SB1997 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 11042 KTG 21124 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1997

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Graciela Guzmán

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 105/4.02
20 ILCS 2405/3	from Ch. 23, par. 3434

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging and the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that, subject to and upon federal approval if required, on and after January 1, 2026, the hourly wage paid to direct service workers, including, but not limited to personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers, who provide services under the Community Care Program and the Home Services Program shall be increased to a sufficient amount to sustain a minimum wage of $30 per hour.

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 Illinois Act on the Aging is amended by changing Section 4.02 as follows:

(20 ILCS 105/4.02)

Sec. 4.02. Community Care Program. The Department shall establish a program of services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of persons age 60 and older in need of long term care or who are established as persons who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder under the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act, thereby enabling them to remain in their own homes or in other living arrangements. Such preventive services, which may be coordinated with other programs for the aged, may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following:

(a) (blank);

(b) (blank);

(c) home care aide services;

(d) personal assistant services;

(e) adult day services;

(f) home-delivered meals;

(g) education in self-care;

(h) personal care services;

(i) adult day health services;

(j) habilitation services;

(k) respite care;

(k-5) community reintegration services;

(k-6) flexible senior services;

(k-7) medication management;

(k-8) emergency home response;

(l) other nonmedical social services that may enable the person to become self-supporting; or

(m) (blank).

The Department shall establish eligibility standards for such services. In determining the amount and nature of services for which a person may qualify, consideration shall not be given to the value of cash, property, or other assets held in the name of the person's spouse pursuant to a written agreement dividing marital property into equal but separate shares or pursuant to a transfer of the person's interest in a home to his spouse, provided that the spouse's share of the marital property is not made available to the person seeking such services.

The Department shall require as a condition of eligibility that all new financially eligible applicants apply for and enroll in medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department.

The Department shall, in conjunction with the Department of Public Aid (now Department of Healthcare and Family Services), seek appropriate amendments under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act. The purpose of the amendments shall be to extend eligibility for home and community based services under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act to persons who transfer to or for the benefit of a spouse those amounts of income and resources allowed under Section 1924 of the Social Security Act. Subject to the approval of such amendments, the Department shall extend the provisions of Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code to persons who, but for the provision of home or community-based services, would require the level of care provided in an institution, as is provided for in federal law. Those persons no longer found to be eligible for receiving noninstitutional services due to changes in the eligibility criteria shall be given 45 days notice prior to actual termination. Those persons receiving notice of termination may contact the Department and request the determination be appealed at any time during the 45 day notice period. The target population identified for the purposes of this Section are persons age 60 and older with an identified service need. Priority shall be given to those who are at imminent risk of institutionalization. The services shall be provided to eligible persons age 60 and older to the extent that the cost of the services together with the other personal maintenance expenses of the persons are reasonably related to the standards established for care in a group facility appropriate to the person's condition. These noninstitutional non-institutional services, pilot projects, or experimental facilities may be provided as part of or in addition to those authorized by federal law or those funded and administered by the Department of Human Services. The Departments of Human Services, Healthcare and Family Services, Public Health, Veterans' Affairs, and Commerce and Economic Opportunity and other appropriate agencies of State, federal, and local governments shall cooperate with the Department on Aging in the establishment and development of the noninstitutional non-institutional services. The Department shall require an annual audit from all personal assistant and home care aide vendors contracting with the Department under this Section. The annual audit shall assure that each audited vendor's procedures are in compliance with Department's financial reporting guidelines requiring an administrative and employee wage and benefits cost split as defined in administrative rules. The audit is a public record under the Freedom of Information Act. The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to effect the following: (1) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving noninstitutional non-institutional services; and (2) the establishment and development of noninstitutional non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped. On and after July 1, 1996, all nursing home prescreenings for individuals 60 years of age or older shall be conducted by the Department.

