50 ILCS 71/35

(50 ILCS 71/35) (was 5 ILCS 820/35)

Sec. 35. Funding.

(a) The General Assembly may appropriate funds to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for the purpose of funding law enforcement agencies, other first responder entities, or local government agencies for services provided by deflection program partners as part of deflection programs subject to subsection (d) of Section 15 of this Act.

(a.1) Up to 10 percent of appropriated funds may be expended on activities related to knowledge dissemination, training, technical assistance, or other similar activities intended to increase practitioner and public awareness of deflection and/or to support its implementation. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority may adopt guidelines and requirements to direct the distribution of funds for these activities.

(b) For all appropriated funds not distributed under subsection (a.1), the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority may adopt guidelines and requirements to direct the distribution of funds for expenses related to deflection programs. Funding shall be made available to support both new and existing deflection programs in a broad spectrum of geographic regions in this State, including urban, suburban, and rural communities. Funding for deflection programs shall be prioritized for communities that have been impacted by the war on drugs, communities that have a police/community relations issue, and communities that have a disproportionate lack of access to mental health and drug treatment. Activities eligible for funding under this Act may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) activities related to program administration, coordination, or management, including, but not limited to, the development of collaborative partnerships with licensed treatment providers and community members or organizations; collection of program data; or monitoring of compliance with a local deflection program plan;

(2) case management including case management provided prior to assessment, diagnosis, and engagement in treatment, as well as assistance navigating and gaining access to various treatment modalities and support services;

(3) peer recovery or recovery support services that include the perspectives of persons with the experience of recovering from a substance use disorder, either themselves or as family members;

(4) transportation to a licensed treatment provider or other program partner location;

(5) program evaluation activities;

(6) naloxone and related harm reduction supplies necessary for carrying out overdose prevention and reversal for purposes of distribution to program participants or for use by law enforcement, other first responders, or local government agencies;

(7) treatment necessary to prevent gaps in service delivery between linkage and coverage by other funding sources when otherwise non-reimbursable; and

(8) wraparound participant funds to be used to incentivize participation and meet participant needs. Eligible items include, but are not limited to, clothing, transportation, application fees, emergency shelter, utilities, toiletries, medical supplies, haircuts, and snacks. Food and drink is allowed if it is necessary for the program's success where it incentivizes participation in case management or addresses an emergency need as a bridge to self-sufficiency when other sources of emergency food are not available.

(c) Specific linkage agreements with recovery support services or self-help entities may be a requirement of the program services protocols. All deflection programs shall encourage the involvement of key family members and significant others as a part of a family-based approach to treatment. All deflection programs are encouraged to use evidence-based practices and outcome measures in the provision of case management, substance use disorder treatment, and medication-assisted treatment for persons with opioid use disorders.

(Source: P.A. 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-361, eff. 1-1-24.)