SB2799 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37565 KTG 67691 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2799

Introduced 1/17/2024, by Sen. Laura Fine

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Expands the definition of abuse to include causing any emotional injury to an adult with disabilities aged 18 through 59 or a person aged 60 or older (eligible adults). Provides that, contingent upon adequate funding, the Department on Aging may provide funding for legal assistance for eligible adults. Provides that, for self-neglect cases, the Department shall establish mandatory standards for the provision of emergent casework and follow-up services to mitigate the risk of harm or death to an eligible adult. Provides that, upon receiving a report of self-neglect, a provider agency shall conduct an unannounced face-to-face visit at the residence of the eligible adult to administer an eligibility screening to quickly determine if the eligible adult is posing a substantial threat to himself or herself or to others. Sets forth the process and procedures for eligibility screenings. Provides that if an eligibility screening indicates self-neglect, the provider agency shall develop and implement within 5 business days a case plan for the eligible adult in consultation with any other appropriate provider of services. Requires the Department to establish, by rule, the time period within which an eligibility screening shall begin and within which a service plan shall be implemented. As to all investigations conducted under the Act, requires a provider agency to notify the eligible adult, the alleged abuser, and the reporter of abuse of the agency's final investigative findings. Makes changes to provisions concerning an eligible adult's capacity to consent to an eligibility screening. Changes the minimal number of times the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council must meet each calendar year. Makes other changes. Repeals a provision permitting the Department to use qualified volunteers to provide companion-type services to eligible adults. Amends the Open Meetings Act. Exempts from the requirements of the Act meetings conducted by the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council and regional interagency fatality review teams.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning aging.

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

Section 1. The Opening Meetings Act is amended by changing Section 2 as follows:

(5 ILCS 120/2) (from Ch. 102, par. 42)

Sec. 2. Open meetings.

(a) Openness required. All meetings of public bodies shall be open to the public unless excepted in subsection (c) and closed in accordance with Section 2a.

(b) Construction of exceptions. The exceptions contained in subsection (c) are in derogation of the requirement that public bodies meet in the open, and therefore, the exceptions are to be strictly construed, extending only to subjects clearly within their scope. The exceptions authorize but do not require the holding of a closed meeting to discuss a subject included within an enumerated exception.

(c) Exceptions. A public body may hold closed meetings to consider the following subjects:

(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act.

(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

(3) The selection of a person to fill a public office, as defined in this Act, including a vacancy in a public office, when the public body is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the public body is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance.

(4) Evidence or testimony presented in open hearing, or in closed hearing where specifically authorized by law, to a quasi-adjudicative body, as defined in this Act, provided that the body prepares and makes available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning.

(4.5) Evidence or testimony presented to a school board regarding denial of admission to school events or property pursuant to Section 24-24 of the School Code, provided that the school board prepares and makes available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning.

(5) The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired.

(6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body.

(7) The sale or purchase of securities, investments, or investment contracts. This exception shall not apply to the investment of assets or income of funds deposited into the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund.

(8) Security procedures, school building safety and security, and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property.

(9) Student disciplinary cases.

(10) The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

(11) Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

(12) The establishment of reserves or settlement of claims as provided in the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, if otherwise the disposition of a claim or potential claim might be prejudiced, or the review or discussion of claims, loss or risk management information, records, data, advice or communications from or with respect to any insurer of the public body or any intergovernmental risk management association or self insurance pool of which the public body is a member.

(13) Conciliation of complaints of discrimination in the sale or rental of housing, when closed meetings are authorized by the law or ordinance prescribing fair housing practices and creating a commission or administrative agency for their enforcement.

(14) Informant sources, the hiring or assignment of undercover personnel or equipment, or ongoing, prior or future criminal investigations, when discussed by a public body with criminal investigatory responsibilities.

(15) Professional ethics or performance when considered by an advisory body appointed to advise a licensing or regulatory agency on matters germane to the advisory body's field of competence.

(16) Self evaluation, practices and procedures or professional ethics, when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public body is a member.

(17) The recruitment, credentialing, discipline or formal peer review of physicians or other health care professionals, or for the discussion of matters protected under the federal Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, including 42 C.F.R. Part 3 (73 FR 70732), or the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, including 45 C.F.R. Parts 160, 162, and 164, by a hospital, or other institution providing medical care, that is operated by the public body.

(18) Deliberations for decisions of the Prisoner Review Board.

(19) Review or discussion of applications received under the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Act.

(20) The classification and discussion of matters classified as confidential or continued confidential by the State Government Suggestion Award Board.

(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06.

(22) Deliberations for decisions of the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board.

(23) The operation by a municipality of a municipal utility or the operation of a municipal power agency or municipal natural gas agency when the discussion involves (i) contracts relating to the purchase, sale, or delivery of electricity or natural gas or (ii) the results or conclusions of load forecast studies.

(24) Meetings of a residential health care facility resident sexual assault and death review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act.

(25) Meetings of an independent team of experts under Brian's Law.

(26) Meetings of a mortality review team appointed under the Department of Juvenile Justice Mortality Review Team Act.

(27) (Blank).

(28) Correspondence and records (i) that may not be disclosed under Section 11-9 of the Illinois Public Aid Code or (ii) that pertain to appeals under Section 11-8 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(29) Meetings between internal or external auditors and governmental audit committees, finance committees, and their equivalents, when the discussion involves internal control weaknesses, identification of potential fraud risk areas, known or suspected frauds, and fraud interviews conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards of the United States of America.

(30) Those meetings or portions of meetings of a fatality review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council during which a review of the death of an eligible adult in which abuse or neglect is suspected, alleged, or substantiated is conducted pursuant to Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services Act.

(31) Meetings and deliberations for decisions of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

(32) Meetings between the Regional Transportation Authority Board and its Service Boards when the discussion involves review by the Regional Transportation Authority Board of employment contracts under Section 28d of the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and Sections 3A.18 and 3B.26 of the Regional Transportation Authority Act.