As part of the Department on Aging's routine training of case managers and case manager supervisors, the Department may include information on family futures planning for persons who are age 60 or older and who are caregivers of their adult children with developmental disabilities. The content of the training shall be at the Department's discretion.

The Department is authorized to establish a system of recipient copayment for services provided under this Section, such copayment to be based upon the recipient's ability to pay but in no case to exceed the actual cost of the services provided. Additionally, any portion of a person's income which is equal to or less than the federal poverty standard shall not be considered by the Department in determining the copayment. The level of such copayment shall be adjusted whenever necessary to reflect any change in the officially designated federal poverty standard.

The Department, or the Department's authorized representative, may recover the amount of moneys expended for services provided to or in behalf of a person under this Section by a claim against the person's estate or against the estate of the person's surviving spouse, but no recovery may be had until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any, and then only at such time when there is no surviving child who is under age 21 or blind or who has a permanent and total disability. This paragraph, however, shall not bar recovery, at the death of the person, of moneys for services provided to the person or in behalf of the person under this Section to which the person was not entitled; provided that such recovery shall not be enforced against any real estate while it is occupied as a homestead by the surviving spouse or other dependent, if no claims by other creditors have been filed against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the claimant to compel administration of the estate for the purpose of payment. This paragraph shall not bar recovery from the estate of a spouse, under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act and Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, who precedes a person receiving services under this Section in death. All moneys for services paid to or in behalf of the person under this Section shall be claimed for recovery from the deceased spouse's estate. "Homestead", as used in this paragraph, means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate occupied by a surviving spouse or relative, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, regardless of the value of the property.

The Department shall increase the effectiveness of the existing Community Care Program by:

(1) ensuring that in-home services included in the care plan are available on evenings and weekends;

(2) ensuring that care plans contain the services that eligible participants need based on the number of days in a month, not limited to specific blocks of time, as identified by the comprehensive assessment tool selected by the Department for use statewide, not to exceed the total monthly service cost maximum allowed for each service; the Department shall develop administrative rules to implement this item (2);

(3) ensuring that the participants have the right to choose the services contained in their care plan and to direct how those services are provided, based on administrative rules established by the Department;

(4)(blank);

(5) ensuring that homemakers can provide personal care services that may or may not involve contact with clients, including, but not limited to:

(A) bathing;

(B) grooming;

(C) toileting;

(D) nail care;

(E) transferring;

(F) respiratory services;

(G) exercise; or

(H) positioning;

(6) ensuring that homemaker program vendors are not restricted from hiring homemakers who are family members of clients or recommended by clients; the Department may not, by rule or policy, require homemakers who are family members of clients or recommended by clients to accept assignments in homes other than the client;

(7) ensuring that the State may access maximum federal matching funds by seeking approval for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for modifications to the State's home and community based services waiver and additional waiver opportunities, including applying for enrollment in the Balance Incentive Payment Program by May 1, 2013, in order to maximize federal matching funds; this shall include, but not be limited to, modification that reflects all changes in the Community Care Program services and all increases in the services cost maximum;

(8) ensuring that the determination of need tool accurately reflects the service needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders;

(9) ensuring that services are authorized accurately and consistently for the Community Care Program (CCP); the Department shall implement a Service Authorization policy directive; the purpose shall be to ensure that eligibility and services are authorized accurately and consistently in the CCP program; the policy directive shall clarify service authorization guidelines to Care Coordination Units and Community Care Program providers no later than May 1, 2013;

(10) working in conjunction with Care Coordination Units, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, Community Care Program providers, and other stakeholders to make improvements to the Medicaid claiming processes and the Medicaid enrollment procedures or requirements as needed, including, but not limited to, specific policy changes or rules to improve the up-front enrollment of participants in the Medicaid program and specific policy changes or rules to insure more prompt submission of bills to the federal government to secure maximum federal matching dollars as promptly as possible; the Department on Aging shall have at least 3 meetings with stakeholders by January 1, 2014 in order to address these improvements;

(11) requiring home care service providers to comply with the rounding of hours worked provisions under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and as set forth in 29 CFR 785.48(b) by May 1, 2013;

(12) implementing any necessary policy changes or promulgating any rules, no later than January 1, 2014, to assist the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in moving as many participants as possible, consistent with federal regulations, into coordinated care plans if a care coordination plan that covers long term care is available in the recipient's area; and

(13) (blank).

