Bill Text: IL SB1822 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall increase rates and reimbursements so that on or before July 1, 2017 direct service personnel in residential and day programs serving individuals with developmental disabilities earn a starting wage of not less than $13 per hour. On or before July l, 2015 rates shall increase to fund a $1 per hour increase. Provides that on or before January 1, 2016 rates shall increase to fund an additional $1 per hour increase. On or before July 1, 2016 rates shall increase to fund an additional $1 per hour increase. Provides that on or before January 1, 2017 rates shall increase to fund an additional $0.65 per hour increase. Defines "direct service personnel". Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the amount of the payment rate for all nursing facilities certified by the Department of Public Health under the ID/DD Community Care Act as intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled or long term care for under age 22 facilities shall increase to fund: (1) a $1 per hour increase on or before July 1, 2015; (2) an additional $1 per hour increase on or before January 1, 2016; (3) an additional $1 per hour increase on or before July l, 2016; and (4) an increase to fund an additional $0.65 per hour increase on or before January l, 2017. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-10-10 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments [SB1822 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SB1822-Introduced.html

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99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 SB1822 Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Heather A. Steans SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 1705/55.5 new
305 ILCS 5/5-5.4i new
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall increase rates and reimbursements so that on or before July 1, 2017 direct service personnel in residential and day programs serving individuals with developmental disabilities earn a starting wage of not less than $13 per hour. On or before July l, 2015 rates shall increase to fund a $1 per hour increase. Provides that on or before January 1, 2016 rates shall increase to fund an additional $1 per hour increase. On or before July 1, 2016 rates shall increase to fund an additional $1 per hour increase. Provides that on or before January 1, 2017 rates shall increase to fund an additional $0.65 per hour increase. Defines "direct service personnel". Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the amount of the payment rate for all nursing facilities certified by the Department of Public Health under the ID/DD Community Care Act as intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled or long term care for under age 22 facilities shall increase to fund: (1) a $1 per hour increase on or before July 1, 2015; (2) an additional $1 per hour increase on or before January 1, 2016; (3) an additional $1 per hour increase on or before July l, 2016; and (4) an increase to fund an additional $0.65 per hour increase on or before January l, 2017. Effective immediately.
LRB099 08767 RLC 28935 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
SB1822 LRB099 08767 RLC 28935 b
AN ACT concerning care for the developmentally disabled,
which may be referred to as the Community Disability Living
Wage Act.
WHEREAS, An estimated 23,000 children and adults with
developmental disabilities are supported in community-based
settings in Illinois; direct service personnel (DSP), are
trained paraprofessional staff that are engaged in activities
of daily living and community support; these employees earn
wages that place them and their families below the poverty
level; and
WHEREAS, According to a recent industry salary survey, the
average direct service personnel wage in Illinois is $9.35 per
hour which is 18.5% below the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services poverty threshold of $23,850 for a family of 4;
this predominately female, minority workforce is often
compelled to work many overtime hours or hold down a second job
to support their families; many have to fall back on public
benefits such as Medicaid and food stamps, creating additional
expenditures for state government; low wages are a consequence
of the historically low reimbursement rates paid by the State
of Illinois to community-based service providers; over the last
10 fiscal years, increases in State funding to these agencies
have averaged far less than 1% per year, for a total of 5.5%;
by contrast, the Consumer Price Index increased 21% over the
same period; and

SB1822 - 2 - LRB099 08767 RLC 28935 b
WHEREAS, The lack of adequate wages for employees who
perform the challenging work of supporting individuals with
disabilities results in high employee turnover, which in turn
negatively impacts the quality of services provided; higher
wages are proven to reduce staff turnover, improving stability
and quality of services while reducing employer training costs;
and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that in order to reduce
turnover, increase retention, and ensure direct service
personnel are adequately compensated for the critically
important work they do, an increase in rates and reimbursements
to community-based service providers to effectuate an increase
in the starting hourly wage paid to direct service personnel is
needed; and
WHEREAS, It is the purpose of this amendatory Act to
increase the wages of direct service personnel in community
disability agencies beyond that of poverty level in an effort
to improve their lives and the lives of the vulnerable
individuals they support; therefore
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

SB1822 - 3 - LRB099 08767 RLC 28935 b
Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities Administrative Act is amended by adding Section
55.5 as follows:
(20 ILCS 1705/55.5 new)
Sec. 55.5. Increased wages for direct service personnel.
The Department shall establish reimbursement rates which build
toward livable wages for direct service personnel in
residential and day programs serving individuals with
developmental disabilities under Section 54 of this Act,
including but not limited to intermediate care facilities for
the developmentally disabled, community integrated living
arrangements, developmental training programs, employment, and
other residential and day programs for individuals with
developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding
under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. As used in
this Section, "direct service personnel" means direct care
staff, front-line supervisors, qualified support
professionals, nurses, and non-administrative support staff
working in service settings outlined in this Section. The
Department shall increase rates and reimbursements so that on
or before July 1, 2017 direct service personnel earn a starting
wage of not less than $13 per hour. On or before July l, 2015
rates shall increase to fund a $1 per hour increase. On or
before January 1, 2016 rates shall increase to fund an
additional $1 per hour increase. On or before July 1, 2016

SB1822 - 4 - LRB099 08767 RLC 28935 b
rates shall increase to fund an additional $1 per hour
increase. On or before January 1, 2017 rates shall increase to
fund an additional $0.65 per hour increase.
Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
adding Section 5-5.4i as follows:
(305 ILCS 5/5-5.4i new)
Sec. 5-5.4i. Increased wages for direct service personnel.
Under Section 55.5 of the Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities Administrative Act, the amount of the payment rate
for all nursing facilities certified by the Department of
Public Health under the ID/DD Community Care Act as
intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled
or long term care for under age 22 facilities shall increase to
fund:
(1) a $1 per hour increase on or before July 1, 2015;
(2) an additional $1 per hour increase on or before January
1, 2016;
(3) an additional $1 per hour increase on or before July l,
2016; and
(4) an increase to fund an additional $0.65 per hour
increase on or before January l, 2017.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.