SB0574eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0574 Engrossed LRB095 06519 DRJ 26621 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act is amended by changing Section 4 and by adding Section 12 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 or the Nursing Home 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, nursing services (subject to appropriations to the Department for that purpose), 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.

(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. 86-820.)

(210 ILCS 135/12 new)

Sec. 12. Nursing services.

(a) Subject to appropriations to the Department for that purpose, the Department shall require that any agency operating a community-integrated living arrangement under this Act must provide adequate nursing services to all recipients. The Department shall establish graduated standards of basic nursing services that correspond to recipients' ranges of Health Care Levels as reflected in the Health Risk Screening Tool. An adequate level of basic nursing services for the least medically complex recipients shall be set at no fewer than 18 hours of Licensed Practical Nurse services and 1.5 hours of Registered Nurse services per recipient per year. The Department shall also establish standards for staffing ratios of Registered Nurses to Direct Support Personnel and Registered Nurses to Licensed Practical Nurses in accordance with a recipient's Health Care Level.

(b) The Department shall adjust its wage rates for Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses in community-integrated living arrangements so that they equal the statewide average for Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses based on the most current wage rates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Illinois plus 20% for fringe benefits.

(c) The Department shall adopt administrative rules to implement this Section 12.

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