HR0988 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0988 LRB095 18845 DRJ 44973 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Many of the most vulnerable people in Illinois, including persons with mental, developmental, and physical disabilities, children, the elderly, and persons who are homeless, depend upon State-funded programs for crucial services; and

WHEREAS, The services supported by State funds include health care, food, shelter, clothing, and other vital services needed to keep persons alive, healthy, and out of institutions; and

WHEREAS, Illinois provides a substantial percentage of these services through grants and contracts with private not-for-profit organizations, most of which organizations are completely or substantially dependent on State funding for their continued survival and many of which are small and lack financial reserves or other assets; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has entered into contracts with persons with disabilities to provide peer-to-peer and other important services, facilitate their recovery and re-entry into the Illinois economy, and reduce the burden on taxpayers to support such persons; and

WHEREAS, Illinois does not have backup or redundant services; indeed, in most areas of Illinois there are already insufficient services to meet current needs; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is falling further and further behind in paying outside persons and not-for-profit organizations for the services provided by them to Illinois' most vulnerable citizens; and

WHEREAS, Late or delayed payments will result in the cutback of crucial services to Illinois' most vulnerable citizens and threaten the continued existence of some organizations; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has previously enacted legislation requiring the prompt payment of bills for crucial social services provided to vulnerable populations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor to take prompt and effective steps to ensure that those entities providing crucial services to Illinois' vulnerable populations under a State contract or grant receive prompt payment for those services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-Fifth General Assembly the steps that have been taken to implement this resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to each of the following: the Governor, the Secretary of Human Services, the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, the Director of Children and Family Services, the State Comptroller, and the State Treasurer.