State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_SB1135

 
                                               LRB9105933ACtm

 1        AN ACT to amend the Abused and Neglected Long  Term  Care
 2    Facility Residents Reporting Act.

 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section 5.  The  Abused  and  Neglected  Long  Term  Care
 6    Facility  Residents  Reporting  Act  is  amended  by changing
 7    Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, and 6.8 as follows:

 8        (210 ILCS 30/6.2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4166.2)
 9        (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2000)
10        Sec. 6.2.  Inspector General.
11        (a)  The Governor shall appoint,  and  the  Senate  shall
12    confirm,  an  Inspector General who shall function within the
13    Department of Human Services and report to the  Secretary  of
14    Human Services and the Governor.  The Inspector General shall
15    investigate  reports  of suspected abuse or neglect (as those
16    terms are defined in Section 3 of this Act)  of  patients  or
17    residents  in any mental health or developmental disabilities
18    facility operated by the Department  of  Human  Services  and
19    shall have authority to investigate and take immediate action
20    on  reports  of  abuse  or  neglect  of  recipients,  whether
21    patients  or residents, in any mental health or developmental
22    disabilities  facility  or  program  that  is   licensed   or
23    certified  by  the Department of Human Services (as successor
24    to  the  Department  of  Mental  Health   and   Developmental
25    Disabilities)  or  that  is funded by the Department of Human
26    Services (as successor to the Department of Mental Health and
27    Developmental Disabilities) and is not licensed or  certified
28    by any agency of the State.  At the specific, written request
29    of  an agency of the State other than the Department of Human
30    Services (as successor to the Department of Mental Health and
31    Developmental  Disabilities),  the  Inspector   General   may
 
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 1    cooperate  in  investigating  reports of abuse and neglect of
 2    persons with mental illness  or  persons  with  developmental
 3    disabilities.    The   Inspector   General   shall   have  no
 4    supervision over or  involvement  in  routine,  programmatic,
 5    licensure,  or  certification operations of the Department of
 6    Human Services or any of its funded agencies.
 7        The Inspector General shall promulgate rules establishing
 8    minimum requirements for reporting allegations of  abuse  and
 9    neglect    and   initiating,   conducting,   and   completing
10    investigations.  The  promulgated  rules  shall  clearly  set
11    forth  that in instances where 2 or more State agencies could
12    investigate an allegation of abuse or neglect, the  Inspector
13    General  shall not conduct an investigation that is redundant
14    to an investigation conducted by another State agency.    The
15    rules  shall  establish  criteria for determining, based upon
16    the nature of  the  allegation,  the  appropriate  method  of
17    investigation, which may include, but need not be limited to,
18    site  visits,  telephone  contacts,  or  requests for written
19    responses from agencies.  The rules shall  also  clarify  how
20    the  Office  of the Inspector General shall interact with the
21    licensing  unit  of  the  Department  of  Human  Services  in
22    investigations of  allegations  of  abuse  or  neglect.   Any
23    allegations  or  investigations  of  reports made pursuant to
24    this Act shall remain confidential until a  final  report  is
25    completed.  The  resident or patient who allegedly was abused
26    or neglected and his or her legal guardian shall be  informed
27    by  the  facility or agency of the report of alleged abuse or
28    neglect. Final reports regarding unsubstantiated or unfounded
29    allegations shall  remain  confidential,  except  that  final
30    reports may be disclosed pursuant to Section 6 of this Act.
31        The  Inspector General shall be appointed for a term of 4
32    years.
33        (b)  The Inspector General shall within  24  hours  after
34    receiving  a  report  of suspected abuse or neglect determine
 