(33) Those meetings or portions of meetings of the advisory committee and peer review subcommittee created under Section 320 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act during which specific controlled substance prescriber, dispenser, or patient information is discussed.

(34) Meetings of the Tax Increment Financing Reform Task Force under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(35) Meetings of the group established to discuss Medicaid capitation rates under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(36) Those deliberations or portions of deliberations for decisions of the Illinois Gaming Board in which there is discussed any of the following: (i) personal, commercial, financial, or other information obtained from any source that is privileged, proprietary, confidential, or a trade secret; or (ii) information specifically exempted from the disclosure by federal or State law.

(37) Deliberations for decisions of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, the Certification Review Panel, and the Illinois State Police Merit Board regarding certification and decertification.

(38) Meetings of the Ad Hoc Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Board that occur in closed executive session under subsection (d) of Section 35 of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act.

(39) Meetings of the regional review teams under subsection (a) of Section 75 of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act.

(40) Meetings of the Firearm Owner's Identification Card Review Board under Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.

(41) Meetings of the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council and regional interagency fatality review teams under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services Act.

(d) Definitions. For purposes of this Section:

"Employee" means a person employed by a public body whose relationship with the public body constitutes an employer-employee relationship under the usual common law rules, and who is not an independent contractor.

"Public office" means a position created by or under the Constitution or laws of this State, the occupant of which is charged with the exercise of some portion of the sovereign power of this State. The term "public office" shall include members of the public body, but it shall not include organizational positions filled by members thereof, whether established by law or by a public body itself, that exist to assist the body in the conduct of its business.

"Quasi-adjudicative body" means an administrative body charged by law or ordinance with the responsibility to conduct hearings, receive evidence or testimony and make determinations based thereon, but does not include local electoral boards when such bodies are considering petition challenges.

(e) Final action. No final action may be taken at a closed meeting. Final action shall be preceded by a public recital of the nature of the matter being considered and other information that will inform the public of the business being conducted.

(Source: P.A. 102-237, eff. 1-1-22; 102-520, eff. 8-20-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-311, eff. 7-28-23.)

Section 5. The Adult Protective Services Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 3.1, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7.1, 9, and 15 and by adding Section 5.1 as follows:

(320 ILCS 20/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 6602)

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) "Abandonment" means the desertion or willful forsaking of an eligible adult by an individual responsible for the care and custody of that eligible adult under circumstances in which a reasonable person would continue to provide care and custody. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that an eligible adult is a victim of abandonment because of health care services provided or not provided by licensed health care professionals.

(a-1) "Abuse" means causing any physical, mental, emotional, or sexual injury to an eligible adult, including exploitation of such adult's financial resources, and abandonment.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that an eligible adult is a victim of abuse, abandonment, neglect, or self-neglect for the sole reason that he or she is being furnished with or relies upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone, in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that an eligible adult is a victim of abuse because of health care services provided or not provided by licensed health care professionals.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that an eligible adult is a victim of abuse in cases of criminal activity by strangers, telemarketing scams, consumer fraud, internet fraud, home repair disputes, complaints against a homeowners' association, or complaints between landlords and tenants.

(a-5) "Abuser" means a person who is a family member, caregiver, or another person who has a continuing relationship with the eligible adult and abuses, abandons, neglects, or financially exploits an eligible adult.

(a-6) "Adult with disabilities" means a person aged 18 through 59 who resides in a domestic living situation and whose disability as defined in subsection (c-5) impairs his or her ability to seek or obtain protection from abuse, abandonment, neglect, or exploitation.

(a-7) "Caregiver" means a person who either as a result of a family relationship, voluntarily, or in exchange for compensation has assumed responsibility for all or a portion of the care of an eligible adult who needs assistance with activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living.

(b) "Department" means the Department on Aging of the State of Illinois.

(c) "Director" means the Director of the Department.

(c-5) "Disability" means a physical or mental disability, including, but not limited to, a developmental disability, an intellectual disability, a mental illness as defined under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, or dementia as defined under the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act.

(d) "Domestic living situation" means a residence where the eligible adult at the time of the report lives alone or with his or her family or a caregiver, or others, or other community-based unlicensed facility, but is not:

(1) A licensed facility as defined in Section 1-113 of the Nursing Home Care Act;

(1.5) A facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act;

(1.6) A facility licensed under the MC/DD Act;

(1.7) A facility licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013;

(2) A "life care facility" as defined in the Life Care Facilities Act;

(3) A home, institution, or other place operated by the federal government or agency thereof or by the State of Illinois;

(4) A hospital, sanitarium, or other institution, the principal activity or business of which is the diagnosis, care, and treatment of human illness through the maintenance and operation of organized facilities therefor, which is required to be licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act;

(5) A "community living facility" as defined in the Community Living Facilities Licensing Act;

(6) (Blank);

(7) A "community-integrated living arrangement" as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act or a "community residential alternative" as licensed under that Act;

(8) An assisted living or shared housing establishment as defined in the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act; or

(9) A supportive living facility as described in Section 5-5.01a of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(e) "Eligible adult" means either an adult with disabilities aged 18 through 59 or a person aged 60 or older who resides in a domestic living situation and is, or is alleged to be, abused, abandoned, neglected, or financially exploited by another individual or who neglects himself or herself. "Eligible adult" also includes an adult who resides in any of the facilities that are excluded from the definition of "domestic living situation" under paragraphs (1) through (9) of subsection (d), if either: (i) the alleged abuse, abandonment, or neglect occurs outside of the facility and not under facility supervision and the alleged abuser is a family member, caregiver, or another person who has a continuing relationship with the adult; or (ii) the alleged financial exploitation is perpetrated by a family member, caregiver, or another person who has a continuing relationship with the adult, but who is not an employee of the facility where the adult resides.

