HB4021 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 15930 LRD 41548 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4021

Introduced 1/14/2004, by Lee A. Daniels

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1305/Art. 80 heading
20 ILCS 1305/80-5

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates a Task Force to evaluate the Department. Requires a management audit and several reports to the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT in relation to Human Services.

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

Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by changing Section 80-5 and the Article 80 heading as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/Art. 80 heading)

ARTICLE 80. EVALUATION AND TRANSITION PROVISIONS

(20 ILCS 1305/80-5)

Sec. 80-5. Task Force on the Department of Human Services Consolidation.

(a) There is hereby established a Task Force on the Department of Human Services Consolidation.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of 7 voting members, as follows: one person appointed by the Governor, who shall serve as chair of the Task Force; 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be designated a vice chair at the time of appointment; one member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated a vice chair at the time of appointment; and one member appointed by the House Minority Leader.

Members appointed by the legislative leaders shall be appointed for the duration of the Task Force; in the event of a vacancy, the appointment to fill the vacancy shall be made by the legislative leader of the same house and party as the leader who made the original appointment. The Governor may at any time terminate the service of the person appointed by the Governor and reappoint a different person to serve as chair of the Task Force.

The following persons (or their designees) shall serve, ex officio, as nonvoting members of the Task Force: the Director of Public Health, the Director of Public Aid, the Director of Children and Family Services, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, and the Secretary of Human Services , until their offices are abolished, the Director of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Director of Rehabilitation Services, and the Director of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. The Governor may appoint up to 3 additional persons to serve as nonvoting members of the Task Force, who may be technical consultants from ; such persons shall be officers or employees of a constitutional office or of a department or agency of the executive branch.

The Task Force may begin to conduct business upon the appointment of a majority of the voting members. If the chair has not been appointed but both vice chairs have been appointed, the 2 vice chairs shall preside jointly. If the chair has not been appointed and only one vice chair has been appointed, that vice chair shall preside.

Members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for their expenses.

(c) The Task Force shall gather information and make recommendations relating to the performance of the Illinois Department of Human Services since its creation under this Act, with respect to its success in achieving the goals and objectives of the human services consolidation, the effectiveness of its structure and function, and its impact on the delivery of programs and services. planning, organization, and implementation of human services consolidation. The Task Force shall work to assure that the human services delivery system is meeting meets and adhering adheres to the goals of quality, efficiency, accountability, and financial responsibility; to make recommendations in keeping with those goals concerning the design, operation, and organizational structure of the new Department of Human Services; and to recommend any necessary implementing legislation for the improvement of programs and services under the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services.

The Task Force shall evaluate monitor the implementation of human service program reorganization and shall study its effect on the delivery of services to the citizens of Illinois. The Task Force shall make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the effect of the future consolidation of human service programs and functions.

(d) The Task Force shall:

(1) review and make recommendations on the organizational structure of the new Department of Human Services;

(2) review the status of and approve plans for a unified electronic management and intake information and reporting system as provided in Section 1-25, and monitor and guide the implementation of the system;

(3) review the progress that the Department has made toward and make recommendations on the consolidation or elimination of fragmented or duplicative programs;

(4) monitor and review the progress that the Department has made on maximizing make recommendations on how best to maximize future federal funding for the new Department of Human Services, with specific specifically including consideration of any federal Medicaid, welfare, or block grant reforms that have been authorized to enhance State programs and services reform;

(5) review the progress that the Department has made and make recommendations on geographic regionalization;

(6) review the progress that the Department has made and make recommendations on the development of common intake and client confidentiality processes;

(7) review the progress that the Department has made with respect and make recommendations to foster effective community-based privatization;

(8) obtain a management audit of the Department of Human Services Children and Family Services, to be completed and submitted to the Task Force no later than March 1, 2005, which shall include a preliminary review and findings regarding the effect that the consolidation has had on programs and services for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, individuals currently receiving services under the Office of Rehabilitation Services, and individuals in the substance abuse prevention and treatment programs July 1, 1997; and

(9) review any other appropriate matter and make recommendations to assure a high quality, efficient, accountable, and financially responsible system for the delivery of human services to the people of Illinois.

(e) The Task Force may hire any necessary staff or consultants, enter into contracts, and make any expenditures necessary for carrying out its duties, all out of moneys appropriated for that purpose. Staff support services may be provided to the Task Force by the Office of the Governor, the agencies of State government represented on the Task Force by ex officio members directly involved in the reorganization of the delivery of human services, and appropriate legislative staff.

(f) The Task Force may establish an advisory committee to ensure maximum public participation in the Task Force's planning, organization, and implementation review process. If established, the advisory committee shall (1) advise and assist the Task Force in its duties, (2) help the Task Force to identify issues of public concern, and (3) meet at least quarterly.

(g) The Task Force shall submit preliminary reports of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2005 and March 1, 2005, and a final report by September 1, 2005 February 1, 1997 and February 1, 1998 and a final report by January 1, 1999. It may submit other reports as it deems appropriate.

(h) The Task Force is abolished on January 1, 2006 February 1, 1999.

(Source: P.A. 89-506, eff. 7-3-96.)

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