By January 1, 2009 or as soon after the end of the Cash and Counseling Demonstration Project as is practicable, the Department may, based on its evaluation of the demonstration project, promulgate rules concerning personal assistant services, to include, but need not be limited to, qualifications, employment screening, rights under fair labor standards, training, fiduciary agent, and supervision requirements. All applicants shall be subject to the provisions of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

The Department shall develop procedures to enhance availability of services on evenings, weekends, and on an emergency basis to meet the respite needs of caregivers. Procedures shall be developed to permit the utilization of services in successive blocks of 24 hours up to the monthly maximum established by the Department. Workers providing these services shall be appropriately trained.

No September 23, 1991 (Public Act 87-729) person may perform chore/housekeeping and home care aide services under a program authorized by this Section unless that person has been issued a certificate of pre-service to do so by his or her employing agency. Information gathered to effect such certification shall include (i) the person's name, (ii) the date the person was hired by his or her current employer, and (iii) the training, including dates and levels. Persons engaged in the program authorized by this Section before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 shall be issued a certificate of all pre-service and in-service training from his or her employer upon submitting the necessary information. The employing agency shall be required to retain records of all staff pre-service and in-service training, and shall provide such records to the Department upon request and upon termination of the employer's contract with the Department. In addition, the employing agency is responsible for the issuance of certifications of in-service training completed to their employees.

The Department is required to develop a system to ensure that persons working as home care aides and personal assistants receive increases in their wages when the federal minimum wage is increased by requiring vendors to certify that they are meeting the federal minimum wage statute for home care aides and personal assistants. An employer that cannot ensure that the minimum wage increase is being given to home care aides and personal assistants shall be denied any increase in reimbursement costs.

The Community Care Program Advisory Committee is created in the Department on Aging. The Director shall appoint individuals to serve in the Committee, who shall serve at their own expense. Members of the Committee must abide by all applicable ethics laws. The Committee shall advise the Department on issues related to the Department's program of services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. The Committee shall meet on a bi-monthly basis and shall serve to identify and advise the Department on present and potential issues affecting the service delivery network, the program's clients, and the Department and to recommend solution strategies. Persons appointed to the Committee shall be appointed on, but not limited to, their own and their agency's experience with the program, geographic representation, and willingness to serve. The Director shall appoint members to the Committee to represent provider, advocacy, policy research, and other constituencies committed to the delivery of high quality home and community-based services to older adults. Representatives shall be appointed to ensure representation from community care providers, including, but not limited to, adult day service providers, homemaker providers, case coordination and case management units, emergency home response providers, statewide trade or labor unions that represent home care aides and direct care staff, area agencies on aging, adults over age 60, membership organizations representing older adults, and other organizational entities, providers of care, or individuals with demonstrated interest and expertise in the field of home and community care as determined by the Director.

Nominations may be presented from any agency or State association with interest in the program. The Director, or his or her designee, shall serve as the permanent co-chair of the advisory committee. One other co-chair shall be nominated and approved by the members of the committee on an annual basis. Committee members' terms of appointment shall be for 4 years with one-quarter of the appointees' terms expiring each year. A member shall continue to serve until his or her replacement is named. The Department shall fill vacancies that have a remaining term of over one year, and this replacement shall occur through the annual replacement of expiring terms. The Director shall designate Department staff to provide technical assistance and staff support to the committee. Department representation shall not constitute membership of the committee. All Committee papers, issues, recommendations, reports, and meeting memoranda are advisory only. The Director, or his or her designee, shall make a written report, as requested by the Committee, regarding issues before the Committee.

