Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB2185

Sen. Rachel Ventura

Filed: 1/30/2026

10400SB2185sam003 LRB104 10818 RLC 30049 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2185

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2185, AS AMENDED, by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by adding Section 3-6-2.1 as follows:

(730 ILCS 5/3-6-2.1 new)

Sec. 3-6-2.1. Medication for opioid use disorder.

(a) In this Section:

"Clinically indicated" means a medical procedure or treatment is based upon the treatment provider's medical judgment in accordance with the current generally accepted standards of care.

"Medication-assisted treatment" means the use of U.S. Federal Drug Administration-approved medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.

"Medications for opioid use disorder" means the use of U.S. Federal Drug Administration-approved medications to treat substance use disorders.

(b) Within 24 hours of admission to a correctional institution or facility, each committed person shall be screened for substance use disorders as part of an initial and ongoing substance use screening and assessment process. This process shall include screening and assessment for opioid use disorders. The Department shall ensure that all persons under its care are assessed for substance use disorder not less than once per calendar year.

(c) A committed person who is admitted to a correctional institution or facility while under the medical care of a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner and who is taking medication at the time of admission as verified by the individual's pharmacy of record, primary care provider, other licensed care provider, or a prescription monitoring or information system, shall have that medication continued and provided by the Department pending an evaluation by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner and subject to the treatment provider's medical judgment. The Department may defer provision of a validly prescribed medication in accordance with this subsection if, in the judgment of a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner, continuation of the medication is no longer clinically indicated.

A committed person who is admitted to a correctional institution or facility while under the medical care of a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner and who is taking medication for an opioid use disorder or participating in medication-assisted treatment at the time of admission as verified by the individual's pharmacy of record, primary care provider, other licensed care provider, or a prescription monitoring or information system, shall have the committed person's medication continued and provided by the Department pending an evaluation by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner and subject to the treatment provider's medical judgment. The Department may defer provision of a validly prescribed medication in accordance with this subsection if, in the judgment of a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner, continuation of the medication is no longer clinically indicated. An individual participating in a medication-assisted treatment program may have counseling and behavioral therapies continued to the extent possible.

If at any time a committed person screens positive as having or being at risk for an opioid use disorder, is diagnosed with an opioid use disorder, or is exhibiting symptoms of withdrawal from an opioid use disorder, and medications for opioid use disorder or medication-assisted treatment is clinically indicated by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner, then the individual may consent to commence medications for opioid use disorder or, if available, medication-assisted treatment, which shall be provided and funded by the Department with the use of any opioid settlement funds allocated to the Department. The committed person shall be authorized to receive the medication immediately and for as long as clinically indicated.

No person shall be denied medication for opioid use disorder or participation in medication-assisted treatment based on prior success or failure of any medication for opioid use disorder treatment or any medication-assisted treatment program.

(d) The licensed practitioner who makes the clinical judgment to discontinue the use of medication or medication-assisted treatment shall enter the reason for the discontinuance to be entered into the committed person's medical record, specifically stating the reason for discontinuance. The individual shall be provided, both orally and in writing, with a specific explanation of the decision to discontinue the medication.

(e) As part of the reentry planning, the Department shall commence medications for opioid use disorder or, if available, medication-assisted treatment, prior to an individual's release if:

(1) the individual screens positive as having an opioid use disorder, being at risk for an opioid use disorder, or exhibiting symptoms of withdrawal from an opioid use disorder;

(2) medication for opioid use disorder or medication-assisted treatment is clinically indicated by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner; and

(3) the individual consents to commence medications for opioid use disorder or medication-assisted treatment.

Upon reentry, the Department shall provide an individual who is taking medication for opioid use disorder and is participating in medication-assisted treatment with a referral to a community-based provider who may assist the individual with continued medications for opioid use disorder and medication-assisted treatment care.".