Public Act 102-0986
 
SB0702 EnrolledLRB102 04508 KTG 14527 b



    AN ACT concerning aging.

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



 
    Section 5. The Illinois Act on the Aging is amended  by 
adding Section 4.04b as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 105/4.04b new)
    Sec. 4.04b. Senior Housing Residents' Advisory Council. 
    (a) Findings and purpose.  The COVID-19 pandemic has 
impacted seniors residing in assisted living facilities and 
congregate living arrangements especially hard. Faced with 
sickness, isolation, and a lack of support services many 
seniors of this State have expressed feeling overlooked and 
forgotten about. The purpose of the Senior Housing Residents' 
Advisory Council established under this Section  is to create a 
space and opportunity for senior Illinoisans to connect with 
each other and meet with representatives from the Department 
on Aging and the Department of Public Health  in order to share 
their ideas on how the State can improve the quality of life 
for its senior residents. The Council will also  give senior 
Illinoisans the  opportunity to share their findings and 
recommendations on targeted services and supports for seniors 
with the Governor and the General Assembly.
    (b) Establishment and composition. The Senior Housing 
Residents' Advisory Council is established within the 
Department on Aging. The Council shall consist of the 
following members: 
        (1) The Director of the Department on Aging, or his or 
    her designee, who shall serve as Chair of the Council.
        (2) One member of the Senate appointed by the 
    President of the Senate.
        (3) One member of the House of Representatives 
    appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
        (4) One member of the Senate appointed by the Minority 
    Leader of the Senate.
        (5) One member of the House of Representatives 
    appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of 
    Representatives.
        (6) The Director of the Department of Public Health or 
    his or her designee.
        (7) Two seniors who reside in affordable senior 
    housing developments, appointed by the Department on 
    Aging.
        (8) Two seniors who reside in assisted living 
    facilities, appointed by the Department of Public Health.
        (9) One adult family member of a senior who resides in 
    an affordable senior housing development, appointed by the 
    Department on Aging.
        (10) One adult family member of a senior who resides 
    in an assisted living facility, appointed by the 
    Department of Public Health.
        (11) One senior who lives in Cook County, appointed by 
    the Department on Aging.
        (12) One senior who lives in central Illinois, 
    appointed by the Department on Aging.
        (13) One senior who lives in southern Illinois, 
    appointed by the Department on Aging.
        (14) One senior who lives in northern Illinois, 
    appointed by the Department on Aging.
        (15) One senior who lives in western Illinois, 
    appointed by the Department on Aging.
        (16) One administrative personnel from an affordable 
    senior housing development, appointed by the Department on 
    Aging.
        (17) One administrative personnel from an assisted 
    living facility, appointed by the Department of Public 
    Health.
        (18) One outreach professional who works at the 
    Department on Aging.
        (19) One senior, appointed by the Department on Aging, 
    who lives in one of the following counties: DuPage, Kane, 
    Lake, McHenry, or Will. 
    (c) The Council  shall meet quarterly at the call of the 
Chair beginning no later than January 1, 2023 and shall 
thereafter meet on the date of each quarterly meeting with 
personnel from the Department of Public Health and the 
Department on Aging. All meetings shall be open to the public 
in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. The Council is 
authorized to  form subcommittees that can meet more frequently 
than once per quarter. Members of the Council shall receive no 
compensation for their service but shall be reimbursed for any 
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties 
from appropriations made by the General Assembly for that 
purpose. The Department on Aging shall provide the Council 
with administrative, personnel, and technical support 
services. 
    (d) Duties. The Council has the following duties: 
        (1) Identify barriers to seniors feeling supported by 
    and connected to their communities.
        (2) Evaluate available resources and services for 
    seniors.
        (3) Evaluate State outreach to seniors.
        (4) Evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on congregate 
    living arrangements for seniors.
    (e) Reports. No later than December 31 in 2023, 2024, and 
2025, the Council shall submit a written report to the 
Governor and the General Assembly on the results of its 
findings and evaluations under subsection (d) and shall 
provide advice and recommendations on: 
        (1) how best to disseminate information to seniors on 
    available supports and services through the use of State  
    agency websites, informational materials, and outreach 
    personnel;
        (2) how to ensure of the  availability of  targeted 
    services for  seniors and to eliminate any gaps in services 
    for seniors; and
        (3) how to improve State policy concerning seniors and 
    congregate living arrangements  for seniors in response to 
    COVID-19.
    The Council shall terminate and dissolve after it submits 
its third report on December 31, 2025. 
    (f) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2027. 
 

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


Effective Date:  5/27/2022