(20 ILCS 2335/15)

Sec. 15. Report.

(a) The Board shall develop a report with its recommendations regarding the certification process of community health workers. The report shall be completed no later than 12 months after the first meeting of the Board. The report shall be submitted to all members and ex officio members of the Board, the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The Department shall publish the report on its Internet website.

(b) The report shall at a minimum include the following:

(1) a summary of research regarding the best practices, curriculum, and training programs for designing a certification program in this State for community health workers, including a consideration of a multi-tiered education or training system, statewide certification, non-certification degree-based levels of certification, and the requirements for experience-based certification;

(2) recommendations regarding certification and a renewal process for community health workers, and a system of approval and accreditation for curriculum and training;

(3) recommendations for a proposed curriculum for community health workers that ensures the content, methodology, development, and delivery of any proposed program is appropriately based on cultural, geographic, and other specialty needs and also reflects relevant responsibilities for community health workers; and

(4) recommendations for best practices for reimbursement options and pathways through which secure funding for community health workers may be obtained.

(c) The Board shall advise the Department, the Governor, and the General Assembly on all matters that impact the effective work of community health workers.

(Source: P.A. 98-796, eff. 7-31-14.)