(f) "Emergency" means a situation in which an eligible adult is living in conditions presenting a risk of death or physical, mental or sexual injury and the provider agency has reason to believe the eligible adult is unable to consent to services which would alleviate that risk.

(f-1) "Financial exploitation" means the use of an eligible adult's resources by another to the disadvantage of that adult or the profit or advantage of a person other than that adult.

(f-3) "Investment advisor" means any person required to register as an investment adviser or investment adviser representative under Section 8 of the Illinois Securities Law of 1953, which for purposes of this Act excludes any bank, trust company, savings bank, or credit union, or their respective employees.

(f-5) "Mandated reporter" means any of the following persons while engaged in carrying out their professional duties:

(1) a professional or professional's delegate while engaged in: (i) social services, (ii) law enforcement, (iii) education, (iv) the care of an eligible adult or eligible adults, or (v) any of the occupations required to be licensed under the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act, the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, the Dietitian Nutritionist Practice Act, the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Naprapathic Practice Act, the Nurse Practice Act, the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act, the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Illinois Physical Therapy Act, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act, the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004, and the Illinois Public Accounting Act;

(1.5) an employee of an entity providing developmental disabilities services or service coordination funded by the Department of Human Services;

(2) an employee of a vocational rehabilitation facility prescribed or supervised by the Department of Human Services;

(3) an administrator, employee, or person providing services in or through an unlicensed community based facility;

(4) any religious practitioner who provides treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination, except as to information received in any confession or sacred communication enjoined by the discipline of the religious denomination to be held confidential;

(5) field personnel of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Public Health, and Department of Human Services, and any county or municipal health department;

(6) personnel of the Department of Human Services, the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, the State Fire Marshal, local fire departments, the Department on Aging and its subsidiary Area Agencies on Aging and provider agencies, except the State Long Term Care Ombudsman and any of his or her representatives or volunteers where prohibited from making such a report pursuant to 45 CFR 1324.11(e)(3)(iv);

(7) any employee of the State of Illinois not otherwise specified herein who is involved in providing services to eligible adults, including professionals providing medical or rehabilitation services and all other persons having direct contact with eligible adults;

(8) a person who performs the duties of a coroner or medical examiner;

(9) a person who performs the duties of a paramedic or an emergency medical technician; or

(10) a person who performs the duties of an investment advisor.

(g) "Neglect" means another individual's failure to provide an eligible adult with or willful withholding from an eligible adult the necessities of life including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter or health care. This subsection does not create any new affirmative duty to provide support to eligible adults. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that an eligible adult is a victim of neglect because of health care services provided or not provided by licensed health care professionals.

(h) "Provider agency" means any public or nonprofit agency in a planning and service area that is selected by the Department or appointed by the regional administrative agency with prior approval by the Department on Aging to receive and assess reports of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation. A provider agency is also referenced as a "designated agency" in this Act.

(i) "Regional administrative agency" means any public or nonprofit agency in a planning and service area that provides regional oversight and performs functions as set forth in subsection (b) of Section 3 of this Act. The Department shall designate an Area Agency on Aging as the regional administrative agency or, in the event the Area Agency on Aging in that planning and service area is deemed by the Department to be unwilling or unable to provide those functions, the Department may serve as the regional administrative agency or designate another qualified entity to serve as the regional administrative agency; any such designation shall be subject to terms set forth by the Department.

(i-5) "Self-neglect" means a condition that is the result of an eligible adult's inability, due to physical or mental impairments, or both, or a diminished capacity, to perform essential self-care tasks that substantially threaten his or her own health, including: providing essential food, clothing, shelter, and health care; and obtaining goods and services necessary to maintain physical health, mental health, emotional well-being, and general safety. The term includes compulsive hoarding, which is characterized by the acquisition and retention of large quantities of items and materials that produce an extensively cluttered living space, which significantly impairs the performance of essential self-care tasks or otherwise substantially threatens life or safety.

(j) "Substantiated case" means a reported case of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect in which a provider agency, after assessment, determines that there is reason to believe abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation has occurred.

(k) "Verified" means a determination that there is "clear and convincing evidence" that the specific injury or harm alleged was the result of abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation.

(Source: P.A. 102-244, eff. 1-1-22; 102-953, eff. 5-27-22; 103-329, eff. 1-1-24.)

(320 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 6603)

Sec. 3. Responsibilities.

(a) The Department shall establish, design, and manage a protective services program for eligible adults who have been, or are alleged to be, victims of abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect. The Department may develop policies and procedures to effectively administer all aspects of the program defined in this Act. The Department shall contract with or fund, or contract with and fund, regional administrative agencies, provider agencies, or both, for the provision of those functions, and, contingent on adequate funding, with attorneys or legal services provider agencies for the provision of legal assistance pursuant to this Act. Contingent upon adequate funding, the Department, at its discretion, may provide funding for legal assistance for eligible adults. For self-neglect, the program shall include the following services for eligible adults who have been removed from their residences for the purpose of cleanup or repairs: temporary housing; counseling; and caseworker services to try to ensure that the conditions necessitating the removal do not reoccur.

(a-1) The Department shall by rule develop standards for minimum staffing levels and staff qualifications. The Department shall by rule establish mandatory standards for the investigation of abuse, abandonment, neglect, and financial exploitation, or self-neglect of eligible adults and mandatory procedures for linking eligible adults to appropriate services and supports. For self-neglect, the Department shall establish mandatory standards for the provision of emergent casework and follow-up services to mitigate the risk of harm or death to the eligible adult.

