093_HB3922 LRB093 14422 DRJ 20098 b 1 AN ACT in relation to aging. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act is 5 amended by changing Section 15 as follows: 6 (320 ILCS 50/15) 7 Sec. 15. Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review 8 Committee. 9 (a) The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review 10 Committee is created. The Committee shall consist of 17 11 members as follows: 12 (1) Twelve members appointed as follows: 2 members 13 of the General Assembly and 1 member of the general 14 public, appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 15 members of the General Assembly and 1 member of the 16 general public, appointed by the Minority Leader of the 17 Senate; 2 members of the General Assembly and 1 member of 18 the general public, appointed by the Speaker of the House 19 of Representatives; and 2 members of the General Assembly 20 and 1 member of the general public, appointed by the 21 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. These 22 members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing 23 authority. 24 (2) The Director of Aging or his or her designee. 25 (3) The Director of Revenue or his or her designee. 26 (4) The Director of Public Aid or his or her 27 designee. 28 (5) The Secretary of Human Services or his or her 29 designee. 30 (6) The Director of Public Health or his or her 31 designee. -2- LRB093 14422 DRJ 20098 b 1 (b) Members appointed from the general public shall 2 represent the following associations, organizations, and 3 interests: statewide membership-based senior advocacy 4 organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacists, 5 dispensing pharmacies, physicians, and providers of services 6 to senior citizens. No single organization may have more 7 than one representative appointed as a member from the 8 general public. 9 (c) The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House 10 of Representatives shall each designate one member of the 11 Committee to serve as co-chairs. 12 (d) Committee members shall serve without compensation 13 or reimbursement for expenses. 14 (e) The Committee shall meet at the call of the 15 co-chairs, but at least quarterly. 16 (f) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather 17 testimony from interested parties regarding pharmaceutical 18 assistance for Illinois seniors, including changes to 19 existing and proposed programs. 20 (g) The Committee may advise appropriate State agencies 21 regarding the establishment of proposed programs or changes 22 to existing programs. The State agencies shall take into 23 consideration any recommendations made by the Committee. 24 (h) The Committee shall report to the General Assembly 25 and the Governor annually or as it deems necessary regarding 26 proposed or recommended changes to pharmaceutical assistance 27 programs that benefit Illinois seniors and any associated 28 costs of those changes. 29 (i) In the event that a prescription drug benefit is 30 added to the federal Medicare program, State-operated senior 31 prescription drug programs shall be realigned to ensure that 32 Illinois residents qualify for at least the same level of 33 benefits available to them prior to implementation of the 34 Medicare prescription drug benefit. -3- LRB093 14422 DRJ 20098 b 1 To aid in the realignment of the prescription drug 2 programs, the Committee shall make recommendations to ensure 3 that Illinois seniors maintain at least the same level of 4 benefits. The Committee shall report its recommendations to 5 the General Assembly and the Governor within 60 days after 6 the Medicare prescription drug benefit becomes law. 7 (Source: P.A. 92-594, eff. 6-27-02.) 8 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 9 becoming law.