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305 ILCS 5/12-4.41

    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.41)
    Sec. 12-4.41. Public Benefits Fraud Protection Task Force.
    (a) Purpose. The purpose of the Public Benefits Fraud Protection Task Force is to conduct a thorough review of the nature of public assistance fraud in the State of Illinois; to ascertain the feasibility of implementing a mechanism to determine the pervasiveness and frequency of public assistance fraud; to calculate the detriment of public assistance fraud to the financial status and socio-economic status of public aid recipients specifically and Illinois taxpayers generally; and to determine if more stringent penalties or compassionate procedures are necessary.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
    "Task Force" means the Public Benefits Fraud Protection Task Force.
    "Public assistance" or "public aid" includes, without limitation, Medicaid, TANF, the Illinois LINK Program, General Assistance, Transitional Assistance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Child Care Assistance Program.
    (c) The Public Benefits Fraud Protection Task Force. The Public Benefits Fraud Protection Task Force is created. The Task Force shall be composed of 17 members appointed as follows:
        (1) One member of the Illinois Senate appointed by
    
the President of the Senate, who shall be co-chair to the Task Force;
        (2) One member of the Illinois Senate appointed by
    
the Senate Minority Leader;
        (3) One member of the Illinois House of
    
Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be co-chair to the Task Force;
        (4) One member of the Illinois House of
    
Representatives appointed by the House Minority Leader;
        (5) The following persons, or their designees: the
    
Director of Public Health, the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Secretary of Human Services;
        (6) The Director of the Illinois Department on Aging,
    
or his or her designee;
        (7) The Executive Inspector General appointed by the
    
Governor, or his or her designee;
        (8) The Inspector General of the Illinois Department
    
of Human Services, or his or her designee;
        (9) A representative from the Office of the Attorney
    
General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit;
        (10) Three persons, who are not currently employed by
    
a State agency, appointed by the Secretary of Human Services, one of whom shall be a person with professional experience in child care issues, one of whom shall be a person with knowledge and experience in legal aid services, and one of whom shall be a person with knowledge and experience in poverty law;
        (11) The Attorney General, or his or her designee;
        (12) A representative of a union representing front
    
line State employees who administer public benefits programs; and
        (13) A representative of a statewide business
    
association.
    (d) Compensation and qualifications. Members shall serve without compensation and shall be adults and residents of Illinois.
    (e) Appointments. Appointments shall be made 90 days from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.
    (f) Hearings. The Task Force shall solicit comments from stakeholders and hold public hearings before filing any report required by this Section. At the public hearings, the Task Force shall allow interested persons to present their views and comments. The Task Force shall submit all reports required by this Section to the Governor and the General Assembly. In addition to the reports required by this Section, the Task Force may provide, at its discretion, interim reports and recommendations. The Department of Human Services shall provide administrative support to the Task Force.
    (g) Task Force duties. The Task Force shall gather information and make recommendations relating to at least the following topics in relation to public assistance fraud:
        (1) Reviews of provider billing of public aid claims.
        (2) Reviews of recipient utilization of public aid.
        (3) Protocols for investigating recipient public aid
    
fraud.
        (4) Protocols for investigating provider public aid
    
fraud.
        (5) Reporting of alleged fraud by private citizens
    
through qui tam actions.
        (6) Examination of current fraud prevention measures
    
which may hinder legitimate aid claims.
        (7) Coordination between relevant agencies in fraud
    
investigation.
        (8) Financial audit of the current costs borne by aid
    
recipients and Illinois government through fraud.
        (9) Examination of enhanced penalties for fraudulent
    
recipients and providers.
        (10) Enhanced whistleblower protections.
        (11) Voluntary assistance from businesses and
    
community groups in efforts to curb fraud.
    (h) Task Force recommendations. Any of the findings, recommendations, public postings, and other relevant information regarding the Task Force shall be made available on the Department of Human Services' website.
    (i) Reporting requirements. The Task Force shall submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2011, including any necessary implementing legislation, and recommendations for changes to policies, rules, or procedures that are not incorporated in the implementing legislation.
    (j) Dissolution of Task Force. The Task Force shall be dissolved 90 days after its report has been submitted to the Governor's Office and the General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 103-145, eff. 10-1-23.)