(a-5) A provider agency shall, in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department, establish a multi-disciplinary team to act in an advisory role for the purpose of providing professional knowledge and expertise in the handling of complex abuse cases involving eligible adults. Each multi-disciplinary team shall consist of one volunteer representative from the following professions: banking or finance; disability care; health care; law; law enforcement; mental health care; and clergy. A provider agency may also choose to add representatives from the fields of substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or other related fields. To support multi-disciplinary teams in this role, law enforcement agencies and coroners or medical examiners shall supply records as may be requested in particular cases. A multi-disciplinary team shall meet on an as-needed basis whenever a case received by the provider agency requires consultation of the multi-disciplinary team.

(b) Each regional administrative agency shall designate provider agencies within its planning and service area with prior approval by the Department on Aging, monitor the use of services, provide technical assistance to the provider agencies and be involved in program development activities.

(c) Provider agencies shall assist, to the extent possible, eligible adults who need agency services to allow them to continue to function independently. Such assistance shall include, but not be limited to, receiving reports of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect, conducting face-to-face assessments of such reported cases, determination of substantiated cases, referral of substantiated cases for necessary support services, referral of criminal conduct to law enforcement in accordance with Department guidelines, and provision of case work and follow-up services on substantiated cases. In the case of a report of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, or neglect that places an eligible adult at risk of injury or death, a provider agency shall respond to the report on an emergency basis in accordance with guidelines established by the Department by administrative rule and shall ensure that it is capable of responding to such a report 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. A provider agency may use an on-call system to respond to reports of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, or neglect after hours and on weekends.

(c-5) Where a provider agency has reason to believe that the death of an eligible adult may be the result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect, including any reports made after death, the agency shall immediately report the matter to both the appropriate law enforcement agency and the coroner or medical examiner. Between 30 and 45 days after making such a report, the provider agency again shall contact the law enforcement agency and coroner or medical examiner to determine whether any further action was taken. Upon request by a provider agency, a law enforcement agency and coroner or medical examiner shall supply a summary of its action in response to a reported death of an eligible adult. A copy of the report shall be maintained and all subsequent follow-up with the law enforcement agency and coroner or medical examiner shall be documented in the case record of the eligible adult. If the law enforcement agency, coroner, or medical examiner determines the reported death was caused by abuse, abandonment, or neglect by a caregiver, the law enforcement agency, coroner, or medical examiner shall inform the Department, and the Department shall report the caregiver's identity on the Registry as described in Section 7.5 of this Act.

(d) (Blank). Upon sufficient appropriations to implement a statewide program, the Department shall implement a program, based on the recommendations of the Self-Neglect Steering Committee, for (i) responding to reports of possible self-neglect, (ii) protecting the autonomy, rights, privacy, and privileges of adults during investigations of possible self-neglect and consequential judicial proceedings regarding competency, (iii) collecting and sharing relevant information and data among the Department, provider agencies, regional administrative agencies, and relevant seniors, (iv) developing working agreements between provider agencies and law enforcement, where practicable, and (v) developing procedures for collecting data regarding incidents of self-neglect.

(Source: P.A. 102-244, eff. 1-1-22.)

(320 ILCS 20/3.1)

Sec. 3.1. Adult protective services dementia training.

(a) This Section shall apply to any person who is employed by the Department in the Adult Protective Services division, or is contracted with the Department, and works on the development or implementation of social services to respond to and prevent adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(b) The Department shall implement a dementia training program that must include instruction on the identification of people with dementia, risks such as wandering, communication impairments, and elder abuse, and the best practices for interacting with people with dementia.

(c) Training of at least 2 hours shall be completed at the start of employment with the Adult Protective Services division. Persons who are employees of the Adult Protective Services division 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.

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

(e) This Section is designed to address gaps in current dementia training requirements for Adult Protective Services officials and improve the quality of training. If laws or rules existing on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly contain more rigorous training requirements for Adult Protective Service officials, those laws or rules shall apply. Where there is overlap between this Section and other laws and rules, the Department shall interpret this Section to avoid duplication of requirements while ensuring that the minimum requirements set in this Section are met.

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

(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21.)

(320 ILCS 20/3.5)

Sec. 3.5. Other responsibilities. The Department shall also be responsible for the following activities, contingent upon adequate funding; implementation shall be expanded to adults with disabilities upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, except those responsibilities under subsection (a), which shall be undertaken as soon as practicable:

(a) promotion of a wide range of endeavors for the purpose of preventing abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect, including, but not limited to, promotion of public and professional education to increase awareness of abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect; to increase reports; to establish access to and use of the Registry established under Section 7.5; and to improve response by various legal, financial, social, and health systems;

(b) coordination of efforts with other agencies, councils, and like entities, to include but not be limited to, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, the Office of the Attorney General, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, the State Triad, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Departments of Public Health, Healthcare and Family Services, and Human Services, the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, the Family Violence Coordinating Council, the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, and other entities which may impact awareness of, and response to, abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect;

(c) collection and analysis of data;

(d) monitoring of the performance of regional administrative agencies and adult protective services agencies;

(e) promotion of prevention activities;

(f) establishing and coordinating an aggressive training program on the unique nature of adult abuse cases with other agencies, councils, and like entities, to include but not be limited to the Office of the Attorney General, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, the State Triad, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the State Departments of Public Health, Healthcare and Family Services, and Human Services, the Family Violence Coordinating Council, the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, the agency designated by the Governor under Section 1 of the Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, and other entities that may impact awareness of and response to abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect;

(g) solicitation of financial institutions for the purpose of making information available to the general public warning of financial exploitation of adults and related financial fraud or abuse, including such information and warnings available through signage or other written materials provided by the Department on the premises of such financial institutions, provided that the manner of displaying or distributing such information is subject to the sole discretion of each financial institution; and

(g-1) developing by joint rulemaking with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation minimum training standards which shall be used by financial institutions for their current and new employees with direct customer contact; the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall retain sole visitation and enforcement authority under this subsection (g-1); the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall provide bi-annual reports to the Department setting forth aggregate statistics on the training programs required under this subsection (g-1). ; and

(h) coordinating efforts with utility and electric companies to send notices in utility bills to explain to persons 60 years of age or older their rights regarding telemarketing and home repair fraud.

