HB6914 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 21173 DRJ 47247 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6914

Introduced 02/09/04, by Elizabeth Coulson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Housing with Services for the Elderly Consolidation Act. Creates the Task Force on Housing with Services for the Elderly Consolidation, composed of representatives of the Department of Public Aid and the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Task Force shall develop a plan for consolidating, under a single State agency, all programs of housing with services for the elderly in Illinois, including, but not limited to, (i) establishments licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and (ii) the Supportive Living Program. Requires the Task Force to perform other functions and to submit a report by January 1, 2005. Abolishes the Task Force on January 1, 2005. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT in relation to aging.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Housing with Services for the Elderly Consolidation Act.

Section 5. Purpose. It is the purpose of this Act to provide for the consolidation of all programs for housing with services to the elderly under a single State agency in order to reduce administrative costs, improve efficiency, and coordinate services, and for the transfer to that agency of the rights, powers, duties, and functions currently exercised by various other agencies of State government. The intent of this Act is to centralize certain housing-with-services programs for the elderly that are now offered to the citizens of this State by a number of different State agencies; it is intended to make possible the more effective and efficient operation of the affected programs and services.

Section 10. Task Force on Housing with Services for the Elderly Consolidation.

(a) The Task Force on Housing with Services for the Elderly Consolidation is established.

The Task Force shall be composed of the members of the Department of Public Aid's Medicaid Advisory Committee Long Term Care Subcommittee and the Department of Public Health's Assisted Living and Shared Housing Advisory Board. The Task Force shall be co-chaired by the Director of Public Health or his or her designee and the Director of Public Aid or his or her designee.

Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses actually incurred in performing their duties.

(b) The Task Force shall do the following:

(1) Develop a plan for the consolidation of all programs of housing with services for the elderly in Illinois including, but not limited to, (i) establishments licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and (ii) the Supportive Living Program.

(2) Work to ensure that the plan developed under item (1) meets and adheres to the goals of quality, efficiency, accountability, and financial responsibility.

(3) Study how best to maximize future federal funding for programs for housing with services for the elderly, specifically including consideration of any federal Medicaid, welfare, or block grant reform moneys.

(4) Review any other relevant information and make recommendations to ensure a high-quality, efficient, accountable, and financially responsible system for housing with services for the elderly in the State of Illinois.

(5) Recommend any necessary implementing legislation and regulatory changes.

(c) Staff support services may be provided to the Task Force by the Department of Public Health and the Department of Public Aid, the agencies of State government directly involved in the consolidation of housing with services for the elderly.

(d) The Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2005. It may submit other reports as it deems appropriate.

(e) The Task Force is abolished on January 1, 2005.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.