in care that might result from the guardianship, and other areas of inquiry deemed appropriate by the court. Notwithstanding any provision in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act or any other law, a guardian ad litem shall have the right to inspect and copy any medical or mental health record of the respondent which the guardian ad litem deems necessary, provided that the information so disclosed shall not be utilized for any other purpose nor be redisclosed except in connection with the proceedings. At or before the hearing, the guardian ad litem shall file a written report detailing his or her observations of the respondent, the responses of the respondent to any of the inquires detailed in this Section, the opinion of the guardian ad litem or other professionals with whom the guardian ad litem consulted concerning the appropriateness of guardianship, and any other material issue discovered by the guardian ad litem. The guardian ad litem shall appear at the hearing and testify as to any issues presented in his or her report.

(b) The court (1) may appoint counsel for the respondent, if the court finds that the interests of the respondent will be best served by the appointment, and (2) shall appoint counsel upon respondent's request or if the respondent takes a position adverse to that of the guardian ad litem. The respondent shall be permitted to obtain the appointment of counsel either at the hearing or by any written or oral request communicated to the court prior to the hearing. The summons shall inform the respondent of this right to obtain appointed counsel. The court may allow counsel for the respondent reasonable compensation.

(c) If the respondent is unable to pay the fee of the guardian ad litem or appointed counsel, or both, the court may enter an order for the petitioner to pay all such fees or such amounts as the respondent or the respondent's estate may be unable to pay. However, in cases where the Office of State Guardian is the petitioner, consistent with Section 30 of the Guardianship and Advocacy Act, where the public guardian is the petitioner, consistent with Section 13-5 of the Probate Act of 1975, where an elder abuse provider agency is the petitioner, pursuant to Section 9 of the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, or where the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General is the petitioner, consistent with Section 45 of the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act, no guardian ad litem or legal fees shall be assessed against the Office of State Guardian, the public guardian, the elder abuse provider agency, or the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General.

(d) The hearing may be held at such convenient place as the court directs, including at a facility in which the respondent resides.

(e) Unless he is the petitioner, the respondent shall be personally served with a copy of the petition and a summons not less than 14 days before the hearing. The summons shall be printed in large, bold type and shall include the following notice:

NOTICE OF RIGHTS OF RESPONDENT

You have been named as a respondent in a guardianship petition asking that you be declared a disabled person. If the court grants the petition, a guardian will be appointed for you. A copy of the guardianship petition is attached for your convenience.

The date and time of the hearing are: The place where the hearing will occur is: The Judge's name and phone number is:

If a guardian is appointed for you, the guardian may be given the right to make all important personal decisions for you, such as where you may live, what medical treatment you may receive, what places you may visit, and who may visit you. A guardian may also be given the right to control and manage your money and other property, including your home, if you own one. You may lose the right to make these decisions for yourself.

You have the following legal rights:

(1) You have the right to be present at the court hearing.

(2) You have the right to be represented by a lawyer, either one that you retain, or one appointed by the Judge.

(3) You have the right to ask for a jury of six persons to hear your case.

(4) You have the right to present evidence to the court and to confront and cross-examine witnesses.

(5) You have the right to ask the Judge to appoint an independent expert to examine you and give an opinion about your need for a guardian.

(6) You have the right to ask that the court hearing be closed to the public.

(7) You have the right to tell the court whom you prefer to have for your guardian.

You do not have to attend the court hearing if you do not want to be there. If you do not attend, the Judge may appoint a guardian if the Judge finds that a guardian would be of benefit to you. The hearing will not be postponed or canceled if you do not attend.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ATTEND THE HEARING IF YOU DO NOT WANT A GUARDIAN OR IF YOU WANT SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE PERSON NAMED IN THE GUARDIANSHIP PETITION TO BE YOUR GUARDIAN. IF YOU DO NOT WANT A GUARDIAN OF IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS, YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR COME TO COURT AND TELL THE JUDGE.

Service of summons and the petition may be made by a private person 18 years of age or over who is not a party to the action.

(f) Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by the petitioner by mail or in person to those persons, including the proposed guardian, whose names and addresses appear in the petition and who do not waive notice, not less than 14 days before the hearing.

(Source: P.A. 96-1052, eff. 7-14-10; 97-375, eff. 8-15-11; 97-1095, eff. 8-24-12.)

Section 40. The Illinois Power of Attorney Act is amended by changing Sections 2-7 and 2-10 as follows:

(755 ILCS 45/2-7) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 802-7)

Sec. 2-7. Duty - standard of care - record-keeping - exoneration.

(a) The agent shall be under no duty to exercise the powers granted by the agency or to assume control of or responsibility for any of the principal's property, care or affairs, regardless of the principal's physical or mental condition. Whenever a power is exercised, the agent shall act in good faith for the benefit of the principal using due care, competence, and diligence in accordance with the terms of the agency and shall be liable for negligent exercise. An agent who acts with due care for the benefit of the principal shall not be liable or limited merely because the agent also benefits from the act, has individual or conflicting interests in relation to the property, care or affairs of the principal or acts in a different manner with respect to the agency and the agent's individual interests. The agent shall not be affected by any amendment or termination of the agency until the agent has actual knowledge thereof. The agent shall not be liable for any loss due to error of judgment nor for the act or default of any other person.