(Source: P.A. 102-244, eff. 1-1-22; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(320 ILCS 20/4) (from Ch. 23, par. 6604)

Sec. 4. Reports of abuse, abandonment, or neglect.

(a) Any person who suspects the abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect of an eligible adult may report this suspicion or information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department.

(a-5) If any mandated reporter has reason to believe that an eligible adult, who because of a disability or other condition or impairment is unable to seek assistance for himself or herself, has, within the previous 12 months, been subjected to abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation, the mandated reporter shall, within 24 hours after developing such belief, report this suspicion to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department. The agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or the Department may establish a manner in which a mandated reporter can make the required report through an Internet reporting tool. Information sent and received through the Internet reporting tool is subject to the same rules in this Act as other types of confidential reporting established by the designated agency or the Department. Whenever a mandated reporter is required to report under this Act in his or her capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, facility, or agency, he or she shall make a report to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department in accordance with the provisions of this Act and may also notify the person in charge of the institution, facility, or agency or his or her designated agent that the report has been made. Under no circumstances shall any person in charge of such institution, facility, or agency, or his or her designated agent to whom the notification has been made, exercise any control, restraint, modification, or other change in the report or the forwarding of the report to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department. The privileged quality of communication between any professional person required to report and his or her patient or client shall not apply to situations involving abused, abandoned, neglected, or financially exploited eligible adults and shall not constitute grounds for failure to report as required by this Act.

(a-6) If a mandated reporter has reason to believe that the death of an eligible adult may be the result of abuse or neglect, the matter shall be reported to an agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or to the Department for subsequent referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the coroner or medical examiner in accordance with subsection (c-5) of Section 3 of this Act.

(a-7) A person making a report under this Act in the belief that it is in the alleged victim's best interest shall be immune from criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary action on account of making the report, notwithstanding any requirements concerning the confidentiality of information with respect to such eligible adult which might otherwise be applicable.

(a-9) Law enforcement officers shall continue to report incidents of alleged abuse pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, notwithstanding any requirements under this Act.

(b) Any person, institution or agency participating in the making of a report, providing information or records related to a report, assessment, or services, or participating in the investigation of a report under this Act in good faith, or taking photographs or x-rays as a result of an authorized assessment, shall have immunity from any civil, criminal or other liability in any civil, criminal or other proceeding brought in consequence of making such report or assessment or on account of submitting or otherwise disclosing such photographs or x-rays to any agency designated to receive reports of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Any person, institution or agency authorized by the Department to provide assessment, intervention, or administrative services under this Act shall, in the good faith performance of those services, have immunity from any civil, criminal or other liability in any civil, criminal, or other proceeding brought as a consequence of the performance of those services. For the purposes of any civil, criminal, or other proceeding, the good faith of any person required to report, permitted to report, or participating in an investigation of a report of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect shall be presumed.

(c) The identity of a person making a report of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect or a report concerning information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult under this Act may be disclosed by the Department or other agency provided for in this Act only with such person's written consent or by court order, but is otherwise confidential.

(d) The Department shall by rule establish a system for filing and compiling reports made under this Act.

(e) Any physician who willfully fails to report as required by this Act shall be referred to the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Board for action in accordance with subdivision (A)(22) of Section 22 of the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Any dentist or dental hygienist who willfully fails to report as required by this Act shall be referred to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for possible disciplinary action in accordance with paragraph 19 of Section 23 of the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Any optometrist who willfully fails to report as required by this Act shall be referred to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for action in accordance with paragraph (15) of subsection (a) of Section 24 of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Any other mandated reporter required by this Act to report suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation who willfully fails to report the same is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 102-244, eff. 1-1-22; 103-329, eff. 1-1-24.)

(320 ILCS 20/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 6605)

Sec. 5. Procedure.

(a) A provider agency designated to receive reports of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect under this Act shall, upon receiving such a report of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation, shall , conduct a face-to-face assessment with respect to such report, in accord with established law and Department protocols, procedures, and policies. A provider agency that receives a report of self-neglect shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 5.1. Face-to-face assessments, casework, and follow-up of reports of self-neglect by the provider agencies designated to receive reports of self-neglect shall be subject to sufficient appropriation for statewide implementation of assessments, casework, and follow-up of reports of self-neglect. In the absence of sufficient appropriation for statewide implementation of assessments, casework, and follow-up of reports of self-neglect, the designated adult protective services provider agency shall refer all reports of self-neglect to the appropriate agency or agencies as designated by the Department for any follow-up.

(b) The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, a visit to the residence of the eligible adult who is the subject of the report and shall include interviews or consultations regarding the allegations with service agencies, immediate family members, and individuals who may have knowledge of the eligible adult's circumstances based on the consent of the eligible adult in all instances, except where the provider agency is acting in the best interest of an eligible adult who is unable to seek assistance for himself or herself and where there are allegations against a caregiver who has assumed responsibilities in exchange for compensation. If, after the assessment, the provider agency determines that the case is substantiated it shall develop a service care plan for the eligible adult and may report its findings at any time during the case to the appropriate law enforcement agency in accord with established law and Department protocols, procedures, and policies. In developing a case plan, the provider agency may consult with any other appropriate provider of services, and such providers shall be immune from civil or criminal liability on account of such acts. The plan shall include alternative suggested or recommended services which are appropriate to the needs of the eligible adult and which involve the least restriction of the eligible adult's activities commensurate with his or her needs. Only those services to which consent is provided in accordance with Section 9 of this Act shall be provided, contingent upon the availability of such services.

