100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB5081

 

Introduced , by Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 105/4.01  from Ch. 23, par. 6104.01
20 ILCS 105/4.15
20 ILCS 105/6.02  from Ch. 23, par. 6106.02
20 ILCS 105/6.04 rep.
35 ILCS 200/20-15

    Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Deletes a provision requiring the Department on Aging to make a grant to an institution of higher learning to study the feasibility of establishing and implementing an affirmative action employment plan for the recruitment, hiring, training, and retraining of persons 60 or more years old. In provisions authorizing the Department to make eligibility determinations for benefits administered by other governmental bodies based on the income eligibility limitation in the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, specifies a particular location in that Act. Provides that the Director of Aging shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Repeals a provision requiring the Director to give a bond of not less than $10,000 conditioned for the faithful performance of his or her duties. Amends the Property Tax Code. Deletes a provision requiring counties to include in property tax bills information that taxpayers may be eligible for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act and that applications are available from the Department on Aging. Effective January 1, 2019.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5081LRB100 19930 KTG 35210 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Act on the Aging is amended by
5changing Sections 4.01, 4.15, and 6.02 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 105/4.01)  (from Ch. 23, par. 6104.01)
7    Sec. 4.01. Additional powers and duties of the Department.
8In addition to powers and duties otherwise provided by law, the
9Department shall have the following powers and duties:
10    (1) To evaluate all programs, services, and facilities for
11the aged and for minority senior citizens within the State and
12determine the extent to which present public or private
13programs, services and facilities meet the needs of the aged.
14    (2) To coordinate and evaluate all programs, services, and
15facilities for the Aging and for minority senior citizens
16presently furnished by State agencies and make appropriate
17recommendations regarding such services, programs and
18facilities to the Governor and/or the General Assembly.
19    (2-a) To request, receive, and share information
20electronically through the use of data-sharing agreements for
21the purpose of (i) establishing and verifying the initial and
22continuing eligibility of older adults to participate in
23programs administered by the Department; (ii) maximizing

 

 

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1federal financial participation in State assistance
2expenditures; and (iii) investigating allegations of fraud or
3other abuse of publicly funded benefits. Notwithstanding any
4other law to the contrary, but only for the limited purposes
5identified in the preceding sentence, this paragraph (2-a)
6expressly authorizes the exchanges of income, identification,
7and other pertinent eligibility information by and among the
8Department and the Social Security Administration, the
9Department of Employment Security, the Department of
10Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human
11Services, the Department of Revenue, the Secretary of State,
12the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and any other
13governmental entity. The confidentiality of information
14otherwise shall be maintained as required by law. In addition,
15the Department on Aging shall verify employment information at
16the request of a community care provider for the purpose of
17ensuring program integrity under the Community Care Program.
18    (3) To function as the sole State agency to develop a
19comprehensive plan to meet the needs of the State's senior
20citizens and the State's minority senior citizens.
21    (4) To receive and disburse State and federal funds made
22available directly to the Department including those funds made
23available under the Older Americans Act and the Senior
24Community Service Employment Program for providing services
25for senior citizens and minority senior citizens or for
26purposes related thereto, and shall develop and administer any

 

 

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1State Plan for the Aging required by federal law.
2    (5) To solicit, accept, hold, and administer in behalf of
3the State any grants or legacies of money, securities, or
4property to the State of Illinois for services to senior
5citizens and minority senior citizens or purposes related
6thereto.
7    (6) To provide consultation and assistance to communities,
8area agencies on aging, and groups developing local services
9for senior citizens and minority senior citizens.
10    (7) To promote community education regarding the problems
11of senior citizens and minority senior citizens through
12institutes, publications, radio, television and the local
13press.
14    (8) To cooperate with agencies of the federal government in
15studies and conferences designed to examine the needs of senior
16citizens and minority senior citizens and to prepare programs
17and facilities to meet those needs.
18    (9) To establish and maintain information and referral
19sources throughout the State when not provided by other
20agencies.
21    (10) To provide the staff support that may reasonably be
22required by the Council.
23    (11) To make and enforce rules and regulations necessary
24and proper to the performance of its duties.
25    (12) To establish and fund programs or projects or
26experimental facilities that are specially designed as

 

 

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1alternatives to institutional care.
2    (13) To develop a training program to train the counselors
3presently employed by the Department's aging network to provide
4Medicare beneficiaries with counseling and advocacy in
5Medicare, private health insurance, and related health care
6coverage plans. The Department shall report to the General
7Assembly on the implementation of the training program on or
8before December 1, 1986.
9    (14) (Blank). To make a grant to an institution of higher
10learning to study the feasibility of establishing and
11implementing an affirmative action employment plan for the
12recruitment, hiring, training and retraining of persons 60 or
13more years old for jobs for which their employment would not be
14precluded by law.
15    (15) To present one award annually in each of the
16categories of community service, education, the performance
17and graphic arts, and the labor force to outstanding Illinois
18senior citizens and minority senior citizens in recognition of
19their individual contributions to either community service,
20education, the performance and graphic arts, or the labor
21force. The awards shall be presented to 4 senior citizens and
22minority senior citizens selected from a list of 44 nominees
23compiled annually by the Department. Nominations shall be
24solicited from senior citizens' service providers, area
25agencies on aging, senior citizens' centers, and senior
26citizens' organizations. The Department shall establish a

