Public Act 095-0636
 
SB0581 Enrolled LRB095 08152 DRJ 28317 b

    AN ACT concerning health.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Developmental Disability and Mental
Disability Services Act is amended by adding the heading of
Article VI and Sections 6-1 and 6-5 as follows:
 
    (405 ILCS 80/Art. VI heading new)
ARTICLE VI. COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CHOICES PROGRAM

 
    (405 ILCS 80/6-1 new)
    Sec. 6-1. Community Residential Choices Program.
    (a) The purpose of this Article is to promote greater
compatibility among individuals with developmental
disabilities who live together by allowing individuals with
developmental disabilities who meet either the emergency or
critical need criteria of the Department of Human Services as
defined under the Department's developmental disabilities
cross-disability database (as required by Section 10-26 of the
Department of Human Services Act), and who also meet the
Department's developmental disabilities priority population
criteria for residential services as defined in the
Department's developmental disabilities Community Services
Agreement and whose parents are over the age of 60, to choose
to live together in a community-based residential program.
    (b) For purposes of this Article:
    "Community-based residential program" means one of a
variety of living arrangements for persons with developmental
disabilities, including existing settings such as
community-integrated living arrangements, and may also include
newly developed settings that are consistent with this
definition.
    "Developmental disability" may include an autism spectrum
disorder.
    (c) A person diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder may
be assessed for eligibility for services under Home and
Community-Based Services Waivers for persons with
developmental disabilities without regard to whether that
person is also diagnosed with mental retardation, so long as
the person otherwise meets applicable level-of-care criteria
under those waivers. This provision does not create any new
entitlement to a service, program, or benefit, but shall not
affect any entitlement to a service, program, or benefit
created by any other law.
 
    (405 ILCS 80/6-5 new)
    Sec. 6-5. Placements. Commencing with the State fiscal year
beginning on July 1, 2007, subject to appropriation, the
Department of Human Services shall fund residential capacities
in geographic locations in the State with the goal of placing
no fewer than 80 individuals who meet the emergency or critical
need criteria of the Department's developmental disabilities
cross-disabilities database, and who also meet the
Department's developmental disabilities priority population
criteria for residential services as defined in the
Department's developmental disabilities Community Services
Agreement and whose parents are over the age of 60, in
community-based residential programs with chosen housemates.
Priority in the allocation of funds for this program shall be
given to individuals who choose to reside with 3 or fewer
individuals.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.