SR0055 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0055 LRB102 14863 ECR 20216 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1990, The LaSalle Veterans' Home opened in a residential area on the northeast side of LaSalle in LaSalle County on a campus of slightly more than four acres; and

WHEREAS, The LaSalle Veterans' Home can house over 180 residents and employs over 230 staff; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a severe, potentially lethal virus spread through close human interaction; and

WHEREAS, On November 1, 2020, the first four cases of a large scale COVID-19 outbreak were reported at the LaSalle Veterans' Home; this outbreak would shortly claim the lives of 33 residents; and

WHEREAS, Between November 1, 2020 and January 4, 2021, more than 200 residents and staff tested positive for the coronavirus, leading to the deaths of 36 resident veterans; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, conducted an onsite visit on November 12, 2020; and

WHEREAS, The LaSalle Veterans' Home followed the recommendations of IDPH and completed remediations of key findings in the November 12, 2020 onsite visit; and

WHEREAS, In December of 2020, Senate and House hearings were conducted without the presence of an individual with decision-making authority from the IDPH; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is directed to conduct a performance audit of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Illinois Department of Public Health's management of the 2020 coronavirus outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans' Home; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this performance audit include, but not be limited to, the following determinations:

(1) The responses of the Department of Veterans' Affairs and Department of Public Health to the outbreak of COVID-19 in November and December of 2020;

(2) The type, cost, and timing of any infrastructure or other building improvements intended to contain the further spread of coronavirus;

(3) The nature of changes made by the Departments in operating protocols and staff training thereon intended to contain the further spread of coronavirus or prevent its reoccurrence;

(4) The nature and extent of monitoring conducted by the Departments to determine whether the improvements and protocols put in place are effective to ensure the safety of residents and staff at the LaSalle Veterans' Home; and

(5) The amount of State moneys received and the amount of state moneys expended by the Departments or any other State agency during State fiscal years 2021 for any improvements, monitoring, and other measures taken to address the coronavirus pandemic at the LaSalle Veterans' Home; and be it further;

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, Illinois Department of Public Health, and any other State agency or other entity or person that may have information relevant to this audit cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General's Office in its audit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as practical and report its findings and recommendations upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Auditor General.