(20 ILCS 105/4.02h)

Sec. 4.02h. Community Care Program; dementia training.

(a) This Section shall apply to any person who is employed by the Department, or by an agency that is contracted with the Department, to provide direct services to individuals participating in the Community Care Program.

(b) Dementia training of at least 2 hours shall be completed at the start of employment with the Department or contractor. Persons who are employees of the Department or a contractor on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly shall complete this training within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. The training shall cover the following subjects:

(1) Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

(2) Safety risks.

(3) Communication and behavior.

(c) Annual continuing education training shall include at least 2 hours of dementia training covering the subjects described in subsection (b).

(d) This Section is designed to improve the quality of training for Community Care Program direct service workers. If laws or rules existing on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly contain more rigorous dementia training requirements for employees or contractors providing direct services to Community Care Program participants, those laws or rules shall apply. An individual who is required to receive dementia training under other laws and rules may be considered exempt, as long as the requirement includes a minimum 2 hours of dementia training. The individual shall be required to show proof he or she received the training required under this Section.

(e) The Department may adopt rules for the administration of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-1020, eff. 1-1-23.)