(c) (b) A provider agency shall refer evidence of crimes against an eligible adult to the appropriate law enforcement agency according to Department policies. A referral to law enforcement may be made at intake, at any time during the case, or after a report of a suspicious death, depending upon the circumstances. Where a provider agency has reason to believe the death of an eligible adult may be the result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect, the agency shall immediately report the matter to the coroner or medical examiner and shall cooperate fully with any subsequent investigation.

(d) (c) If any person other than the alleged victim refuses to allow the provider agency to begin an investigation, interferes with the provider agency's ability to conduct an investigation, or refuses to give access to an eligible adult, the appropriate law enforcement agency must be consulted regarding the investigation.

(Source: P.A. 102-244, eff. 1-1-22; 103-329, eff. 1-1-24.)

(320 ILCS 20/5.1 new)

Sec. 5.1. Procedure for self-neglect.

(a) A provider agency, upon receiving a report of self-neglect, shall conduct an unannounced face-to-face visit at the residence of the eligible adult to administer an eligibility screening within the prescribed timeframe. The eligibility screening is intended to quickly determine if the eligible adult is posing a substantial threat to himself or herself or to others. A full assessment phase shall not be completed for self-neglect cases and eligible adults experiencing self-neglect shall immediately enter the casework phase to begin service referrals to mitigate risk.

(b) The eligibility screening shall include, but is not limited to:

(1) an interview with the eligible adult;

(2) interviews or consultations regarding the allegations with immediate family members and other individuals who may have knowledge of the eligible adult's circumstances; and

(3) an inquiry of active service providers engaged with the eligible adult who are providing services that are mitigating the risk identified on the intake. These service providers may be, but are not limited to:

(i) Managed care organizations.

(ii) Case coordination units.

(iii) The Department of Human Services' Division of Rehabilitation Services.

(iv) The Department of Human Services' Division of Developmental Disabiliti es.

(v) The Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health.

(c) During the visit, a provider agency shall obtain the consent of the eligible adult before initiating the eligibility screening. If the eligible adult cannot consent, and where the provider agency is acting in the best interest of an eligible adult who is unable to seek assistance for themselves, the provider agency shall conduct the eligibility screening as described in subsection (b).

(d) When the eligibility screening indicates that the vulnerable adult is experiencing self-neglect, the provider agency shall, within 5 business days and with client consent, develop and implement a case plan.

(e) In developing a case plan, the provider agency shall consult with any other appropriate provider of services to ensure that there are no duplications of services. Such providers shall be immune from civil or criminal liability on account of such acts.

(f) The service plan shall include alternative, suggested, or recommended services which are appropriate to the needs of the eligible adult and which involve the least restriction of the eligible adult's activities commensurate with his or her needs.

(g) Only those services to which consent is provided in accordance with Section 9 shall be provided, contingent upon the availability of such services.

(320 ILCS 20/6) (from Ch. 23, par. 6606)

Sec. 6. Time. The Department shall by rule establish the period of time within which an assessment or eligibility screening shall begin and within which a service care plan shall be implemented. Such rules shall provide for an expedited response to emergency situations.

(Source: P.A. 85-1184.)

(320 ILCS 20/7) (from Ch. 23, par. 6607)

Sec. 7. Review. All services provided to an eligible adult shall be reviewed by the provider agency on at least a quarterly basis for up to one year to determine whether the service care plan should be continued or modified, except that, upon review, the Department on Aging may grant a waiver to extend the service care plan for up to one additional year. The provider agency shall demonstrate responsiveness to the eligible adult's needs in the provision of services.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(320 ILCS 20/7.1)

Sec. 7.1. Final investigative report. A provider agency shall prepare a final investigative report, upon the completion or closure of an investigation, in all cases of reported abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect of an eligible adult, whether or not there is a substantiated finding. Notice of findings shall be provided to the eligible adult, the alleged abuser, and the reporter by the provider agency.

(Source: P.A. 102-244, eff. 1-1-22.)

(320 ILCS 20/9) (from Ch. 23, par. 6609)

Sec. 9. Authority to consent to services.

(a) If an eligible adult consents to an assessment of a reported incident of suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation, or to an eligibility screening for a reported incident of self-neglect and, following the assessment or eligibility screening of such report, consents to services being provided according to the case plan, such services shall be arranged to meet the adult's needs, based upon the availability of resources to provide such services. If an adult withdraws his or her consent for an assessment or eligibility screening of the reported incident or withdraws his or her consent for services and refuses to accept such services, the services shall not be provided.

(b) If it reasonably appears to the Department or other agency designated under this Act that a person is an eligible adult and lacks the capacity to consent to an assessment of a reported incident of suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation, or to an eligibility screening for a reported incident of self-neglect or to necessary services, the Department or other agency shall take appropriate action necessary to ameliorate risk to the eligible adult if there is a threat of ongoing harm or another emergency exists. Once the emergent risk has been mitigated, the The Department or the provider other agency shall be authorized to seek the appointment of a temporary guardian as provided in Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975 or a surrogate decision-maker for the purpose of consenting to an assessment or eligibility screening of the reported incident and such services, together with an order for an evaluation of the eligible adult's physical, psychological, and medical condition and decisional capacity.

(c) A guardian of the person of an eligible adult may consent to an assessment of the reported incident and to services being provided according to the case plan. If an eligible adult lacks capacity to consent, an agent having authority under a power of attorney may consent to an assessment of the reported incident and to services. If the guardian or agent is the suspected abuser and he or she withdraws consent for the assessment of the reported incident, or refuses to allow services to be provided to the eligible adult, the Department, an agency designated under this Act, or the office of the Attorney General may request a court order seeking appropriate remedies, and may in addition request removal of the guardian and appointment of a successor guardian or request removal of the agent and appointment of a guardian.

