HB1562 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 05614 KTG 15644 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1562

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Rep. Charles Meier

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1305/1-100 new

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer, no later than January 1, 2026, a 5-year pilot program that integrates an occupational therapy component into the State's home-delivered meals program, commonly known as Meals on Wheels, authorized under the federal Older Americans Act. Provides that under the pilot program, the Department shall award grants funded under the Section 14(c) transition program to eligible community agencies for the purpose of training and employing qualifying workers with disabilities to accompany Meals on Wheels drivers on their regular delivery routes and assist in the delivery of meals to homebound meal recipients who opt to participate in the pilot program. Provides that at the option of a participating homebound meal recipient, a qualifying worker may remain with the recipient for up to 2 hours after meal delivery to provide an opportunity for social engagement and interaction. Provides that a direct support professional shall travel with and supervise all deliveries made by a worker whose disability makes the worker less independent. Sets forth qualification requirements under the program for workers with disabilities. Provides that all workers with disabilities selected to participate in the pilot program shall be compensated at a rate level consistent with those wage standards applied for workers engaged in competitive integrated employment as defined in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Requires community agencies selected to receive grant funding under the pilot program to have active or pending subminimum wage certificates authorized under Section 14(c) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and meet any other eligibility requirements established by the Department by rule. Requires the Department to conduct annual surveys during the duration of the pilot program on participating homebound meal recipients and workers with disabilities to gauge such participants' overall satisfaction with the pilot program and to document any other additional benefits to program participants. Effective July 1, 2025.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by adding Section 1-100 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/1-100 new)

Sec. 1-100. Occupational therapy pilot program for workers with disabilities.

(a) No later than January 1, 2026, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer a 5-year pilot program that integrates an occupational therapy component into the State's home-delivered meals program, commonly known as Meals on Wheels, authorized under the federal Older Americans Act. Under the pilot program, the Department shall award grants funded under the Section 14(c) transition program to eligible community agencies for the purpose of training and employing qualifying workers with disabilities to accompany Meals on Wheels drivers on their regular delivery routes and assist in the delivery of meals to homebound meal recipients who opt to participate in the pilot program. At the option of a participating homebound meal recipient, a qualifying worker may remain with the recipient for up to 2 hours after meal delivery to provide an opportunity for social engagement and interaction. A direct support professional shall travel with and supervise all deliveries made by a worker whose disability makes the worker less independent.

Following completion of the 2-hour social engagement activity, accommodations shall be made for a Meals on Wheels delivery driver to pick-up and transport a qualifying worker and any accompanying direct support professional from the homebound meal recipient's residence back to the worker's personal residence or to a developmental disability facility where the worker resides or receives services. To encourage and help maintain a social connection between qualifying workers and homebound meal recipients, efforts shall be made to assign each qualifying worker to at least one participating homebound meal recipient for whom the worker will deliver meals to on a regular basis.

(b) To qualify for training and employment under the pilot program, an individual must have an intellectual or developmental disability and must:

(1) have held previous employment in a congregate work center or sheltered workshop under a subminimum wage certificate authorized under Section 14(c) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; or

(2) be aged 22 or older and no longer eligible for services or supports provided through traditional school-based developmental disabilities programs.

All workers with disabilities selected to participate in the pilot program shall be compensated at a rate level consistent with those wage standards applied for workers engaged in competitive integrated employment as defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law 113-128) and Section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705).

(c) Community agencies selected to receive grant funding under the pilot program must have active or pending subminimum wage certificates authorized under Section 14(c) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and meet any other eligibility requirements established by the Department by rule.

(d) To measure the effectiveness of the pilot program, beginning one year after the pilot program's implementation date the Department shall conduct annual surveys on participating homebound meal recipients and workers with disabilities to gauge such participants' overall satisfaction with the pilot program and to document any other additional benefits to program participants. The final survey shall be conducted no later than 3 months after the pilot program terminates. All surveys shall be posted on the Department's official website.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2025.