 

 

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1central location within the State to be designated as the
2Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame for the public display of all
3the annual awards, or replicas thereof.
4    (16) To establish multipurpose senior centers through area
5agencies on aging and to fund those new and existing
6multipurpose senior centers through area agencies on aging, the
7establishment and funding to begin in such areas of the State
8as the Department shall designate by rule and as specifically
9appropriated funds become available.
10    (17) (Blank).
11    (18) To develop a pamphlet in English and Spanish which may
12be used by physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of
13its branches pursuant to the Medical Practice Act of 1987,
14pharmacists licensed pursuant to the Pharmacy Practice Act, and
15Illinois residents 65 years of age or older for the purpose of
16assisting physicians, pharmacists, and patients in monitoring
17prescriptions provided by various physicians and to aid persons
1865 years of age or older in complying with directions for
19proper use of pharmaceutical prescriptions. The pamphlet may
20provide space for recording information including but not
21limited to the following:
22        (a) name and telephone number of the patient;
23        (b) name and telephone number of the prescribing
24    physician;
25        (c) date of prescription;
26        (d) name of drug prescribed;

 

 

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1        (e) directions for patient compliance; and
2        (f) name and telephone number of dispensing pharmacy.
3    In developing the pamphlet, the Department shall consult
4with the Illinois State Medical Society, the Center for
5Minority Health Services, the Illinois Pharmacists Association
6and senior citizens organizations. The Department shall
7distribute the pamphlets to physicians, pharmacists and
8persons 65 years of age or older or various senior citizen
9organizations throughout the State.
10    (19) To conduct a study of the feasibility of implementing
11the Senior Companion Program throughout the State.
12    (20) The reimbursement rates paid through the community
13care program for chore housekeeping services and home care
14aides shall be the same.
15    (21) From funds appropriated to the Department from the
16Meals on Wheels Fund, a special fund in the State treasury that
17is hereby created, and in accordance with State and federal
18guidelines and the intrastate funding formula, to make grants
19to area agencies on aging, designated by the Department, for
20the sole purpose of delivering meals to homebound persons 60
21years of age and older.
22    (22) To distribute, through its area agencies on aging,
23information alerting seniors on safety issues regarding
24emergency weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold,
25flooding, tornadoes, electrical storms, and other severe storm
26weather. The information shall include all necessary

 

 

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1instructions for safety and all emergency telephone numbers of
2organizations that will provide additional information and
3assistance.
4    (23) To develop guidelines for the organization and
5implementation of Volunteer Services Credit Programs to be
6administered by Area Agencies on Aging or community based
7senior service organizations. The Department shall hold public
8hearings on the proposed guidelines for public comment,
9suggestion, and determination of public interest. The
10guidelines shall be based on the findings of other states and
11of community organizations in Illinois that are currently
12operating volunteer services credit programs or demonstration
13volunteer services credit programs. The Department shall offer
14guidelines for all aspects of the programs including, but not
15limited to, the following:
16        (a) types of services to be offered by volunteers;
17        (b) types of services to be received upon the
18    redemption of service credits;
19        (c) issues of liability for the volunteers and the
20    administering organizations;
21        (d) methods of tracking service credits earned and
22    service credits redeemed;
23        (e) issues of time limits for redemption of service
24    credits;
25        (f) methods of recruitment of volunteers;
26        (g) utilization of community volunteers, community

 

 

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1    service groups, and other resources for delivering
2    services to be received by service credit program clients;
3        (h) accountability and assurance that services will be
4    available to individuals who have earned service credits;
5    and
6        (i) volunteer screening and qualifications.
7The Department shall submit a written copy of the guidelines to
8the General Assembly by July 1, 1998.
9    (24) To function as the sole State agency to receive and
10disburse State and federal funds for providing adult protective
11services in a domestic living situation in accordance with the
12Adult Protective Services Act.
13    (25) To hold conferences, trainings, and other programs for
14which the Department shall determine by rule a reasonable fee
15to cover related administrative costs. Rules to implement the
16fee authority granted by this paragraph (25) must be adopted in
17accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative
18Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint
19Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so
20adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.
21(Source: P.A. 98-8, eff. 5-3-13; 98-49, eff. 7-1-13; 98-380,
22eff. 8-16-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 99-331, eff. 1-1-16.)
 
