HJ0020 LRB094 10683 DRH 41060 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Illinois continues to experience the national
3 phenomenon commonly referred to as "aging in place", wherein
4 seniors are remaining in their own homes and would like to
5 continue to live there; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Available transportation services are often
7 inconvenient or inaccessible and are not adequately
8 coordinated to provide comprehensive services that meet the
9 wide-ranging needs of the elderly, such as medical
10 appointments, errands, and shopping; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Many rural communities have no public and few
12 private transportation services that are available to and meet
13 the needs of seniors; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Many areas have jurisdictional boundaries on
15 their transportation services that serve as artificial
16 barriers to seniors accessing the neighboring communities to
17 which they may need to go; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Many seniors in urban and rural communities do not
19 have the financial means to utilize the private or alternative
20 transportation services available in their areas; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Seniors in many urban and rural communities are
22 unable to take advantage of community services, such as adult
23 day services, senior health clinics, senior centers, and
24 congregate meals, all of which will allow them to remain
25 independent and in their own homes for extended periods of
26 time, without adequate transportation services; therefore, be
27 it
 
28     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
29 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE

 

 

HJ0020 - 2 - LRB094 10683 DRH 41060 r

1 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Department of
2 Transportation is directed to do the following:
3         (1) Conduct a statewide assessment of current needs,
4     resources, and services and the anticipated future needs
5     related to senior transportation in Illinois, in
6     consultation with the Departments of Human Services,
7     Public Aid, and Public Health and the Department on Aging;
8         (2) Conduct a statewide comprehensive review and
9     analysis of senior transportation that includes, but is not
10     limited to, alternative transportation resources; methods
11     to provide door to door transportation; the feasibility of
12     coordinating funding and information through a centralized
13     clearinghouse; methods to increase cross agency/department
14     collaboration to facilitate coordination, enhance
15     services, and at the same time address duplication and
16     redundancies of programs and service methods to improve the
17     quality and quantity of transportation services to better
18     accommodate the needs of senior riders; identification of
19     policy changes necessary to remove jurisdictional
20     boundaries on alternative transportation services; and
21     identification of policy changes to procurement procedures
22     necessary to facilitate the purchase of accessible
23     vehicles;
24         (3) Develop recommendations that will improve the
25     availability and coordination of senior transportation in
26     all areas of the State, including recommended methods to
27     provide door to door senior transportation;
28         (4) Identify possible federal, State, and local
29     funding sources that will assist in implementing and
30     maintaining the recommendations; and
31         (5) File a written report, including findings and
32     recommendations consistent with this Resolution, with the
33     General Assembly and the Governor on or before December 31,
34     2006; and be it further
 
35     RESOLVED, That the Departments of Human Services, Public

 

 

HJ0020 - 3 - LRB094 10683 DRH 41060 r

1 Aid, and Public Health, and the Department on Aging shall
2 cooperate with the Department of Transportation in executing
3 the requirements of this Resolution; and be it further
 
4     RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be delivered to
5 the Directors of Public Aid, Public Health, and Aging and to
6 the Secretaries of Transportation and Human Services.