The Department on Aging and the Department of Human Services shall cooperate in the development and submission of an annual report on programs and services provided under this Section. Such joint report shall be filed with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before March 31 of the following fiscal year.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

Those persons previously found eligible for receiving noninstitutional non-institutional services whose services were discontinued under the Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 1992, and who do not meet the eligibility standards in effect on or after July 1, 1992, shall remain ineligible on and after July 1, 1992. Those persons previously not required to cost-share and who were required to cost-share effective March 1, 1992, shall continue to meet cost-share requirements on and after July 1, 1992. Beginning July 1, 1992, all clients will be required to meet eligibility, cost-share, and other requirements and will have services discontinued or altered when they fail to meet these requirements.

For the purposes of this Section, "flexible senior services" refers to services that require one-time or periodic expenditures, including, but not limited to, respite care, home modification, assistive technology, housing assistance, and transportation.

The Department shall implement an electronic service verification based on global positioning systems or other cost-effective technology for the Community Care Program no later than January 1, 2014.

The Department shall require, as a condition of eligibility, application for the medical assistance program under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

The Department may authorize Community Care Program services until an applicant is determined eligible for medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

The Department shall continue to provide Community Care Program reports as required by statute, which shall include an annual report on Care Coordination Unit performance and adherence to service guidelines and a 6-month supplemental report.

In regard to community care providers, failure to comply with Department on Aging policies shall be cause for disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, disqualification from serving Community Care Program clients. Each provider, upon submission of any bill or invoice to the Department for payment for services rendered, shall include a notarized statement, under penalty of perjury pursuant to Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that the provider has complied with all Department policies.

The Director of the Department on Aging shall make information available to the State Board of Elections as may be required by an agreement the State Board of Elections has entered into with a multi-state voter registration list maintenance system.

The Department shall pay an enhanced rate of at least $1.77 per unit under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees pursuant to rules adopted by the Department. The Department shall review the enhanced rate as part of its process to rebase in-home service provider reimbursement rates pursuant to federal waiver requirements. Subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2024, rates for adult day services shall be increased to $16.84 per hour and rates for each way transportation services for adult day services shall be increased to $12.44 per unit transportation.

Subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2024, rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $28.07 to sustain a minimum wage of $17 per hour for direct service workers. Rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall be no lower than the rates put into effect upon federal approval. Providers of in-home services shall be required to certify to the Department that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in this paragraph.

Subject to and upon federal approval, on and after January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $29.63 to sustain a minimum wage of $18 per hour for direct service workers. Rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall be no lower than the rates put into effect upon federal approval. Providers of in-home services shall be required to certify to the Department that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in this paragraph.

Subject to and upon federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026, rates for homemaker services shall be increased to a sufficient amount to sustain a minimum wage of $30 per hour for direct service workers. Rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall be no lower than the rates put into effect upon federal approval. Providers of in-home services shall be required to certify to the Department that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in this paragraph.

The General Assembly finds it necessary to authorize an aggressive Medicaid enrollment initiative designed to maximize federal Medicaid funding for the Community Care Program which produces significant savings for the State of Illinois. The Department on Aging shall establish and implement a Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative. Under the Initiative, the Department on Aging shall, at a minimum: (i) provide an enhanced rate to adequately compensate care coordination units to enroll eligible Community Care Program clients into Medicaid; (ii) use recommendations from a stakeholder committee on how best to implement the Initiative; and (iii) establish requirements for State agencies to make enrollment in the State's Medical Assistance program easier for seniors.

The Community Care Program Medicaid Enrollment Oversight Subcommittee is created as a subcommittee of the Older Adult Services Advisory Committee established in Section 35 of the Older Adult Services Act to make recommendations on how best to increase the number of medical assistance recipients who are enrolled in the Community Care Program. The Subcommittee shall consist of all of the following persons who must be appointed within 30 days after June 4, 2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-587):

(1) The Director of Aging, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the Subcommittee.

