(20 ILCS 105/4.04b)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 4.04b. Senior Housing Residents' Advisory Council.

(a) Findings and purpose. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted seniors residing in assisted living facilities and congregate living arrangements especially hard. Faced with sickness, isolation, and a lack of support services many seniors of this State have expressed feeling overlooked and forgotten about. The purpose of the Senior Housing Residents' Advisory Council established under this Section is to create a space and opportunity for senior Illinoisans to connect with each other and meet with representatives from the Department on Aging and the Department of Public Health in order to share their ideas on how the State can improve the quality of life for its senior residents. The Council will also give senior Illinoisans the opportunity to share their findings and recommendations on targeted services and supports for seniors with the Governor and the General Assembly.

(b) Establishment and composition. The Senior Housing Residents' Advisory Council is established within the Department on Aging. The Council shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Director of the Department on Aging, or his or her designee, who shall serve as Chair of the Council.

(2) One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate.

(3) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) One member of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(5) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(6) The Director of the Department of Public Health or his or her designee.

(7) Two seniors who reside in affordable senior housing developments, appointed by the Department on Aging.

(8) Two seniors who reside in assisted living facilities, appointed by the Department of Public Health.

(9) One adult family member of a senior who resides in an affordable senior housing development, appointed by the Department on Aging.

(10) One adult family member of a senior who resides in an assisted living facility, appointed by the Department of Public Health.

(11) One senior who lives in Cook County, appointed by the Department on Aging.

(12) One senior who lives in central Illinois, appointed by the Department on Aging.

(13) One senior who lives in southern Illinois, appointed by the Department on Aging.

(14) One senior who lives in northern Illinois, appointed by the Department on Aging.

(15) One senior who lives in western Illinois, appointed by the Department on Aging.

(16) One administrative personnel from an affordable senior housing development, appointed by the Department on Aging.

(17) One administrative personnel from an assisted living facility, appointed by the Department of Public Health.

(18) One outreach professional who works at the Department on Aging.

(19) One senior, appointed by the Department on Aging, who lives in one of the following counties: DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will.

(c) The Council shall meet quarterly at the call of the Chair beginning no later than January 1, 2023 and shall thereafter meet on the date of each quarterly meeting with personnel from the Department of Public Health and the Department on Aging. All meetings shall be open to the public in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. The Council is authorized to form subcommittees that can meet more frequently than once per quarter. Members of the Council shall receive no compensation for their service but shall be reimbursed for any necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from appropriations made by the General Assembly for that purpose. The Department on Aging shall provide the Council with administrative, personnel, and technical support services.

(d) Duties. The Council has the following duties:

(1) Identify barriers to seniors feeling supported by and connected to their communities.

(2) Evaluate available resources and services for seniors.

(3) Evaluate State outreach to seniors.

(4) Evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on congregate living arrangements for seniors.

(e) Reports. No later than December 31 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, the Council shall submit a written report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the results of its findings and evaluations under subsection (d) and shall provide advice and recommendations on:

(1) how best to disseminate information to seniors on available supports and services through the use of State agency websites, informational materials, and outreach personnel;

(2) how to ensure of the availability of targeted services for seniors and to eliminate any gaps in services for seniors; and

(3) how to improve State policy concerning seniors and congregate living arrangements for seniors in response to COVID-19.

The Council shall terminate and dissolve after it submits its third report on December 31, 2025.

(f) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2027.

(Source: P.A. 102-986, eff. 5-27-22.)