102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3889

 

Introduced 1/21/2022, by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Children's Mental Health Council Act. Provides that the Children's Mental Health Council shall conduct at least 4 meetings each year, in addition to emergency meetings called by the chairperson of the Council, research and provide recommendations for the General Assembly on children with mental and behavioral disabilities and residential placements around the State and out of state, research and provide recommendations on how State agencies will be able to provide emergency placement for children with disabilities, research and provide recommendations on expanding residential beds and increasing the workforce, and providing recommendations for the General Assembly, State Board of Education, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, and any other agency that is involved in the process of the placement of a child. Provides guidelines for appointing members. Provides terms for members appointed by the Governor. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative support. Provides that the Council shall prepare and deliver annual reports to the General Assembly, the Governor, and State agencies with any recommendations for legislation and any additional recommendations regarding children's mental and behavioral health. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2032. Effective immediately.


LRB102 24255 RJT 33486 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3889LRB102 24255 RJT 33486 b

1    AN ACT concerning health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Children's Mental Health Council Act.
 
6    Section 5. Children's Mental Health Council.
7    (a) In this Act, "Council" means the Children's Mental
8Health Council.
9    (b) The Children's Mental Health Council is created.
10    (c) The Council shall:
11        (1) Conduct at least 4 meetings each year, in addition
12    to emergency meetings called by the chairperson of the
13    Council;
14        (2) Research and provide recommendations for the
15    General Assembly regarding children with mental and
16    behavioral disabilities and residential placements around
17    the State and out of state;
18        (3) Research and provide recommendations regarding how
19    State agencies will be able to provide emergency placement
20    for children with disabilities;
21        (4) Research and provide recommendations regarding how
22    the State is able to expand residential beds in the State
23    and increase the workforce to obtain staff; and

 

 

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1        (5) Review and provide recommendations for the General
2    Assembly, State Board of Education, Department of Children
3    and Family Services, Department of Healthcare and Family
4    Services, Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, and any
5    other agency that is involved in the process of the
6    placement of a child.
7    (d) The Council shall be composed of the following:
8        (1) The State Superintendent of Education or his or
9    her designee;
10        (2) The Director of Children and Family Services or
11    his or her designee;
12        (3) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services or
13    his or her designee;
14        (4) The Director of Juvenile Justice or his or her
15    designee;
16        (5) The Senate President or his or her designee;
17        (6) The Speaker of the House or his or her designee;
18        (7) The Minority Leader of the Senate or his or her
19    designee;
20        (8) The Minority Leader of the House or his or her
21    designee; and
22        (9) The following members shall be appointed by the
23    Governor on or before December 1, 2022:
24            (A) Four members from children's residential
25        schools in the State, from various geographic regions;
26            (B) Four members from public schools who

 

 

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1        specialize in social work in their districts, from
2        various geographic regions;
3            (C) Four members from private schools who
4        specialize in social work in their districts, from
5        various geographic regions;
6            (D) Four members from various communities who have
7        a child with mental and behavioral disabilities and
8        have experience going through the system of trying to
9        get a residential bed for their children. Members
10        appointed under this paragraph shall reflect a
11        diversity of age, gender, race, and ethnic
12        backgrounds;
13            (E) One member from a children's hospital from
14        northern Illinois;
15            (F) One member from a children's hospital from the
16        southern half of Illinois; and
17            (G) Two members from juvenile detention centers
18        from various geographic regions.
19        The members appointed by the Governor shall be
20    appointed for terms of 4 years. A member shall serve until
21    his or her successor is appointed and qualified. If a
22    vacancy occurs in the Council membership, the vacancy
23    shall be filled in the same manner as the original
24    appointment for the remainder of the term.
25    (e) The initial meeting of the Council shall be convened
26by the Senate President no later than January 1, 2023.

 

 

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1    (f) The State Board of Education shall provide
2administrative support to the Council.
3    (g) The Council shall prepare and deliver an annual report
4to the General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and any State
5agency involved in the Council. The report shall include:
6        (1) Any recommendations for legislation regarding
7    State policies, laws, or rules necessary to fulfill the
8    purposes of this Act; and
9        (2) Any additional recommendations regarding
10    children's mental and behavioral health that the Council
11    deems necessary.
12    (h) The annual report shall be considered by the agencies
13involved and the General Assembly.
 
14    Section 10. Repeal. The Council is dissolved, and this Act
15is repealed, on January 1, 2032.
 
16    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17becoming law.