Public Act 0441 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0653 Enrolled LRB097 03481 RPM 43518 b

Public Act 097-0441

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 1. Short title. This amendatory Act may be referred to as Paul's Law.

Section 5. The Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act is amended by changing Sections 4 and 9 and by adding Sections 13, 14, and 15 as follows:

(210 ILCS 135/4) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1704)

Sec. 4. (a) Any community mental health or developmental services agency who wishes to develop and support a variety of community-integrated living arrangements may do so pursuant to a license issued by the Department under this Act. However, programs established under or otherwise subject to the Child Care Act of 1969, the Nursing Home Care Act, or the MR/DD Community Care Act, as now or hereafter amended, shall remain subject thereto, and this Act shall not be construed to limit the application of those Acts.

(b) The system of licensure established under this Act shall be for the purposes of:

(1) Insuring that all recipients residing in community-integrated living arrangements are receiving appropriate community-based services, including treatment, training and habilitation or rehabilitation;

(2) Insuring that recipients' rights are protected and that all programs provided to and placements arranged for recipients comply with this Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, and applicable Department rules and regulations;

(3) Maintaining the integrity of communities by requiring regular monitoring and inspection of placements and other services provided in community-integrated living arrangements.

The licensure system shall be administered by a quality assurance unit within the Department which shall be administratively independent of units responsible for funding of agencies or community services.

(c) As a condition of being licensed by the Department as a community mental health or developmental services agency under this Act, the agency shall certify to the Department that:

(1) All recipients residing in community-integrated living arrangements are receiving appropriate community-based services, including treatment, training and habilitation or rehabilitation;

(2) All programs provided to and placements arranged for recipients are supervised by the agency; and

(3) All programs provided to and placements arranged for recipients comply with this Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, and applicable Department rules and regulations.

(d) An applicant for licensure as a community mental health or developmental services agency under this Act shall submit an application pursuant to the application process established by the Department by rule and shall pay an application fee in an amount established by the Department, which amount shall not be more than $200.

(e) If an applicant meets the requirements established by the Department to be licensed as a community mental health or developmental services agency under this Act, after payment of the licensing fee, the Department shall issue a license valid for 3 years from the date thereof unless suspended or revoked by the Department or voluntarily surrendered by the agency.

(f) Upon application to the Department, the Department may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for a 6-month period to allow the holder of such permit reasonable time to become eligible for a license under this Act.

(g)(1) The Department may conduct site visits to an agency licensed under this Act, or to any program or placement certified by the agency, and inspect the records or premises, or both, of such agency, program or placement as it deems appropriate, for the purpose of determining compliance with this Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, and applicable Department rules and regulations.

(2) If the Department determines that an agency licensed under this Act is not in compliance with this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated under this Act, the Department shall serve a notice of violation upon the licensee. Each notice of violation shall be prepared in writing and shall specify the nature of the violation, the statutory provision or rule alleged to have been violated, and that the licensee submit a plan of correction to the Department if required. The notice shall also inform the licensee of any other action which the Department might take pursuant to this Act and of the right to a hearing.

(g-5) As determined by the Department, a disproportionate number or percentage of licensure complaints; a disproportionate number or percentage of substantiated cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving an agency; an apparent unnatural death of an individual served by an agency; any egregious or life-threatening abuse or neglect within an agency; or any other significant event as determined by the Department shall initiate a review of the agency's license by the Department, as well as a review of its service agreement for funding. The Department shall adopt rules to establish the process by which the determination to initiate a review shall be made and the timeframe to initiate a review upon the making of such determination.

(h) Upon the expiration of any license issued under this Act, a license renewal application shall be required of and a license renewal fee in an amount established by the Department shall be charged to a community mental health or developmental services agency, provided that such fee shall not be more than $200.

(Source: P.A. 96-339, eff. 7-1-10.)

(210 ILCS 135/9) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1709)

Sec. 9. By July 1, 1989, the Department shall adopt rules pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to establish minimum standards for licensing community-integrated living arrangements under this Act. These rules shall govern the operation and conduct of community-integrated living arrangements and shall provide for the license application process; agency standards and financial requirements; licensing, certification and license renewal procedures; revocation of licenses; notification to recipients of their rights and the ability to contact the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission; emergency actions which can be taken by the Department to protect recipients' rights, welfare, and safety; and any other rules deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

By December 31, 1996, the Department shall adopt rules under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act that specify the components of reimbursement for community-integrated living arrangements and include costs as reported on the Interagency Statistical and Financial Report.

