HB2511 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 09535 KTG 19598 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2511

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Rep. Jed Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 301/5-35 new

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Creates the State Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Program to provide awareness, prevention, identification, intervention, and service delivery. Sets forth certain activities under the program, including, but not limited to: (i) designating a State FASD coordinator with knowledge and experience in the field of prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD; (ii) utilizing and adapting existing federal or State programs to include FASD identification and FASD-informed support; (iii) developing and expanding screening and diagnostic capacity for FASD; and (iv) providing training with respect to FASD for professionals across relevant sectors. Establishes a FASD State Advisory Committee to provide guidance for the FASD State Program to prevent FASD and provide for the identification, treatment, and support of individuals with FASD and their families. Sets forth certain activities of the committee; committee membership; and committee reporting requirements. Permits the Department of Human Services to contract with or provide grants to public and private nonprofit entities for FASD programs.

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 Substance Use Disorder Act is amended by adding Section 5-35 as follows:

(20 ILCS 301/5-35 new)

Sec. 5-35. State Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Program.

(a) General. There is established a comprehensive fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) awareness, prevention, identification, intervention, and service delivery program (program) in the State of Illinois which may include, but is not limited to, the following activities:

(1) Designating a State FASD coordinator with knowledge and experience in the field of prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD.

(2) Utilizing and adapting existing federal or State programs to include FASD identification and FASD-informed support.

(3) Developing and expanding screening and diagnostic capacity for FASD.

(4) Developing, implementing, and evaluating targeted FASD-informed intervention programs for FASD.

(5) Increasing awareness of FASD.

(6) Providing training with respect to FASD for professionals across relevant sectors.

(7) Serving as a centralized resource for issues related to FASD and disseminating information about FASD and support services to affected individuals and their families.

(b) As used in this Section, "fetal alcohol spectrum disorders" or "FADS" refers to a range of effects that can occur in an individual who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol. Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading cause of preventable developmental disabilities, including over 400 co-occurring possible disease conditions, impacting the brain, vision, hearing, heart, circulation, digestion, and musculoskeletal and respiratory systems. FASD includes diagnoses such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), Static Encephalopathy-Alcohol Exposed (SE-AE), Neurobehavioral Disorders Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND­PAE), and alcohol-related birth defects.

(c) Lead agency. The Governor shall designate the Department of Human Services as the sole agency responsible for the administration of the program established under subsection (a).

(d) FASD State Advisory Committee.

(1) Purpose. A FASD State Advisory Committee is established to provide guidance for the FASD State Program to prevent FASD and provide for the identification, treatment, and support of individuals with FASD and their families. Activities of the committee may include, but is not limited to:

(A) developing a statewide strategic plan to substantially reduce prenatal alcohol exposure and provide for the identification, treatment, and support of individuals with FASD and their families;

(B) providing guidance on the implementation of the strategic plan by reviewing and commenting on grant proposals addressing prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and FASD-informed supports and interventions;

(C) identifying existing federal or State agency programs related to prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and FASD and making recommendations for the utilization and adaptation of such programs to include prenatal alcohol screening and FASD-informed supports and interventions; and

(D) reviewing programs of State agencies that relate to prenatal alcohol or substance exposure and FASD, and coordinating such programs that are interdepartmental in nature in accordance with an interagency agreement, whenever feasible.

(2) Composition. The FASD Advisory Committee shall consist of:

(A) The Department heads, or their senior level designees, of the following State agencies:

(i) Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(ii) Department of Human Services.

(iii) Department of Corrections.

(iv) Illinois State Police.

(v) Department of Employment Security.

(vi) Illinois State Board of Education.

(B) No more than 7 members from the public representing health, education, and justice professionals and service providers, and at least 3 members with FASD or who have a family member with FASD. The Governor shall appoint all members described in this subparagraph.

(3) Each member shall serve for a term of 4 years. If a vacancy occurs in the committee membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

The committee shall elect a chair from its membership.

(4) Administrative support. The Secretary of Human Services shall designate a FASD State Coordinator to provide administrative support for the committee.

(5) Reports. The committee shall report from time to time on its activities to the Governor, the chairs of the appropriate policy committees of the House of Representatives and Senate, and to the Department of Human Services. The committee shall file a formal report with the Governor not later than October 15 of each even-numbered year so that the information contained in the report, including recommendations, can be included in the Governor's Budget Address to the General Assembly. It shall also report to the chairs of the appropriate policy committees of the House of Representatives and Senate not later than November 15 of each even-numbered year.

(e) Federal funds; contracts. The Department of Human Services may apply for, receive, and disburse federal funds made available to the State by federal law or rules adopted for any purpose related to the powers and duties of the Department that are consistent with the purposes of this Section. The Department shall comply with any requirements of federal law, rules, and regulations to apply for, receive, and disburse funds. The Department may contract with or provide grants to public and private nonprofit entities for FASD programs set forth in subsection (a).