23    (20 ILCS 105/4.15)
24    Sec. 4.15. Eligibility determinations.
25    (a) The Department is authorized to make eligibility

 

 

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1determinations for benefits administered by other governmental
2bodies based on the income eligibility limitation set forth in
3subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and
4Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act as follows:
5        (i) for the Secretary of State with respect to reduced
6    fees paid by qualified vehicle owners under the Illinois
7    Vehicle Code;
8        (ii) for special districts that offer free fixed route
9    public transportation services for qualified older adults
10    under the Local Mass Transit District Act, the Metropolitan
11    Transit Authority Act, and the Regional Transportation
12    Authority Act; and
13        (iii) for special districts that offer transit
14    services for qualified individuals with disabilities under
15    the Local Mass Transit District Act, the Metropolitan
16    Transit Authority Act, and the Regional Transportation
17    Authority Act.
18    (b) The Department shall establish the manner by which
19claimants shall apply for these benefits. The Department is
20authorized to promulgate rules regarding the following
21matters: the application cycle; the application process; the
22content for an electronic application; required personal
23identification information; acceptable proof of eligibility as
24to age, disability status, marital status, residency, and
25household income limits; household composition; calculating
26income; use of social security numbers; duration of eligibility

 

 

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1determinations; and any other matters necessary for such
2administrative operations.
3    (c) All information received by the Department from an
4application or from any investigation to determine eligibility
5for benefits shall be confidential, except for official
6purposes.
7    (d) A person may not under any circumstances charge a fee
8to a claimant for assistance in completing an application form
9for these benefits.
10(Source: P.A. 98-887, eff. 8-15-14; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
 
11    (20 ILCS 105/6.02)  (from Ch. 23, par. 6106.02)
12    Sec. 6.02.
13    The Director of the Department on Aging shall receive an
14annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. The
15salary of the Director shall be $30,000 per annum.
16(Source: P.A. 78-242.)
 
17    (20 ILCS 105/6.04 rep.)
18    Section 10. The Illinois Act on the Aging is amended by
19repealing Section 6.04.
 
20    Section 15. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing
21Section 20-15 as follows:
 
22    (35 ILCS 200/20-15)

 

 

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1    Sec. 20-15. Information on bill or separate statement.
2There shall be printed on each bill, or on a separate slip
3which shall be mailed with the bill:
4        (a) a statement itemizing the rate at which taxes have
5    been extended for each of the taxing districts in the
6    county in whose district the property is located, and in
7    those counties utilizing electronic data processing
8    equipment the dollar amount of tax due from the person
9    assessed allocable to each of those taxing districts,
10    including a separate statement of the dollar amount of tax
11    due which is allocable to a tax levied under the Illinois
12    Local Library Act or to any other tax levied by a
13    municipality or township for public library purposes,
14        (b) a separate statement for each of the taxing
15    districts of the dollar amount of tax due which is
16    allocable to a tax levied under the Illinois Pension Code
17    or to any other tax levied by a municipality or township
18    for public pension or retirement purposes,
19        (c) the total tax rate,
20        (d) the total amount of tax due, and
21        (e) the amount by which the total tax and the tax
22    allocable to each taxing district differs from the
23    taxpayer's last prior tax bill.
24    The county treasurer shall ensure that only those taxing
25districts in which a parcel of property is located shall be
26listed on the bill for that property.

 

 

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1    In all counties the statement shall also provide:
2        (1) the property index number or other suitable
3    description,
4        (2) the assessment of the property,
5        (3) the statutory amount of each homestead exemption
6    applied to the property,
7        (4) the assessed value of the property after
8    application of all homestead exemptions,
9        (5) the equalization factors imposed by the county and
10    by the Department, and
11        (6) the equalized assessment resulting from the
12    application of the equalization factors to the basic
13    assessment.
14    In all counties which do not classify property for purposes
15of taxation, for property on which a single family residence is
16situated the statement shall also include a statement to
17reflect the fair cash value determined for the property. In all
18counties which classify property for purposes of taxation in
19accordance with Section 4 of Article IX of the Illinois
20Constitution, for parcels of residential property in the lowest
21assessment classification the statement shall also include a
22statement to reflect the fair cash value determined for the
23property.
24    In all counties, the statement must include information
25that certain taxpayers may be eligible for tax exemptions,
26abatements, and other assistance programs and that, for more

 

 

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1information, taxpayers should consult with the office of their
2township or county assessor and with the Illinois Department of
3Revenue.
4    In all counties, the statement shall include information
5that certain taxpayers may be eligible for the Senior Citizens
6and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act and that
7applications are available from the Illinois Department on
8Aging.
9    In counties which use the estimated or accelerated billing
10methods, these statements shall only be provided with the final
11installment of taxes due. The provisions of this Section create
12a mandatory statutory duty. They are not merely directory or
13discretionary. The failure or neglect of the collector to mail
14the bill, or the failure of the taxpayer to receive the bill,
15shall not affect the validity of any tax, or the liability for
16the payment of any tax.
17(Source: P.A. 98-93, eff. 7-16-13; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
191, 2019.