HB2774 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 06910 KTG 16946 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2774

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Rep. Barbara Hernandez

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1310/1	from Ch. 40, par. 2401
20 ILCS 1310/3a new

Amends the Domestic Violence Shelters Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall be responsible for the provision of a single, easy to use telephone number for public access to information and referral for domestic violence services. Authorizes the Department to identify and enter into a contract with a lead entity to provide governance and oversight, including the ability to design, implement, support, and coordinate a State-wide Domestic Violence Hotline system. Provides that the lead entity must: (i) have the ability to provide statewide, toll-free, 24-hour, 7 day-a-week, multi-lingual, confidential referral services to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and information to people calling on behalf of a victim, including friends or family of the domestic violence victim and first responders such as the police; (ii) have a record of providing effective, victim-centered referral services to victims of domestic violence for at least 2 years prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act; (iii) be an Illinois 501(c)(3) non-profit agency or organization; (iv) provide the most up-to-date technology to increase access to domestic violence services for the deaf and hard of hearing; and (v) have other specified qualifications. Requires the lead entity to provide periodic programmatic and fiscal reports on activities, accomplishments, and other issues to the Department. Requires the Department to ensure, prior to awarding a contract, that the Domestic Violence Hotline lead entity has the organizational capacity to carry out the terms of the contract.

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 Domestic Violence Shelters Act is amended by changing Section 1 and by adding Section 3a as follows:

(20 ILCS 1310/1) (from Ch. 40, par. 2401)

Sec. 1. The terms used in this Act shall have the following meanings ascribed to them:

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

(a) "Domestic violence" means attempting to cause or causing abuse of a family or household member or high-risk adult with disabilities, or attempting to cause or causing neglect or exploitation of a high-risk adult with disabilities which threatens the adult's health and safety, as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

"Domestic Violence services" means information and referral services provided through the use of the Domestic Violence Hotline and intended to promote and provide access to domestic violence services.

(b) "Family or household member" means a spouse, person living as a spouse, parent, or other adult person related by consanguinity or affinity, who is residing or has resided with the person committing domestic violence. "Family or household member" includes a high-risk adult with disabilities who resides with or receives care from any person who has the responsibility for a high-risk adult as a result of a family relationship or who has assumed responsibility for all or a portion of the care of an adult with disabilities voluntarily, by express or implied contract, or by court order.

"Lead entity" means an Illinois 501(c)(3) non-profit agency or organization designated by the Department to manage use of the Domestic Violence Hotline for the purpose of providing the public access to information about domestic violence services.

(c) "Shelter" means a facility including, but not limited to, a facility providing temporary residential facilities to family or household members who are victims of domestic violence and their children and to high-risk adults with disabilities.

(d) "High-risk adult with disabilities" means a person aged 18 or over whose physical or mental disability impairs his or her ability to seek or obtain protection from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(Source: P.A. 86-542.)

(20 ILCS 1310/3a new)

Sec. 3a. Domestic Violence Hotline.

(a) The Department of Human Services shall be responsible for the provision of a single, easy to use telephone number for public access to information and referral for domestic violence services. Subject to subsection (e), the Department is authorized to identify and enter into a contract with a lead entity to provide governance and oversight, including the ability to design, implement, support, and coordinate a State-wide Domestic Violence Hotline system.

(b) Qualifications for identification of the lead entity shall include:

(1) Ability to provide statewide, toll-free, 24-hour, 7 day-a-week, multi-lingual, confidential referral services to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and information to people calling on behalf of a victim, including friends or family of the domestic violence victim and first responders such as the police.

(2) Has a record of providing effective, victim-centered referral services to victims of domestic violence for at least 2 years prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

(3) Has provided 40 hours of training in domestic violence to all of its direct staff and volunteers. Staff trained after July 1, 2004, must be trained by a site approved by the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals.

(4) Must be an Illinois 501(c)(3) non-profit agency or organization.

(5) Ability to provide an independent audit at the time of application.

(6) Provides 24-hour telephone accessibility by personnel trained in domestic violence without requiring the victim to make a second phone call or wait for a return phone call.

(7) Provides victims' access and direct referrals to the Department's funded domestic violence providers via a three-way phone linkage.

(8) Has adequate staffing to make referrals to domestic violence service agencies, identify non-traditional domestic violence services, provide safety planning or tips, and help victims explore service options including for those living in remote areas of the State and for those for whom English is not their primary language.

(9) Provides the most up-to-date technology to increase access to domestic violence services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

(10) Demonstrated expertise or experience, or both, in planning for a statewide information and referral system.

(c) The lead entity shall encourage the orderly and efficient use of the Domestic Violence Hotline to:

(1) provide access to referrals for domestic violence services 24/7; and

(2) collect needed information about the demand for and delivery of domestic violence services across Illinois.

(d) The lead entity shall provide periodic programmatic and fiscal reports on activities, accomplishments, and other issues to the Department.

(e) In awarding the contract under subsection (a), the Department shall ensure that the Domestic Violence Hotline lead entity has the organizational capacity to carry out the terms of the contract.