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.