                            -3-                LRB9105933ACtm
 1    whether the evidence indicates that any possible criminal act
 2    has been committed. If he determines that a possible criminal
 3    act has been committed, or that special expertise is required
 4    in  the  investigation,  he  shall  immediately  notify   the
 5    Department  of  State Police.  The Department of State Police
 6    shall investigate any report indicating  a  possible  murder,
 7    rape,  or  other  felony. All investigations conducted by the
 8    Inspector General shall be conducted in a manner designed  to
 9    ensure  the  preservation  of  evidence for possible use in a
10    criminal prosecution.
11        (b-5)  The Inspector General shall make  a  determination
12    to accept or reject a preliminary report of the investigation
13    of   alleged   abuse   or   neglect   based   on  established
14    investigative procedures.  The facility or agency may request
15    clarification  or   reconsideration   based   on   additional
16    information.   For  cases  where  the  allegation of abuse or
17    neglect is substantiated, the Inspector General shall require
18    the facility or agency to submit  a  written  response.   The
19    written response from a facility or agency shall address in a
20    concise  and  reasoned  manner the actions that the agency or
21    facility will take or has taken to protect  the  resident  or
22    patient  from  abuse  or  neglect, prevent reoccurrences, and
23    eliminate   problems    identified    and    shall    include
24    implementation and completion dates for all such action.
25        (c)  The Inspector General shall, within 10 calendar days
26    after the transmittal date of a completed investigation where
27    abuse or neglect is substantiated or administrative action is
28    recommended,  provide  a  complete  report on the case to the
29    Secretary of Human Services and to the agency  in  which  the
30    abuse  or  neglect  is alleged to have happened. The complete
31    report shall include a written response from  the  agency  or
32    facility  operated by the State to the Inspector General that
33    addresses in a concise and reasoned manner the  actions  that
34    the  agency or facility will take or has taken to protect the
 
                            -4-                LRB9105933ACtm
 1    resident  or  patient  from   abuse   or   neglect,   prevent
 2    reoccurrences,  and  eliminate  problems identified and shall
 3    include implementation and  completion  dates  for  all  such
 4    action.   The  Secretary  of  Human  Services shall accept or
 5    reject the  response and establish how  the  Department  will
 6    determine  whether  the  facility  or  program  followed  the
 7    approved  response.   The  Secretary  may  require Department
 8    personnel to visit  the  facility  or  agency  for  training,
 9    technical    assistance,    programmatic,    licensure,    or
10    certification  purposes.   Administrative  action,  including
11    sanctions,  may  be  applied  should the Secretary reject the
12    response or should the facility or agency fail to follow  the
13    approved  response.   The facility or agency shall inform the
14    resident or  patient  and  the  legal  guardian  whether  the
15    reported  allegation  was  substantiated, unsubstantiated, or
16    unfounded.  There shall be an appeals process for any  person
17    or   agency  that  is  subject  to  any  action  based  on  a
18    recommendation or recommendations.
19        (d)  The  Inspector  General   may   recommend   to   the
20    Departments  of Public Health and Human Services sanctions to
21    be  imposed   against   mental   health   and   developmental
22    disabilities   facilities   under  the  jurisdiction  of  the
23    Department of Human Services for the protection of residents,
24    including  appointment  of  on-site  monitors  or  receivers,
25    transfer or relocation of residents, and  closure  of  units.
26    The Inspector General may seek the assistance of the Attorney
27    General  or  any of the several State's attorneys in imposing
28    such sanctions.
29        (e)  The Inspector General shall  establish  and  conduct
30    periodic   training   programs   for   Department   employees
31    concerning the prevention and reporting of neglect and abuse.
32        (f)  The  Inspector General shall at all times be granted
33    access to any mental  health  or  developmental  disabilities
34    facility  operated  by  the  Department,  shall establish and
 
                            -5-                LRB9105933ACtm
 1    conduct unannounced site visits to those facilities at  least
 2    once  annually,  and shall be granted access, for the purpose
 3    of investigating  a  report  of  abuse  or  neglect,  to  any
 4    facility  or program funded by the Department that is subject
 5    under the provisions of this Section to investigation by  the
 6    Inspector General for a report of abuse or neglect.
 7        (g)  Nothing  in  this Section shall limit investigations
 8    by the Department of Human Services  that  may  otherwise  be
 9    required by law or that may be necessary in that Department's
10    capacity  as the central administrative authority responsible
11    for the operation of State mental  health  and  developmental
12    disability facilities.
13        (h)  This Section is repealed on January 1, 2000.
14    (Source: P.A.  89-427,  eff.  12-7-95;  89-507,  eff. 7-1-97;
15    90-252, eff. 7-29-97;  90-512,  eff.  8-22-97;  90-655,  eff.
16    7-30-98.)