(2) One representative of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, appointed by the Director of Healthcare and Family Services.

(3) One representative of the Department of Human Services, appointed by the Secretary of Human Services.

(4) One individual representing a care coordination unit, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(5) One individual from a non-governmental statewide organization that advocates for seniors, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(6) One individual representing Area Agencies on Aging, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(7) One individual from a statewide association dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support, and research, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(8) One individual from an organization that employs persons who provide services under the Community Care Program, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(9) One member of a trade or labor union representing persons who provide services under the Community Care Program, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(10) One member of the Senate, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the President of the Senate.

(11) One member of the Senate, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(12) One member of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(13) One member of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(14) One individual appointed by a labor organization representing frontline employees at the Department of Human Services.

The Subcommittee shall provide oversight to the Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative and shall meet quarterly. At each Subcommittee meeting the Department on Aging shall provide the following data sets to the Subcommittee: (A) the number of Illinois residents, categorized by planning and service area, who are receiving services under the Community Care Program and are enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program; (B) the number of Illinois residents, categorized by planning and service area, who are receiving services under the Community Care Program, but are not enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program; and (C) the number of Illinois residents, categorized by planning and service area, who are receiving services under the Community Care Program and are eligible for benefits under the State's Medical Assistance Program, but are not enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program. In addition to this data, the Department on Aging shall provide the Subcommittee with plans on how the Department on Aging will reduce the number of Illinois residents who are not enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program but who are eligible for medical assistance benefits. The Department on Aging shall enroll in the State's Medical Assistance Program those Illinois residents who receive services under the Community Care Program and are eligible for medical assistance benefits but are not enrolled in the State's Medicaid Assistance Program. The data provided to the Subcommittee shall be made available to the public via the Department on Aging's website.

The Department on Aging, with the involvement of the Subcommittee, shall collaborate with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services on how best to achieve the responsibilities of the Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative.

The Department on Aging, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall coordinate and implement a streamlined process for seniors to access benefits under the State's Medical Assistance Program.

The Subcommittee shall collaborate with the Department of Human Services on the adoption of a uniform application submission process. The Department of Human Services and any other State agency involved with processing the medical assistance application of any person enrolled in the Community Care Program shall include the appropriate care coordination unit in all communications related to the determination or status of the application.

The Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative shall provide targeted funding to care coordination units to help seniors complete their applications for medical assistance benefits. On and after July 1, 2019, care coordination units shall receive no less than $200 per completed application, which rate may be included in a bundled rate for initial intake services when Medicaid application assistance is provided in conjunction with the initial intake process for new program participants.

The Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative shall cease operation 5 years after June 4, 2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-587), after which the Subcommittee shall dissolve.

Effective July 1, 2023, subject to federal approval, the Department on Aging shall reimburse Care Coordination Units at the following rates for case management services: $252.40 for each initial assessment; $366.40 for each initial assessment with translation; $229.68 for each redetermination assessment; $313.68 for each redetermination assessment with translation; $200.00 for each completed application for medical assistance benefits; $132.26 for each face-to-face, choices-for-care screening; $168.26 for each face-to-face, choices-for-care screening with translation; $124.56 for each 6-month, face-to-face visit; $132.00 for each MCO participant eligibility determination; and $157.00 for each MCO participant eligibility determination with translation.

(Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-102, Article 45, Section 45-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 85, Section 85-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 90, Section 90-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-588, eff. 6-5-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-670, eff. 1-1-25; revised 11-26-24.)

Section 10. The Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act is amended by changing Section 3 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2405/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 3434)

Sec. 3. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the powers and duties enumerated herein:

(a) To cooperate with the federal government in the administration of the provisions of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and of the federal Social Security Act to the extent and in the manner provided in these Acts.

