SB2425 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 16766 RSP 52037 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB2425

Introduced 1/18/2006, by Sen. Susan Garrett

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 3960/4	from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1154
20 ILCS 3960/4.2
20 ILCS 3960/5	from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1155
20 ILCS 3960/19.6

Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Requires a State Board member of the Health Facilities Planning Board to disqualify himself or herself from the consideration of any application for a permit or exemption in which the State Board member or the State Board member's spouse, parent, or child is employed by, serves as a consultant for, or is a member of the governing board of a person that the member knows, or upon reasonable inquiry should know, has an interest or seeks an interest with respect to the planning, financing, construction, or management of the matter for which a permit or exemption is sought. In a Section defining ex parte communications of State Board members, provides that statements publicly made in a meeting open to the public are not considered ex parte communications. Provides that construction or modification of a health care facility for (i) the establishment of swing beds authorized under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act or (ii) certain changes in bed capacity at a health care facility that increase the total number of beds by more than 20 beds (now, 10 beds) or more than 10% of the total bed capacity does not require a permit or exemption by the State Board. Provides that the Act is repealed on July 1, 2011 (now, repealed July 1, 2006). Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act is amended by changing Sections 4, 4.2, 5, and 19.6 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3960/4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1154)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2006)

Sec. 4. Health Facilities Planning Board; membership; appointment; term; compensation; quorum. There is created the Health Facilities Planning Board, which shall perform the functions described in this Act.

The State Board shall consist of 5 voting members. Each member shall have a reasonable knowledge of health planning, health finance, or health care at the time of his or her appointment. No person shall be appointed or continue to serve as a member of the State Board who is, or whose spouse, parent, or child is, a member of the Board of Directors of, has a financial interest in, or has a business relationship with a health care facility.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, the term of office of each member of the State Board is abolished on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and those members no longer hold office.

The State Board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Not more than 3 of the appointments shall be of the same political party at the time of the appointment. No person shall be appointed as a State Board member if that person has served, after the effective date of Public Act 93-41, 2 3-year terms as a State Board member, except for ex officio non-voting members.

The Secretary of Human Services, the Director of Healthcare and Family Services Public Aid, and the Director of Public Health, or their designated representatives, shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the State Board.

Of those members initially appointed by the Governor under this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, 2 shall serve for terms expiring July 1, 2005, 2 shall serve for terms expiring July 1, 2006, and 1 shall serve for a term expiring July 1, 2007. Thereafter, each appointed member shall hold office for a term of 3 years, provided that any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term and the term of office of each successor shall commence on July 1 of the year in which his predecessor's term expires. Each member appointed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

State Board members, while serving on business of the State Board, shall receive actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses while so serving away from their places of residence. A member of the State Board who experiences a significant financial hardship due to the loss of income on days of attendance at meetings or while otherwise engaged in the business of the State Board may be paid a hardship allowance, as determined by and subject to the approval of the Governor's Travel Control Board.

The Governor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and shall name as full-time Executive Secretary of the State Board, a person qualified in health care facility planning and in administration. The Agency shall provide administrative and staff support for the State Board. The State Board shall advise the Director of its budgetary and staff needs and consult with the Director on annual budget preparation.

The State Board shall meet at least once each quarter, or as often as the Chairman of the State Board deems necessary, or upon the request of a majority of the members.

Three members of the State Board shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of 3 of the members of the State Board shall be necessary for any action requiring a vote to be taken by the State Board. A vacancy in the membership of the State Board shall not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the State Board as provided by this Act.

A State Board member shall disqualify himself or herself from the consideration of any application for a permit or exemption in which the State Board member or the State Board member's spouse, parent, or child: (i) has an economic interest in the matter; or (ii) is employed by, serves as a consultant for, or is a member of the governing board of the applicant or a party opposing the application; or (iii) is employed by, serves as a consultant for, or is a member of the governing board of a person the member knows, or upon reasonable inquiry should know, has an interest or seeks an interest with respect to the planning, financing, construction, or management of the matter for which a permit or exemption is sought.

(Source: P.A. 93-41, eff. 6-27-03; 93-889, eff. 8-9-04; revised 12-15-05.)

(20 ILCS 3960/4.2)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2006)

Sec. 4.2. Ex parte communications.

(a) Except in the disposition of matters that agencies are authorized by law to entertain or dispose of on an ex parte basis including, but not limited to rule making, the State Board, any State Board member, employee, or a hearing officer shall not engage in ex parte communication in connection with the substance of any pending or impending application for a permit with any person or party or the representative of any party. This subsection (a) applies when the Board, member, employee, or hearing officer knows, or should know upon reasonable inquiry, that the application is pending or impending.

(b) A State Board member or employee may communicate with other members or employees and any State Board member or hearing officer may have the aid and advice of one or more personal assistants.

