Recognizes James Mathew of Hinsdale on being selected as one of the top youth volunteers in Illinois for 2017 as part of the 22nd annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2017 owners or operators of specified community water systems shall conduct specified sampling and testing of water at high-risk facilities in their distribution system. Provides that the owners or operators shall develop specified inventories of their distribution system. Provides that beginning July 1, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency may conduct audits of the specified inventories. Contains notification requirements for owners and operators of community water systems. Provides that the Public Water Supply Loan Program shall provide specified financial assistance to community water supplies pursuant to specified provisions of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and Public Utilities Code to provide that municipalities and public utilities may collect a specified fee to recover costs related to complying with specified provisions of the Environmental Protection Act and Illinois Plumbing Licensing Law. Amends the Illinois Plumbing Licensing Law. Adds provisions concerning protection from plumbing-related lead hazards in high-risk facilities. Provides that the owner or operator of each day care center that was constructed in whole or part before January 1, 1987, and the chief school administrator of each school that was constructed in whole or part before January 1, 1987, shall, as soon as practicable after the effective date, develop a specified water management plan for each high-risk facility over which he or she exercises ownership or control. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall, as soon as practicable after the effective date, but no later than June 30, 2018, adopt rule specified rules concerning high-risk facilities, specified inventories, and specified notifications. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Creates the Enhanced Services for Children with Disabilities Task Force to examine and review the Department of Children and Family Services' protocols and procedures for interviewing children with disabilities who are victims of abuse or neglect. Sets forth the task force's duties which shall include: (i) examining reports made to the Department's statewide toll-free telephone number that concern children with disabilities who later interviewed in an abuse or neglect case; and (ii) developing best practices and strategies for Department caseworkers to utilize when interviewing children with disabilities, including disability-specific approaches and services designed to make the child more compliant and focused during the interview process. Provides that the task force shall consist of 21 appointed members who shall serve without compensation and shall be considered members with voting rights. Provides that the task force shall meet and hold hearings as it deems necessary and shall receive the cooperation of any State agency it deems appropriate to assist the task force in carrying out its duties. Requires the task force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Department, and the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2018 and provides that the task force is abolished and the provisions creating the task force are repealed on January 1, 2019. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Code.
Creates the Medicaid Smart Card Pilot Program Act. Requires the Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Medicaid Smart Card Pilot Program to reduce the total amount of expenditures under the State's Medical Assistance Program. Provides that the pilot program shall be designed to reduce the average monthly cost under the State's Medical Assistance Program for recipients within the pilot program area by an amount that is at least sufficient to recover the cost of implementing the pilot program. Provides that the Director shall determine the geographic area to be included in the pilot program and may contract with an independent entity for the purpose of developing and implementing the pilot program. Contains provisions on required activities under the pilot program, including the distribution of Medicaid Smart Cards to designated recipients; measures the Department might take to implement the pilot program; annual evaluations; reporting requirements; extension or expansion of the pilot program; the confidentiality of health information; reports to the Inspector General; and rulemaking authority.
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning payments to nursing facilities, provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may contract with a third-party vendor to perform onsite and desk reviews to determine the accuracy of resident assessment information transmitted in the Minimum Data Set that is relevant to the determination of reimbursement rates.
Recognizes Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February of 2016 and supports and encourages the work of individuals and organizations who provide effective and essential prevention programming for adolescents.
Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that when a report involves a child with a developmental or cognitive disability or with a physical disability that impacts the child's ability to communicate, the Department of Children and Family Services' investigation team shall include a licensed clinical social worker and a speech-language pathologist who have experience, either in a clinical setting or as a therapist in an educational setting, in working with the child's specific disability to help assess the information received from the child. Provides that these persons shall be directly involved in preparing for the investigation by building awareness of the child's communication needs, including the use of assistive technology, and reading abilities, assessing whether a reduced number of or shortened interviews are warranted, and determining the appropriate environment for interviewing the child. Provides that if a forensic interview is to be conducted, the Department shall ensure that the interviewer is trained to interview individuals with disabilities or is accompanied by the Department's licensed clinical social worker and speech-language pathologist. Provides that the Department shall ensure that the interviewer has access to individualized information about the child's disability from personal records, family members or care providers, and others with relevant information prior to meeting the child. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the classes of persons eligible for Medicaid.
Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Provides that Veterans Assistance Commissions shall be composed of delegates (rather than one delegate) and alternates (rather than one alternate) from a majority (rather than each) of the posts, camps, units, and chapters or ships of military veterans organizations in a county. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2017, and every January 1 thereafter, all Veterans Assistance Commissions shall publish a specified notice. Adds provisions concerning the selection of delegates and alternates for Veterans Assistance Commissions. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