(d) If an emergency exists and the Department or other agency designated under this Act reasonably believes that a person is an eligible adult and lacks the capacity to consent to necessary services, the Department or other agency may request an ex parte order from the circuit court of the county in which the petitioner or respondent resides or in which the alleged abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect occurred, authorizing an assessment of a report of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect or the provision of necessary services, or both, including relief available under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 in accord with established law and Department protocols, procedures, and policies. Petitions filed under this subsection shall be treated as expedited proceedings. When an eligible adult is at risk of serious injury or death and it reasonably appears that the eligible adult lacks capacity to consent to necessary services, the Department or other agency designated under this Act may take action necessary to ameliorate the risk in accordance with administrative rules promulgated by the Department.

(d-5) For purposes of this Section, an eligible adult "lacks the capacity to consent" if qualified staff of an agency designated under this Act reasonably determine, in accordance with administrative rules promulgated by the Department, that he or she appears either (i) unable to receive and evaluate information related to the assessment or services or (ii) unable to communicate in any manner decisions related to the assessment of the reported incident or services.

(e) Within 15 days after the entry of the ex parte emergency order, the order shall expire, or, if the need for assessment of the reported incident or services continues, the provider agency shall petition for the appointment of a guardian as provided in Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975 for the purpose of consenting to such assessment or services or to protect the eligible adult from further harm.

(f) If the court enters an ex parte order under subsection (d) for an assessment of a reported incident of alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect, or for the provision of necessary services in connection with alleged or suspected self-neglect, or for both, the court, as soon as is practicable thereafter, shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the eligible adult who is the subject of the order, for the purpose of reviewing the reasonableness of the order. The guardian ad litem shall review the order and, if the guardian ad litem reasonably believes that the order is unreasonable, the guardian ad litem shall file a petition with the court stating the guardian ad litem's belief and requesting that the order be vacated.

(g) In all cases in which there is a substantiated finding of abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation by a guardian, the Department shall, within 30 days after the finding, notify the Probate Court with jurisdiction over the guardianship.

(Source: P.A. 102-244, eff. 1-1-22.)

(320 ILCS 20/15)

Sec. 15. Fatality review teams.

(a) State policy.

(1) Both the State and the community maintain a commitment to preventing the abuse, abandonment, neglect, and financial exploitation of at-risk adults. This includes a charge to bring perpetrators of crimes against at-risk adults to justice and prevent untimely deaths in the community.

(2) When an at-risk adult dies, the response to the death by the community, law enforcement, and the State must include an accurate and complete determination of the cause of death, and the development and implementation of measures to prevent future deaths from similar causes.

(3) Multidisciplinary and multi-agency reviews of deaths can assist the State and counties in developing a greater understanding of the incidence and causes of premature deaths and the methods for preventing those deaths, improving methods for investigating deaths, and identifying gaps in services to at-risk adults.

(4) Access to information regarding the deceased person and his or her family by multidisciplinary and multi-agency fatality review teams is necessary in order to fulfill their purposes and duties.

(a-5) Definitions. As used in this Section:

"Advisory Council" means the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council.

"Review Team" means a regional interagency fatality review team.

(b) The Director, in consultation with the Advisory Council, law enforcement, and other professionals who work in the fields of investigating, treating, or preventing abuse, abandonment, or neglect of at-risk adults, shall appoint members to a minimum of one review team in each of the Department's planning and service areas. If a review team in an established planning and service area may be better served combining with adjacent planning and service areas for greater access to cases or expansion of expertise, then the Department is authorized to combine review teams. Each member of a review team shall be appointed for a 2-year term and shall be eligible for reappointment upon the expiration of the term. A review team's purpose in conducting review of at-risk adult deaths is: (i) to assist local agencies in identifying and reviewing suspicious deaths of adult victims of alleged, suspected, or substantiated abuse, abandonment, or neglect in domestic living situations; (ii) to facilitate communications between officials responsible for autopsies and inquests and persons involved in reporting or investigating alleged or suspected cases of abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation of at-risk adults and persons involved in providing services to at-risk adults; (iii) to evaluate means by which the death might have been prevented; and (iv) to report its findings to the appropriate agencies and the Advisory Council and make recommendations that may help to reduce the number of at-risk adult deaths caused by abuse, abandonment, and neglect and that may help to improve the investigations of deaths of at-risk adults and increase prosecutions, if appropriate.

(b-5) Each such team shall be composed of representatives of entities and individuals including, but not limited to:

(1) the Department on Aging or a designated regional administrative agency as appointed by the Department;

(2) coroners or medical examiners (or both);

(3) State's Attorneys;

(4) local police departments;

(5) forensic units;

(6) local health departments;

(7) a social service or health care agency that provides services to persons with mental illness, in a program whose accreditation to provide such services is recognized by the Division of Mental Health within the Department of Human Services;

(8) a social service or health care agency that provides services to persons with developmental disabilities, in a program whose accreditation to provide such services is recognized by the Division of Developmental Disabilities within the Department of Human Services;

(9) a local hospital, trauma center, or provider of emergency medicine;

(10) providers of services for eligible adults in domestic living situations; and

(11) a physician, psychiatrist, or other health care provider knowledgeable about abuse, abandonment, and neglect of at-risk adults.

(c) A review team shall review cases of deaths of at-risk adults occurring in its planning and service area (i) involving blunt force trauma or an undetermined manner or suspicious cause of death; (ii) if requested by the deceased's attending physician or an emergency room physician; (iii) upon referral by a health care provider; (iv) upon referral by a coroner or medical examiner; (v) constituting an open or closed case from an adult protective services agency, law enforcement agency, State's Attorney's office, or the Department of Human Services' Office of the Inspector General that involves alleged or suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation; or (vi) upon referral by a law enforcement agency or State's Attorney's office. If such a death occurs in a planning and service area where a review team has not yet been established, the Director shall request that the Advisory Council or another review team review that death. A team may also review deaths of at-risk adults if the alleged abuse, abandonment, or neglect occurred while the person was residing in a domestic living situation.

