August 25, 2009

To the Honorable Members of the

Illinois House of Representatives

96th General Assembly

Today, I return House Bill 746 with specific recommendations for change.  I thank the sponsors for their hard work and the members of the General Assembly for passing this bill.  However, in order for me to give unqualified support to this measure, I respectfully request the adoption of the recommendations set forth below.

House Bill 746 requires the Department of Human Services to operate the Rapid Reintegration Pilot Program.  The purpose is to demonstrate that, with appropriate support and services, individuals with physical disabilities and mental illness who need short term placement of six months or less in a nursing home facility can return to the community without unnecessary institutionalization.  However, I believe this bold approach should be conducted with each of the special needs population groups, including older adults.  The state is already engaged in the Money Follows the Person demonstration program to assist individuals within these special needs populations who have nursing home stays of six months or longer.  The effort envisioned by House Bill 746 should include the same populations for those whose stays are less than six months.  Therefore, I have included the Department on Aging in this pilot program.  Regrettably, in spite of the laudable goal of this bill, during this period of unprecedented financial difficulty, we cannot create any new mandates.  Accordingly, I am conditioning this program on sufficient appropriations being available for its support.

Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 746, entitled “AN ACT concerning public aid.”, with the following specific recommendations for change:

on page 1, by deleting line 10 and replacing it with “(a) The Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging shall operate, subject to appropriation, a Rapid”; and

on page 1, by deleting line 12 and replacing it with “is to demonstrate that, with appropriate support and services, individuals age 65 and older,”; and

on page 1, by deleting lines 17 through 19, and replacing them with “institutionalization.  The pilot program sites shall be those initiated or operated in Fiscal Year 2009.  After completion of a successful evaluation, the pilot program may be expanded to other sites as”; and

on page 1, by deleting line 21 and replacing it with “(b) The Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging shall secure, subject to appropriation, the”; and

on page 2 by deleting line 2 and replacing it  with “Case Coordination Units, Service Coordination Agencies, and the Home Services Program to”; and

on page 2, by deleting line 6 and replacing it with “(c) The Case Coordination Units, Service Coordination Agencies, and the Home Services”; and

on page 2, line 7, by replacing “make” with “make, subject to appropriation,”; and

on page 2, by deleting line 12 and replacing it with  “(d) The Case Coordination Units, Service Coordination Agencies, and the Home Services”; and

on page 2, line 13, by replacing “make” with “make, subject to appropriation,”; and

on page 2, by deleting line 18 and replacing it with “independent living, community mental health agencies and area agencies on aging.”; and

on page 2, line 22, by replacing “assessed” with “assessed, subject to appropriation,”; and

on page 2, line 26, by replacing “operate” with “operate, subject to appropriation,”; and

on page 3, by deleting lines 2 through 10, and replacing them with “96th General Assembly.  The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging, shall assess, subject to appropriation, the effectiveness of the pilot program.”.

With these changes, House Bill 746 will have my approval.  I respectfully request your concurrence. 

Sincerely,

PAT QUINN

Governor