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| Public Act 094-0406 |
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AN ACT in relation to educational materials on hepatitis C | ||||
for veterans.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and | ||||
Duties Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is | ||||
amended by changing Section 2310-376 as follows:
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(20 ILCS 2310/2310-376)
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Sec. 2310-376. Hepatitis C education and outreach.
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(a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the | ||||
following:
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(1) The World Health Organization characterizes | ||||
Hepatitis C as a disease
of
primary concern to humanity.
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(2) Hepatitis C is considered a silent killer; no | ||||
recognizable signs or
symptoms occur until severe liver | ||||
damage has occurred.
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(3) Studies indicate that nearly 4 million Americans | ||||
(1.8 percent of the
population) carry the virus HCV that | ||||
causes the disease.
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(4) 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in the | ||||
United States,
and
only 25 to 30 percent are diagnosed.
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(5) 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from the disease each | ||||
year.
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(6) 200,000 Illinois residents may be carriers and | ||||
could develop the
debilitating and potentially deadly | ||||
liver disease.
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(7) Inmates of correctional facilities have a higher | ||||
incidence of
Hepatitis
C and, upon their release, present a | ||||
significant health risk to the general
population.
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(8) Illinois members of the armed services are subject | ||||
to an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis due to their | ||||
possible receipt of contaminated blood during a | ||||
transfusion occurring for the treatment of wounds and due | ||
to their service in areas of the World where the disease is | ||
more prevalent and healthcare is less capable of detecting | ||
and treating the disease. Many of these service members are | ||
unaware of the danger of Hepatitis and their increased risk | ||
of contracting the disease.
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(b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall conduct | ||
an education and
outreach campaign, in
addition to its overall | ||
effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois, in
order to
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raise awareness about and promote prevention of Hepatitis C.
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(c) Subject to appropriation, in addition to the education | ||
and outreach campaign provided in subsection (b), the | ||
Department shall develop and make available to physicians, | ||
other health care providers, members of the armed services, and | ||
other persons subject to an increased risk of contracting | ||
Hepatitis, educational materials, in written and electronic | ||
forms, on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the | ||
disease. These materials shall include the recommendations of | ||
the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and any | ||
other persons or entities determined by the Department to have | ||
particular expertise on Hepatitis, including the American | ||
Liver Foundation. These materials shall be written in terms | ||
that are understandable by members of the general public.
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(d) The Department shall establish an Advisory Council on | ||
Hepatitis to develop a Hepatitis prevention plan. The | ||
Department shall specify the membership, members' terms, | ||
provisions for removal of members, chairmen, and purpose of the | ||
Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall consist of one | ||
representative from each of the following State agencies or | ||
offices, appointed by the head of each agency or office:
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(1) The Department of Public Health.
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(2) The Department of Public Aid.
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(3) The Department of Corrections.
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(4) The Department of Veterans' Affairs.
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(5) The Department on Aging.
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(6) The Department of Human Services.
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(7) The Department of State Police.
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(8) The office of the State Fire Marshal.
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The Director shall appoint representatives of | ||
organizations and advocates in the State of Illinois, | ||
including, but not limited to, the American Liver Foundation. | ||
The Director shall also appoint interested members of the | ||
public, including consumers and providers of health services | ||
and representatives of local public health agencies, to provide | ||
recommendations and information to the members of the Advisory | ||
Council. Members of the Advisory Council shall serve on a | ||
voluntary, unpaid basis and are not entitled to reimbursement | ||
for mileage or other costs they incur in connection with | ||
performing their duties.
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(Source: P.A. 93-129, eff. 1-1-04.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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