(b) To prescribe and supervise such courses of vocational training and provide such other services as may be necessary for the vocational rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, including the administrative activities under subsection (e) of this Section; to cooperate with State and local school authorities and other recognized agencies engaged in vocational rehabilitation services; and to cooperate with the Department of Children and Family Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, and others regarding the education of children with one or more disabilities.

(c) (Blank).

(d) To report in writing, to the Governor, annually on or before the first day of December, and at such other times and in such manner and upon such subjects as the Governor may require. The annual report shall contain (1) information on the programs and activities dedicated to vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and other community services and supports administered by the Director; (2) information on the development of vocational rehabilitation services, independent living services, and supporting services administered by the Director in the State; and (3) information detailing the amounts of money received from federal, State, and other sources, and of the objects and purposes to which the respective items of these several amounts have been devoted.

(e) (Blank).

(f) To establish a program of services to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of persons in need of long term care and who meet the criteria for blindness or disability as defined by the Social Security Act, thereby enabling them to remain in their own homes. Such preventive services include any or all of the following:

(1) personal assistant services;

(2) homemaker services;

(3) home-delivered meals;

(4) adult day care services;

(5) respite care;

(6) home modification or assistive equipment;

(7) home health services;

(8) electronic home response;

(9) brain injury behavioral/cognitive services;

(10) brain injury habilitation;

(11) brain injury pre-vocational services; or

(12) brain injury supported employment.

The Department shall establish eligibility standards for such services taking into consideration the unique economic and social needs of the population for whom they are to be provided. Such eligibility standards may be based on the recipient's ability to pay for services; provided, however, that any portion of a person's income that is equal to or less than the "protected income" level shall not be considered by the Department in determining eligibility. The "protected income" level shall be determined by the Department, shall never be less than the federal poverty standard, and shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor. The standards must provide that a person may not have more than $10,000 in assets to be eligible for the services, and the Department may increase or decrease the asset limitation by rule. The Department may not decrease the asset level below $10,000. Subject to federal approval, the Department shall allow a recipient's spouse, guardian, kin, or siblings to serve as his or her provider of personal care or similar services.

The services shall be provided, as established by the Department by rule, to eligible persons to prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization, to the extent that the cost of the services, together with the other personal maintenance expenses of the persons, are reasonably related to the standards established for care in a group facility appropriate to their condition. These non-institutional services, pilot projects or experimental facilities may be provided as part of or in addition to those authorized by federal law or those funded and administered by the Illinois Department on Aging. The Department shall set rates and fees for services in a fair and equitable manner. Services identical to those offered by the Department on Aging shall be paid at the same rate.

Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, personal assistants shall be paid at a rate negotiated between the State and an exclusive representative of personal assistants under a collective bargaining agreement. In no case shall the Department pay personal assistants an hourly wage that is less than the federal minimum wage. Subject to and upon federal approval if required, on and after January 1, 2026, the hourly wage paid to personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers shall be increased to a sufficient amount to sustain a minimum wage of $30 per hour. Within 30 days after July 6, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 100-23), the hourly wage paid to personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers shall be increased by $0.48 per hour. Wages and other benefits for personal assistants shall not count against benefits that guardians receive as outlined in Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975.

Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, personal assistants providing services under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered to be public employees and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be their employer as of July 16, 2003 (the effective date of Public Act 93-204), but not before. Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers and who also provide services under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered to be public employees, no matter whether the State provides such services through direct fee-for-service arrangements, with the assistance of a managed care organization or other intermediary, or otherwise, and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be the employer of those persons as of January 29, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 97-1158), but not before except as otherwise provided under this subsection (f). The State shall engage in collective bargaining with an exclusive representative of home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program concerning their terms and conditions of employment that are within the State's control. Nothing in this paragraph shall be understood to limit the right of the persons receiving services defined in this Section to hire and fire home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program or to supervise them within the limitations set by the Home Services Program. The State shall not be considered to be the employer of home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program for any purposes not specifically provided in Public Act 93-204 or Public Act 97-1158, including but not limited to, purposes of vicarious liability in tort and purposes of statutory retirement or health insurance benefits. Home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers and who also provide services under the Department's Home Services Program shall not be covered by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971.

