Public Act 097-0128
 
HB2043 EnrolledLRB097 08980 KTG 49113 b

    AN ACT concerning aging.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act is
amended by changing Section 15 as follows:
 
    (320 ILCS 50/15)
    Sec. 15. Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review
Committee.
    (a) The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review Committee
is created. The Committee shall consist of 17 members as
follows:
        (1) Twelve members appointed as follows: 2 members of
    the General Assembly and 1 member of the general public,
    appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members of the
    General Assembly and 1 member of the general public,
    appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2 members
    of the General Assembly and 1 member of the general public,
    appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
    and 2 members of the General Assembly and 1 member of the
    general public, appointed by the Minority Leader of the
    House of Representatives. These members shall serve at the
    pleasure of the appointing authority.
        (2) The Director of Aging or his or her designee.
        (3) The Director of Revenue or his or her designee.
        (4) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services or
    his or her designee.
        (5) The Secretary of Human Services or his or her
    designee.
        (6) The Director of Public Health or his or her
    designee.
    (b) Members appointed from the general public shall
represent the following associations, organizations, and
interests: statewide membership-based senior advocacy
organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacists,
dispensing pharmacies, physicians, and providers of services
to senior citizens. No single organization may have more than
one representative appointed as a member from the general
public.
    (c) The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall each designate one member of the
Committee to serve as co-chairs.
    (d) Committee members shall serve without compensation or
reimbursement for expenses.
    (e) The Committee shall meet at the call of the co-chairs,
as deemed necessary but at least quarterly.
    (f) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather
testimony from interested parties regarding pharmaceutical
assistance for Illinois seniors, including changes to existing
and proposed programs.
    (f-5) The Committee may review federal legislation with
regard to e-prescribing to determine what provisions, if any,
would improve health care in Illinois.
    (f-6) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather
testimony regarding federal procedure for pandemic
preparedness and response to determine whether or not the State
should update its preparedness procedures and tactics.
    (g) The Committee may advise appropriate State agencies
regarding the establishment of proposed programs or changes to
existing programs. The State agencies shall take into
consideration any recommendations made by the Committee.
    (h) The Committee shall report to the General Assembly and
the Governor annually or as it deems necessary regarding
proposed or recommended changes to pharmaceutical assistance
programs that benefit Illinois seniors and any associated costs
of those changes.
    (h-5) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather
testimony from interested parties regarding prescription drug
abuse to determine whether the State should increase penalties
against those engaged in conduct potentially harmful to
Illinois residents, particularly those under age 25. In order
to do this, the Committee may review guidelines from State
universities addressing prescription drug abuse.
    (i) In the event that a prescription drug benefit is added
to the federal Medicare program, the Committee shall make
recommendations for the realignment of State-operated senior
prescription drug programs so that Illinois residents qualify
for at least substantially the same level of benefits available
to them prior to implementation of the Medicare prescription
drug benefit, provided that a resident remains eligible for
such a State-operated program. The Committee shall report its
recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor by
January 1, 2005.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-1183, eff. 7-22-10.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.