August 31, 2007

 

 

To the Honorable Members of the

Illinois Senate

95th General Assembly

 

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return

Senate Bill 1664, entitled “AN ACT concerning health.”, with the following specific recommendations for change:

 

            on page 8, line 7, by reinserting “strive to”; and

 

            on page 8, line 8, by replacing “which allows” with “that”; and

 

            on page 8, line 8, by reinserting “encourages”; and

 

            on page 8, line 9, by replacing “improve” with “support”; and

 

            on page 8, line 10, by deleting “capabilities for”; and

 

            on page 8, line 12, by replacing “commission” with “committee”; and

 

            on page 8, line 12, by  replacing “July 1, 2007” with “January 31, 2008”; and

 

on page 8, line 13 through 23, by replacing “review funding methodologies, identify gaps in funding, identify revenue, and prioritize use of that revenue for community developmental disability services, mental health services, alcohol and substance abuse services, rehabilitation services, and early intervention services.  The first meeting of the commission shall be held within the first month after the creation and appointment of the commission, and a final report summarizing the commission’s recommendations must be issued within 12 months after the first meeting, and no later than September 1, 2008, to the Governor and the General Assembly. The commission shall have the following 13 voting members”; with “address reimbursement rates for Waiver services to persons with developmental disabilities.  The committee shall be charged with (1) reviewing funding methodologies, identifying gaps in funding, identifying revenue, and suggesting prioritization for the use of the revenue; (2) focusing especially on the capabilities of current reimbursement rates to serve persons with significantly high medical and/or behavior needs; and (3) making recommendations regarding modifications to adult Developmental Disability Waiver service reimbursement, including suggestions for corresponding service definitions and provider qualifications, that move the service system toward individual budget allocations.  The first meeting of the committee shall be held within the first month after the creation and appointment of the committee.  A final report summarizing the committee’s activity and recommendations must be issued within 12 months after the first meeting.  The report shall be issued by the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to the Governor and the General Assembly.  The committee shall have the following 19 voting members”; and

 

on page 9, line 6, by replacing “one person” with “four persons”’ and

 

on page 9, line 6 through 7, by deleting “or a family member or guardian of such person,”; and

 

on page 9, line 9 through 10, by replacing “one person with a mental illness, or a family member or guardian of such a person” with “four family members or guardians of persons with developmental disabilities”; and

 

on page 9, line 12, by replacing “two persons from unions” with “one person from a union”; and

 

on page 9, line 13, by deleting “community”; and

 

on page 9, line 14 through 15, by deleting “mental illness, and alcohol and substance abuse disorders,”; and

 

on page 9, line 17, by deleting “community”; and

 

on page 9, line 17 through 18, by replacing “that provide residential, day training, and other” with “of”; and

 

on page 9, line 19 through 21, by deleting “mental health services, alcohol and substance abuse services, rehabilitation services, or early intervention services, or any combination of those,”; and

 

on page 10, line 2, by deleting “and”; and

 

on page 10, line 5, by replacing “.” with “; and”; and

 

on page 10, line 6, before “The”, by inserting “(L) The Director of the Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities or his or her designee, as well as other staff from the Division of Developmental Disabilities necessary to assist the committee in its activities.  The committee shall be chaired by the Director of the Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities or his or her designee.”; and

 

on page 10, line 6, by replacing “The” with “Recommendations regarding”; and

 

on page 10, line 8, by deleting “and”; and

 

on page 10, line 9, after “differences,” by inserting “and”; and

 

on page 10, line 9 through 10, by replacing “required staffing ratios, and mandates not currently funded” with “address supervision and support needs, and incorporate Federal and State waiver requirements”. 

 

 

With these changes, Senate Bill 1664 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH

Governor