| ||||
| Public Act 102-0898 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
AN ACT concerning State government.
| ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
| ||||
Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended | ||||
by adding Section 5.26 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 505/5.26 new) | ||||
Sec. 5.26. Holistic Mental Health Care for Youth in Care | ||||
Task Force. | ||||
(a) The Holistic Mental Health Care for Youth in Care Task | ||||
Force is created. The Task Force shall review and make | ||||
recommendations regarding mental health and wellness services | ||||
provided to youth in care, including a program of holistic | ||||
mental health services provided 30 days after the date upon | ||||
which a youth is placed in foster care, in order to determine | ||||
how to best meet the mental health needs of youth in care. | ||||
Additionally, the Task Force shall: | ||||
(1) assess the capacity of State licensed mental | ||||
health professionals to provide preventive mental health | ||||
care to youth in care; | ||||
(2) review the current payment rates for mental health | ||||
providers serving the youth in care population; | ||||
(3) evaluate the process for smaller private practices | ||||
and agencies to bill through managed care, evaluate | ||||
delayed payments to mental health providers, and recommend | ||
improvements to make billing practices more efficient; | ||
(4) evaluate the recruitment and retention of mental | ||
health providers who are persons of color to serve the | ||
youth in care population; and | ||
(5) any other relevant subject and processes as deemed | ||
necessary by the Task Force. | ||
(b) The Task Force shall have 9 members, comprised as | ||
follows: | ||
(1) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services or | ||
the Director's designee. | ||
(2) The Director of Children and Family Services or | ||
the Director's designee. | ||
(3) A member appointed by the Governor from the Office | ||
of the Governor who has a focus on mental health issues. | ||
(4) Two members from the House of Representatives, | ||
appointed one each by the Speaker of the House of | ||
Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of | ||
Representatives. | ||
(5) Two members of the Senate, appointed one each by | ||
the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the | ||
Senate. | ||
(6) One member who is a former youth in care, | ||
appointed by the Governor. | ||
(7) One representative from the managed care entity | ||
managing the YouthCare program, appointed by the Director | ||
of Healthcare and Family Services. | ||
Task Force members shall serve without compensation but | ||
may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the | ||
performance of their duties. | ||
(c) The Task Force shall meet at least once each month | ||
beginning no later than July 1, 2022 and at other times as | ||
determined by the Task Force. The Task Force may hold | ||
electronic meetings and a member of the Task Force shall be | ||
deemed present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and | ||
voting. | ||
(d) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in | ||
conjunction with the Department of Children and Family | ||
Services, shall provide administrative and other support to | ||
the Task Force. | ||
(e) The Task Force shall prepare and submit to the | ||
Governor and the General Assembly at the end of each quarter a | ||
report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations | ||
resulting from its study. The Task Force shall submit its | ||
final report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later | ||
than December 31, 2024. Upon submission of its final report, | ||
the Task Force is dissolved. | ||
(f) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.
| ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
| ||