A review team shall meet not less than 2 4 times a year to discuss cases for its possible review. Each review team, with the advice and consent of the Department, shall establish criteria to be used in discussing cases of alleged, suspected, or substantiated abuse, abandonment, or neglect for review and shall conduct its activities in accordance with any applicable policies and procedures established by the Department.

(c-5) The Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council, consisting of one member from each review team in Illinois, shall be the coordinating and oversight body for review teams and activities in Illinois. The Director may appoint to the Advisory Council any ex-officio members deemed necessary. Persons with expertise needed by the Advisory Council may be invited to meetings. The Advisory Council must select from its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson, each to serve a 2-year term. The chairperson or vice-chairperson may be selected to serve additional, subsequent terms. The Advisory Council must meet at least 2 4 times during each calendar year.

The Department may provide or arrange for the staff support necessary for the Advisory Council to carry out its duties. The Director, in cooperation and consultation with the Advisory Council, shall appoint, reappoint, and remove review team members.

The Advisory Council has, but is not limited to, the following duties:

(1) To serve as the voice of review teams in Illinois.

(2) To oversee the review teams in order to ensure that the review teams' work is coordinated and in compliance with State statutes and the operating protocol.

(3) To ensure that the data, results, findings, and recommendations of the review teams are adequately used in a timely manner to make any necessary changes to the policies, procedures, and State statutes in order to protect at-risk adults.

(4) To collaborate with the Department in order to develop any legislation needed to prevent unnecessary deaths of at-risk adults.

(5) To ensure that the review teams' review processes are standardized in order to convey data, findings, and recommendations in a usable format.

(6) To serve as a link with review teams throughout the country and to participate in national review team activities.

(7) To provide the review teams with the most current information and practices concerning at-risk adult death review and related topics.

(8) To perform any other functions necessary to enhance the capability of the review teams to reduce and prevent at-risk adult fatalities.

The Advisory Council may prepare an annual report, in consultation with the Department, using aggregate data gathered by review teams and using the review teams' recommendations to develop education, prevention, prosecution, or other strategies designed to improve the coordination of services for at-risk adults and their families.

In any instance where a review team does not operate in accordance with established protocol, the Director, in consultation and cooperation with the Advisory Council, must take any necessary actions to bring the review team into compliance with the protocol.

(d) Any document or oral or written communication shared within or produced by the review team relating to a case discussed or reviewed by the review team is confidential and is not admissible as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding, except for use by a State's Attorney's office in prosecuting a criminal case against a caregiver. Those records and information are, however, subject to discovery or subpoena, and are admissible as evidence, to the extent they are otherwise available to the public.

Any document or oral or written communication provided to a review team by an individual or entity, and created by that individual or entity solely for the use of the review team, is confidential, is not subject to disclosure to or discoverable by another party, and is not admissible as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding, except for use by a State's Attorney's office in prosecuting a criminal case against a caregiver. Those records and information are, however, subject to discovery or subpoena, and are admissible as evidence, to the extent they are otherwise available to the public.

Each entity or individual represented on the fatality review team may share with other members of the team information in the entity's or individual's possession concerning the decedent who is the subject of the review or concerning any person who was in contact with the decedent, as well as any other information deemed by the entity or individual to be pertinent to the review. Any such information shared by an entity or individual with other members of the review team is confidential. The intent of this paragraph is to permit the disclosure to members of the review team of any information deemed confidential or privileged or prohibited from disclosure by any other provision of law. Release of confidential communication between domestic violence advocates and a domestic violence victim shall follow subsection (d) of Section 227 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 which allows for the waiver of privilege afforded to guardians, executors, or administrators of the estate of the domestic violence victim. This provision relating to the release of confidential communication between domestic violence advocates and a domestic violence victim shall exclude adult protective service providers.

A coroner's or medical examiner's office may share with the review team medical records that have been made available to the coroner's or medical examiner's office in connection with that office's investigation of a death.

Members of a review team and the Advisory Council are not subject to examination, in any civil or criminal proceeding, concerning information presented to members of the review team or the Advisory Council or opinions formed by members of the review team or the Advisory Council based on that information. A person may, however, be examined concerning information provided to a review team or the Advisory Council.

(d-5) Meeting of the review teams and the Advisory Council are exempt from the Open Meetings Act. Meetings of the review teams and the Advisory Council may be closed to the public under the Open Meetings Act. Records and information provided to a review team and the Advisory Council, and records maintained by a team or the Advisory Council, are exempt from release under the Freedom of Information Act.

(e) A review team's recommendation in relation to a case discussed or reviewed by the review team, including, but not limited to, a recommendation concerning an investigation or prosecution, may be disclosed by the review team upon the completion of its review and at the discretion of a majority of its members who reviewed the case.

(e-5) The State shall indemnify and hold harmless members of a review team and the Advisory Council for all their acts, omissions, decisions, or other conduct arising out of the scope of their service on the review team or Advisory Council, except those involving willful or wanton misconduct. The method of providing indemnification shall be as provided in the State Employee Indemnification Act.

(f) The Department, in consultation with coroners, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies, shall use aggregate data gathered by and recommendations from the Advisory Council and the review teams to create an annual report and may use those data and recommendations to develop education, prevention, prosecution, or other strategies designed to improve the coordination of services for at-risk adults and their families. The Department or other State or county agency, in consultation with coroners, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies, also may use aggregate data gathered by the review teams to create a database of at-risk individuals.

(g) The Department shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-244, eff. 1-1-22.)

(320 ILCS 20/14 rep.)

Section 10. The Adult Protective Services Act is amended by repealing Section 14.