HB0579eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0579 Engrossed LRB095 06215 DRJ 26309 b

AN ACT concerning health.

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

Section 5. The Community Mental Health Act is amended by adding Section 8.10 as follows:

(405 ILCS 20/8.10 new)

Sec. 8.10. Pilot program; veterans.

(a) In this Section, "veteran" means any person who has served in a branch of the United States military for more than 180 consecutive days after initial training.

(b) From funds appropriated by the General Assembly to the Department of Human Services for that purpose, the Secretary of Human Services shall establish a pilot program in 3 locations across the State to provide mental health services to veterans who do not qualify for mental health services under a federally funded or State-funded program and who do not have insurance coverage for mental health services. The Department of Human Services shall implement the pilot program in cooperation with the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

(c) In allocating funds to community providers for veterans' mental health services, the Department of Human Services shall give preference to programs that serve special population groups and targeted geographic areas, as determined by the Department.

(d) The Department of Human Services shall adopt rules establishing implementation guidelines and standards for creation of the pilot program.

(e) The pilot program shall operate for 2 years, after which the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Veterans' Affairs, shall report to the General Assembly with recommendations on establishing an efficient, accessible, permanent program to provide mental health services to veterans.

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