HOMEMAKER SRVCS-WAGE INCREASES

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision concerning the Community Care Program, establishes the following rate increases for the purpose of increasing the wages paid by vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services: on July 1, 2016, rates shall be increased to $19.27, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; on July 1, 2017, rates shall be increased to $21.39, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; on July 1, 2018, rates shall be increased to $23.52, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; and on July 1, 2019, rates shall be increased to $25.22, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour. Requires the Department to pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees consistent with the mandates of Public Act 95-713; and that for State fiscal year 2017, the enhanced rate shall be $1.77 per hour and shall be adjusted using actuarial analysis based on the cost of care. Effective July 1, 2016.