The Department shall execute, relative to nursing home prescreening, as authorized by Section 4.03 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, written inter-agency agreements with the Department on Aging and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to effect the intake procedures and eligibility criteria for those persons who may need long term care. On and after July 1, 1996, all nursing home prescreenings for individuals 18 through 59 years of age shall be conducted by the Department, or a designee of the Department.

The Department is authorized to establish a system of recipient cost-sharing for services provided under this Section. The cost-sharing shall be based upon the recipient's ability to pay for services, but in no case shall the recipient's share exceed the actual cost of the services provided. Protected income shall not be considered by the Department in its determination of the recipient's ability to pay a share of the cost of services. The level of cost-sharing shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the "protected income" level. The Department shall deduct from the recipient's share of the cost of services any money expended by the recipient for disability-related expenses.

To the extent permitted under the federal Social Security Act, the Department, or the Department's authorized representative, may recover the amount of moneys expended for services provided to or in behalf of a person under this Section by a claim against the person's estate or against the estate of the person's surviving spouse, but no recovery may be had until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any, and then only at such time when there is no surviving child who is under age 21 or blind or who has a permanent and total disability. This paragraph, however, shall not bar recovery, at the death of the person, of moneys for services provided to the person or in behalf of the person under this Section to which the person was not entitled; provided that such recovery shall not be enforced against any real estate while it is occupied as a homestead by the surviving spouse or other dependent, if no claims by other creditors have been filed against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the claimant to compel administration of the estate for the purpose of payment. This paragraph shall not bar recovery from the estate of a spouse, under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act and Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, who precedes a person receiving services under this Section in death. All moneys for services paid to or in behalf of the person under this Section shall be claimed for recovery from the deceased spouse's estate. "Homestead", as used in this paragraph, means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate occupied by a surviving spouse or relative, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, regardless of the value of the property.

(g) To establish such subdivisions of the Department as shall be desirable and assign to the various subdivisions the responsibilities and duties placed upon the Department by law.

(h) To cooperate and enter into any necessary agreements with the Department of Employment Security for the provision of job placement and job referral services to clients of the Department, including job service registration of such clients with Illinois Employment Security offices and making job listings maintained by the Department of Employment Security available to such clients.

(i) To possess all powers reasonable and necessary for the exercise and administration of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Department which are provided for by law.

(j) (Blank).

(k) (Blank).

(l) To establish, operate, and maintain a Statewide Housing Clearinghouse of information on available government subsidized housing accessible to persons with disabilities and available privately owned housing accessible to persons with disabilities. The information shall include, but not be limited to, the location, rental requirements, access features and proximity to public transportation of available housing. The Clearinghouse shall consist of at least a computerized database for the storage and retrieval of information and a separate or shared toll free telephone number for use by those seeking information from the Clearinghouse. Department offices and personnel throughout the State shall also assist in the operation of the Statewide Housing Clearinghouse. Cooperation with local, State, and federal housing managers shall be sought and extended in order to frequently and promptly update the Clearinghouse's information.

(m) To assure that the names and case records of persons who received or are receiving services from the Department, including persons receiving vocational rehabilitation, home services, or other services, and those attending one of the Department's schools or other supervised facility shall be confidential and not be open to the general public. Those case records and reports or the information contained in those records and reports shall be disclosed by the Director only to proper law enforcement officials, individuals authorized by a court, the General Assembly or any committee or commission of the General Assembly, and other persons and for reasons as the Director designates by rule. Disclosure by the Director may be only in accordance with other applicable law.

(Source: P.A. 102-264, eff. 8-6-21; 102-826, eff. 5-13-22; 103-479, eff. 1-1-24.)