Public Act 102-0986
 
SB0702 EnrolledLRB102 04508 KTG 14527 b

    AN ACT concerning aging.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Act on the Aging is amended by
adding Section 4.04b as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 105/4.04b new)
    Sec. 4.04b. Senior Housing Residents' Advisory Council.
    (a) Findings and purpose. The COVID-19 pandemic has
impacted seniors residing in assisted living facilities and
congregate living arrangements especially hard. Faced with
sickness, isolation, and a lack of support services many
seniors of this State have expressed feeling overlooked and
forgotten about. The purpose of the Senior Housing Residents'
Advisory Council established under this Section is to create a
space and opportunity for senior Illinoisans to connect with
each other and meet with representatives from the Department
on Aging and the Department of Public Health in order to share
their ideas on how the State can improve the quality of life
for its senior residents. The Council will also give senior
Illinoisans the opportunity to share their findings and
recommendations on targeted services and supports for seniors
with the Governor and the General Assembly.
    (b) Establishment and composition. The Senior Housing
Residents' Advisory Council is established within the
Department on Aging. The Council shall consist of the
following members:
        (1) The Director of the Department on Aging, or his or
    her designee, who shall serve as Chair of the Council.
        (2) One member of the Senate appointed by the
    President of the Senate.
        (3) One member of the House of Representatives
    appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
        (4) One member of the Senate appointed by the Minority
    Leader of the Senate.
        (5) One member of the House of Representatives
    appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
    Representatives.
        (6) The Director of the Department of Public Health or
    his or her designee.
        (7) Two seniors who reside in affordable senior
    housing developments, appointed by the Department on
    Aging.
        (8) Two seniors who reside in assisted living
    facilities, appointed by the Department of Public Health.
        (9) One adult family member of a senior who resides in
    an affordable senior housing development, appointed by the
    Department on Aging.
        (10) One adult family member of a senior who resides
    in an assisted living facility, appointed by the
    Department of Public Health.
        (11) One senior who lives in Cook County, appointed by
    the Department on Aging.
        (12) One senior who lives in central Illinois,
    appointed by the Department on Aging.
        (13) One senior who lives in southern Illinois,
    appointed by the Department on Aging.
        (14) One senior who lives in northern Illinois,
    appointed by the Department on Aging.
        (15) One senior who lives in western Illinois,
    appointed by the Department on Aging.
        (16) One administrative personnel from an affordable
    senior housing development, appointed by the Department on
    Aging.
        (17) One administrative personnel from an assisted
    living facility, appointed by the Department of Public
    Health.
        (18) One outreach professional who works at the
    Department on Aging.
        (19) One senior, appointed by the Department on Aging,
    who lives in one of the following counties: DuPage, Kane,
    Lake, McHenry, or Will.
    (c) The Council shall meet quarterly at the call of the
Chair beginning no later than January 1, 2023 and shall
thereafter meet on the date of each quarterly meeting with
personnel from the Department of Public Health and the
Department on Aging. All meetings shall be open to the public
in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. The Council is
authorized to form subcommittees that can meet more frequently
than once per quarter. Members of the Council shall receive no
compensation for their service but shall be reimbursed for any
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties
from appropriations made by the General Assembly for that
purpose. The Department on Aging shall provide the Council
with administrative, personnel, and technical support
services.
    (d) Duties. The Council has the following duties:
        (1) Identify barriers to seniors feeling supported by
    and connected to their communities.
        (2) Evaluate available resources and services for
    seniors.
        (3) Evaluate State outreach to seniors.
        (4) Evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on congregate
    living arrangements for seniors.
    (e) Reports. No later than December 31 in 2023, 2024, and
2025, the Council shall submit a written report to the
Governor and the General Assembly on the results of its
findings and evaluations under subsection (d) and shall
provide advice and recommendations on:
        (1) how best to disseminate information to seniors on
    available supports and services through the use of State
    agency websites, informational materials, and outreach
    personnel;
        (2) how to ensure of the availability of targeted
    services for seniors and to eliminate any gaps in services
    for seniors; and
        (3) how to improve State policy concerning seniors and
    congregate living arrangements for seniors in response to
    COVID-19.
    The Council shall terminate and dissolve after it submits
its third report on December 31, 2025.
    (f) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2027.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.