SB2971 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

DHS-DEMENTIA TRAINING
Last Action
2/03/2026 - Senate: Assigned to Behavioral and Mental Health
Senate Sponsors
Sen. Cristina Castro
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
20 ILCS 2405/3  from Ch. 23, par. 3434
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Requires direct service workers employed by the Department of Human Services, or an agency contracted with the Department, to provide services under the Home Services Program to complete at least 2 hours of dementia training at the start of their employment and annually thereafter. Requires the training to cover subjects concerning Alzheimer's disease and dementia, safety risks, and communication and behavior. Requires the Department to provide contractors with dementia training curriculum on the required subjects. Provides that any other laws or rules that impose more rigorous dementia training for direct service workers under the Home Services Program shall apply. Exempts from the training requirements direct service workers who provide proof that they obtained equivalent dementia training in compliance with another law or rule. For personal assistants covered by a collective bargaining agreement, requires the Department to establish, in consultation with the joint training committee created under the collective bargaining agreement, different parameters and specific topics for curriculum covering dementia training.
Actions
DateChamberAction
1/27/2026SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Cristina Castro
1/27/2026SenateFirst Reading
1/27/2026SenateReferred to Assignments
2/03/2026SenateAssigned to Behavioral and Mental Health