(b) An agent that has accepted appointment must act in accordance with the principal's expectations to the extent actually known to the agent and otherwise in the principal's best interests.

(c) An agent shall keep a record of all receipts, disbursements, and significant actions taken under the authority of the agency and shall provide a copy of this record when requested to do so by:

(1) the principal, a guardian, another fiduciary acting on behalf of the principal, and, after the death of the principal, the personal representative or successors in interest of the principal's estate;

(2) a representative of a provider agency, as defined in Section 2 of the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, acting in the course of an assessment of a complaint of elder abuse or neglect under that Act;

(3) a representative of the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman, acting in the course of an investigation of a complaint of financial exploitation of a nursing home resident under Section 4.04 of the Illinois Act on the Aging;

(4) a representative of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Human Services, acting in the course of an assessment of a complaint of financial exploitation of an adult with disabilities pursuant to Section 35 of the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act; or

(5) a court under Section 2-10 of this Act.

(d) If the agent fails to provide his or her record of all receipts, disbursements, and significant actions within 21 days after a request under subsection (c), the elder abuse provider agency or the State Long Term Care Ombudsman may petition the court for an order requiring the agent to produce his or her record of receipts, disbursements, and significant actions. If the court finds that the agent's failure to provide his or her record in a timely manner to the elder abuse provider agency or the State Long Term Care Ombudsman was without good cause, the court may assess reasonable costs and attorney's fees against the agent, and order such other relief as is appropriate.

(e) An agent is not required to disclose receipts, disbursements, or other significant actions conducted on behalf of the principal except as otherwise provided in the power of attorney or as required under subsection (c).

(f) An agent that violates this Act is liable to the principal or the principal's successors in interest for the amount required (i) to restore the value of the principal's property to what it would have been had the violation not occurred, and (ii) to reimburse the principal or the principal's successors in interest for the attorney's fees and costs paid on the agent's behalf. This subsection does not limit any other applicable legal or equitable remedies.

(Source: P.A. 96-1195, eff. 7-1-11.)

(755 ILCS 45/2-10) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 802-10)

Sec. 2-10. Agency-court relationship.

(a) Upon petition by any interested person (including the agent), with such notice to interested persons as the court directs and a finding by the court that the principal lacks either the capacity to control or the capacity to revoke the agency, the court may construe a power of attorney, review the agent's conduct, and grant appropriate relief including compensatory damages.

(b) If the court finds that the agent is not acting for the benefit of the principal in accordance with the terms of the agency or that the agent's action or inaction has caused or threatens substantial harm to the principal's person or property in a manner not authorized or intended by the principal, the court may order a guardian of the principal's person or estate to exercise any powers of the principal under the agency, including the power to revoke the agency, or may enter such other orders without appointment of a guardian as the court deems necessary to provide for the best interests of the principal.

(c) If the court finds that the agency requires interpretation, the court may construe the agency and instruct the agent, but the court may not amend the agency.

(d) If the court finds that the agent has not acted for the benefit of the principal in accordance with the terms of the agency and the Illinois Power of Attorney Act, or that the agent's action caused or threatened substantial harm to the principal's person or property in a manner not authorized or intended by the principal, then the agent shall not be authorized to pay or be reimbursed from the estate of the principal the attorneys' fees and costs of the agent in defending a proceeding brought pursuant to this Section.

(e) Upon a finding that the agent's action has caused substantial harm to the principal's person or property, the court may assess against the agent reasonable costs and attorney's fees to a prevailing party who is a provider agency as defined in Section 2 of the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, a representative of the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman, or a governmental agency having regulatory authority to protect the welfare of the principal.

(f) As used in this Section, the term "interested person" includes (1) the principal or the agent; (2) a guardian of the person, guardian of the estate, or other fiduciary charged with management of the principal's property; (3) the principal's spouse, parent, or descendant; (4) a person who would be a presumptive heir-at-law of the principal; (5) a person named as a beneficiary to receive any property, benefit, or contractual right upon the principal's death, or as a beneficiary of a trust created by or for the principal; (6) a provider agency as defined in Section 2 of the Adult Protective Services Act Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, a representative of the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman, or a governmental agency having regulatory authority to protect the welfare of the principal; and (7) the principal's caregiver or another person who demonstrates sufficient interest in the principal's welfare.

(g) Absent court order directing a guardian to exercise powers of the principal under the agency, a guardian will have no power, duty or liability with respect to any property subject to the agency or any personal or health care matters covered by the agency.

(h) Proceedings under this Section shall be commenced in the county where the guardian was appointed or, if no Illinois guardian is acting, then in the county where the agent or principal resides or where the principal owns real property.

(i) This Section shall not be construed to limit any other remedies available.

(Source: P.A. 96-1195, eff. 7-1-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2013.