By December 31, 2011, the Department shall adopt rules under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act that govern the assignment and operations of monitors and receiverships for community-integrated living arrangements wherein the Department has identified systemic risks to individuals served. The rules shall specify the criteria for determining the need for independent monitors and receivers, their conduct once established, and their reporting requirements to the Department. These monitors and receivers shall be independent entities appointed by the Department and not staff from State agencies. This paragraph does not limit, however, the Department's authority to take necessary action through its own or other State staff.

(Source: P.A. 89-31, eff. 6-23-95.)

(210 ILCS 135/13 new)

Sec. 13. Registry checks for employees.

(a) Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department shall require all of its community developmental services agencies to conduct required registry checks on employees at the time of hire and annually thereafter during employment. The required registries to be checked are the Health Care Worker Registry, the Department of Children and Family Services' State Central Register, and the Illinois Sex Offender Registry. A person may not be employed if he or she is found to have disqualifying convictions or substantiated cases of abuse or neglect. At the time of the annual registry checks, if a current employee's name has been placed on a registry with disqualifying convictions or disqualifying substantiated cases of abuse or neglect, then the employee must be terminated. Disqualifying convictions or disqualifying substantiated cases of abuse or neglect are defined for the Department of Children and Family Services' State Central Register by the Department of Children and Family Services' standards for background checks in Part 385 of Title 89 of the Illinois Administrative Code. Disqualifying convictions or disqualifying substantiated cases of abuse or neglect are defined for the Health Care Worker Registry by the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and the Department's standards for abuse and neglect investigations in Section 1-17 of the Department of Human Services Act.

(b) In collaboration with the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services shall establish a waiver process from the prohibition of employment or termination of employment requirements in subsection (a) of this Section for any applicant or employee listed under the Department of Children and Family Services' State Central Register seeking to be hired or maintain his or her employment with a community developmental services agency under this Act. The waiver process for applicants and employees outlined under Section 40 of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act shall remain in effect for individuals listed on the Health Care Worker Registry.

(c) In order to effectively and efficiently comply with subsection (a), the Department of Children and Family Services shall take immediate actions to streamline the process for checking the State Central Register for employees hired by community developmental services agencies referenced in this Act. These actions may include establishing a website for registry checks or establishing a registry check process similar to the Health Care Worker Registry.

(210 ILCS 135/14 new)

Sec. 14. Transparency for individuals and guardians. By October 1, 2011, the Department shall make available to individuals and guardians upon enrollment a document listing telephone numbers and other contact information to report suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The information provided shall include a delineation of the individuals' rights. By July 1, 2012, the Department shall make available through its website information on each agency regarding licensure and quality assurance survey results; licensure and contract status; and substantiated findings of abuse, egregious neglect, and exploitation. The Department shall adopt rules regarding the posting of this information and shall inform individuals and guardians of its availability during the initial provider selection process.

(210 ILCS 135/15 new)

Sec. 15. Designation of representative. Any adult resident of a community-integrated living arrangement who does not have a legal guardian and has not been adjudicated incompetent may designate another adult of his or her choice to serve as the representative of the resident for the sole purpose of receiving notification from the agency or from the Department concerning any incident or condition regarding the health, safety, or well-being of the resident. The designation shall be made in writing and signed by the resident, the designated representative, and a representative of the agency. The agency shall inform the resident of his or her right to designate another adult as a representative for such purposes. The designation may be revoked in writing by the resident at any time. The agency shall provide a designation of representative form that is substantially the same as the following:

"DESIGNATION OF REPRESENTATIVE

I, (insert name), am....... years old and reside at........

I have not been adjudicated incompetent and do not have a legal guardian. I hereby delegate (insert name, phone number, and e-mail address of designated representative), an adult who resides at.........., as my representative for the sole purpose of receiving notification of any incident that may affect my health, safety or well-being while a resident at.........., and hereby give my consent to (insert name of agency) to communicate with (insert name of designated representative) about any such incident.

I understand that I may revoke this Designation of Representative at any time by notifying (insert name of agency) in writing that I wish to do so.

I also understand that by executing this document I am waiving my right to confidentiality, but only to the extent of the authority conveyed in this document.

(Insert Name of Resident)

..................... Signature of Resident

(Insert Name of Representative)

........................... Signature of Representative

(Insert Name of Agency Representative)

........................... Signature of Representative".

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/19/2011