SR0966 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0966 LRB097 23156 JDS 71977 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Governor Quinn has announced his intention to transition care from State-Operated Developmental Centers and, as part of that initiative, proposed the closure of the Jacksonville Developmental Center and the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Human Services (DHS) has entered into financial agreements with Community Resource Associates (CRA) to assist the Department in the transition process; and

WHEREAS, The community services agreement between DHS and CRA authorizes payments of up to $1,350,000 to the vendor for the development of a clinical transition plan, as well as the performance of resident assessments costing $5,300 per resident; and

WHEREAS, The assessment of residents to facilitate community transitions has been a function historically performed by facility staff as an ongoing process requiring substantial interaction with the client, medical providers, and family members; and

WHEREAS, Concerns have been raised that current client reviews performed by CRA include only a minimal amount of observation and interaction with clients prior to individual transition plans being determined; and

WHEREAS, Concerns have also been raised that assessments of clients have been hindered because families of clients currently residing at the Jacksonville and Murray Developmental Centers have voiced support for the continuation of the current care provided and have declined to give permission to new, out-of-state review teams brought in by CRA to be involved in the transition of their loved ones; and

WHEREAS, Adequate accountability and oversight of the assessment process is key to ensuring the safety of and proper care for residents currently being considered for community placements; and

WHEREAS, The use of a competitively bid procurement utilizing the State procurement process provides safeguards to ensure the efficient expenditure of State funds; and

WHEREAS, The current community services agreement between DHS and CRA expires on October 31, 2012, and a full review of the services provided under the existing grant should be provided prior to an extension of the grant being considered; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is directed to conduct an audit of the DHS grant to CRA; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the audit shall address, but need not be limited to addressing:

(1) whether CRA has provided the deliverables required under the grant agreement with DHS;

(2) whether the other requirements of the grant are being met;

(3) whether DHS has assessed the performance of CRA in meeting the grant requirements;

(4) whether prior business relationships have existed between the principals of CRA and staff within the Governor's office and DHS;

(5) whether the principals of CRA have any business interests in the community group homes to which affected residents are being transferred; and

(6) whether the prerequisites for competitive bid procurement had been triggered, thus making it inappropriate for DHS to award a grant in order to secure the services provided by CRA; and be it further

RESOLVED, That DHS and any other entity having relevant information to this audit cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General's Office in the conduct of this audit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as possible and report findings and recommendations upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.