HB5541 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 26092 CPF 35569 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5541

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Mitigation Act. Requires long-term care facilities to conduct regular universal testing for all facility residents and staff and disclose all COVID-19 cases and deaths to facility residents, residents' family members, the Department of Public Health, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall coordinate with local, State, and federal governments to establish COVID-19 alternate care sites with staffing. Requires the Department to establish a commission to implement increased State oversight of facilities, provide additional staff resources and personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers, and consider receivership for facilities with chronic public health violations. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning health.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Mitigation Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Public Health.

"Long-term care facility" means an establishment licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, a Community Living Facility licensed under the Community Living Facilities Licensing Act, a facility licensed under the Life Care Facilities Act, a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, a facility licensed under the MC/DD Act, or a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act.

Section 10. COVID-19 mitigation. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and prevent deaths in the facility, a long-term care facility shall:

(1) conduct regular universal testing for all facility residents and staff; and

(2) disclose all COVID-19 cases and deaths to facility residents, residents' family members, the Department, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A long-term care facility shall give members of its staff who test positive for COVID-19 15 days of paid sick leave.

Long-term care facilities shall give its staff hazard pay due to the clear and present danger of working in facilities with limited personal protective equipment (PPE) and high rates of COVID-19 infections.

Section 15. Alternate care sites; commission.

(a) The Department shall coordinate with local, State, and federal governments to establish COVID-19 alternate care sites with staffing.

(b) The Department shall establish a commission to implement increased State oversight of facilities, provide additional staff resources and personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers, and consider receivership for facilities with chronic public health violations.

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