DHS-HOME HEALTH WORKERS

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Removes all references to personal care attendants. Amends the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. In provisions concerning the Department of Human Services' Home Services Program, removes the changes made to those provisions by Public Acts 97-732 and 97-1158 and reinserts and reconciles those changes with the changes made by Public Act 97-1019 as follows: Removes references to personal care attendants. Requires the Department to set rates and fees under the Home Services Program in a fair and equitable manner and to pay the same rate for services identical to those offered by the Department on Aging. Provides that home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered public employees under the Illinois Public Relations Act. Requires the State to engage in collective bargaining with an exclusive representative of home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program. Makes other changes. Transfers provisions concerning the Home Services Medicaid Trust Fund from the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act to the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. Effective immediately.