(c) An ex parte communication received by the State Board, any State Board member, employee, or a hearing officer shall be made a part of the record of the matter, including all written communications, all written responses to the communications, and a memorandum stating the substance of all oral communications and all responses made and the identity of each person from whom the ex parte communication was received.

(d) "Ex parte communication" means a communication between a person who is not a State Board member or employee and a State Board member or employee that reflects on the substance of a pending or impending State Board proceeding and that takes place outside the record of the proceeding. Communications regarding matters of procedure and practice, such as the format of pleading, number of copies required, manner of service, and status of proceedings, are not considered ex parte communications. Statements publicly made in a meeting open to the public are not considered ex parte communications. Technical assistance with respect to an application, not intended to influence any decision on the application, may be provided by employees to the applicant. Any assistance shall be documented in writing by the applicant and employees within 10 business days after the assistance is provided.

(e) For purposes of this Section, "employee" means a person the State Board or the Agency employs on a full-time, part-time, contract, or intern basis.

(f) The State Board, State Board member, or hearing examiner presiding over the proceeding, in the event of a violation of this Section, must take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the violation does not prejudice any party or adversely affect the fairness of the proceedings.

(g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent the State Board or any member of the State Board from consulting with the attorney for the State Board.

(Source: P.A. 93-889, eff. 8-9-04.)

(20 ILCS 3960/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1155)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2006)

Sec. 5. After effective dates set by the State Board, no person shall construct, modify or establish a health care facility or acquire major medical equipment without first obtaining a permit or exemption from the State Board. The State Board shall not delegate to the Executive Secretary of the State Board or any other person or entity the authority to grant permits or exemptions whenever the Executive Secretary or other person or entity would be required to exercise any discretion affecting the decision to grant a permit or exemption. The State Board shall set effective dates applicable to all or to each classification or category of health care facilities and applicable to all or each type of transaction for which a permit is required. Varying effective dates may be set, providing the date or dates so set shall apply uniformly statewide.

Notwithstanding any effective dates established by this Act or by the State Board, no person shall be required to obtain a permit for any purpose under this Act until the State health facilities plan referred to in paragraph (4) of Section 12 of this Act has been approved and adopted by the State Board subsequent to public hearings having been held thereon.

A permit or exemption shall be obtained prior to the acquisition of major medical equipment or to the construction or modification of a health care facility which:

(a) requires a total capital expenditure in excess of the capital expenditure minimum; or

(b) except for the establishment of swing beds authorized under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act, substantially changes the scope or changes the functional operation of the facility; or

(c) changes the bed capacity of a health care facility by increasing the total number of beds or by distributing beds among various categories of service or by relocating beds from one physical facility or site to another by more than 20 10 beds or more than 10% of total bed capacity as defined by the State Board, whichever is less, over a 2 year period.

A permit shall be valid only for the defined construction or modifications, site, amount and person named in the application for such permit and shall not be transferable or assignable. A permit shall be valid until such time as the project has been completed, provided that (a) obligation of the project occurs within 12 months following issuance of the permit except for major construction projects such obligation must occur within 18 months following issuance of the permit; and (b) the project commences and proceeds to completion with due diligence. Major construction projects, for the purposes of this Act, shall include but are not limited to: projects for the construction of new buildings; additions to existing facilities; modernization projects whose cost is in excess of $1,000,000 or 10% of the facilities' operating revenue, whichever is less; and such other projects as the State Board shall define and prescribe pursuant to this Act. The State Board may extend the obligation period upon a showing of good cause by the permit holder. Permits for projects that have not been obligated within the prescribed obligation period shall expire on the last day of that period.

Persons who otherwise would be required to obtain a permit shall be exempt from such requirement if the State Board finds that with respect to establishing a new facility or construction of new buildings or additions or modifications to an existing facility, final plans and specifications for such work have prior to October 1, 1974, been submitted to and approved by the Department of Public Health in accordance with the requirements of applicable laws. Such exemptions shall be null and void after December 31, 1979 unless binding construction contracts were signed prior to December 1, 1979 and unless construction has commenced prior to December 31, 1979. Such exemptions shall be valid until such time as the project has been completed provided that the project proceeds to completion with due diligence.

The acquisition by any person of major medical equipment that will not be owned by or located in a health care facility and that will not be used to provide services to inpatients of a health care facility shall be exempt from review provided that a notice is filed in accordance with exemption requirements.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no permit or exemption is required for the construction or modification of a non-clinical service area of a health care facility.

(Source: P.A. 91-782, eff. 6-9-00.)

(20 ILCS 3960/19.6)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2006)

Sec. 19.6. Repeal. This Act is repealed on July 1, 2011 2006.

(Source: P.A. 93-41, eff. 6-27-03; 93-889, eff. 8-9-04.)

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