August
24, 2021
To
the Honorable Members of the
Illinois
Senate,
The
102nd General Assembly
Today,
I return Senate Bill 967 with specific recommendations to correct one technical
error in an effective date.
I
commend and celebrate advocates and my partners in the General Assembly for
their efforts in passing Senate Bill 967, a bill that ensures Illinois
continues to be a leader in our efforts to erode racial disparities in
healthcare coverage and access for women and babies. Senate Bill 967 allows the
state to expand its maternal and child health programs to serve pregnant and
postpartum individuals determined high-risk.
However,
in the changes to 305 ILCS 5/5-5, Senate Bill 967 inadvertently includes an incorrect
effective date that conflicts with the implementation timeline.
Therefore,
pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I
hereby return Senate Bill 967, entitled, “An ACT concerning Health,” with the
following specific recommendations for change:
On page 69, line 26, delete “on July 1, 2022”
and insert in lieu thereof “no later than December 1, 2022”.
With
this change, Senate Bill 967 will have my approval.
Sincerely,
Governor
JB Pritzker