17        (210 ILCS 30/6.3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4166.3)
18        (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2000)
19        Sec.  6.3.  Quality Care Board.  There is created, within
20    the Department of Human Services'  Office  of  the  Inspector
21    General,  a  Quality  Care  Board to be composed of 7 members
22    appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of  the
23    Senate.   One  of the members shall be designated as chairman
24    by the Governor.  Of the initial  appointments  made  by  the
25    Governor,  4 Board members shall each be appointed for a term
26    of 4 years and 3 members shall each be appointed for  a  term
27    of  2  years.   Upon  the expiration of each member's term, a
28    successor shall be appointed for a term of 4 years.   In  the
29    case  of  a vacancy in the office of any member, the Governor
30    shall appoint a successor for the remainder of the  unexpired
31    term.
32        Members  appointed  by the Governor shall be qualified by
33    professional knowledge or experience  in  the  area  of  law,
 
                            -6-                LRB9105933ACtm
 1    investigatory  techniques,  or  in  the  area  of care of the
 2    mentally  ill  or  developmentally  disabled.   Two   members
 3    appointed  by the Governor shall be persons with a disability
 4    or a parent of a person with  a  disability.   Members  shall
 5    serve  without  compensation,  but  shall  be  reimbursed for
 6    expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their
 7    duties as members.
 8        The Board  shall  meet  quarterly,  and  may  hold  other
 9    meetings  on  the  call  of the chairman.  Four members shall
10    constitute  a  quorum.   The  Board  may  adopt   rules   and
11    regulations it deems necessary to govern its own procedures.
12        This Section is repealed on January 1, 2000.
13    (Source: P.A. 89-427, eff. 12-7-95; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

14        (210 ILCS 30/6.4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4166.4)
15        (This  Section  is  scheduled  to  be repealed January 1,
16    2000.)
17        Sec. 6.4.  Scope and function of the Quality Care  Board.
18    The Board shall monitor and oversee the operations, policies,
19    and  procedures of the Inspector General to assure the prompt
20    and thorough investigation  of  allegations  of  neglect  and
21    abuse.   In  fulfilling these responsibilities, the Board may
22    do the following:
23             (1)  Provide independent, expert consultation to the
24        Inspector  General  on   policies   and   protocols   for
25        investigations of alleged neglect and abuse.
26             (2)  Review  existing  regulations  relating  to the
27        operation  of  facilities  under  the  control   of   the
28        Department.
29             (3)  Advise  the Inspector General as to the content
30        of training activities authorized under Section 6.2.
31             (4)  Recommend  policies  concerning   methods   for
32        improving the intergovernmental relationships between the
33        office  of  the  Inspector  General  and  other  State or
 
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 1        federal agencies.
 2        This Section is repealed on January 1, 2000.
 3    (Source: P.A. 89-427, eff. 12-7-95.)

 4        (210 ILCS 30/6.5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4166.5)
 5        (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2000)
 6        Sec.  6.5.  Investigators.   Within  60  days  after  the
 7    effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992, the  Inspector
 8    General  shall  establish  a  comprehensive program to ensure
 9    that  every  person  employed  or  newly  hired  to   conduct
10    investigations  shall  receive  training on an on-going basis
11    concerning investigative  techniques,  communication  skills,
12    and the appropriate means of contact with persons admitted or
13    committed  to the mental health or developmental disabilities
14    facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of  Human
15    Services.
16        This Section is repealed on January 1, 2000.
17    (Source: P.A. 89-427, eff. 12-7-95; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

18        (210 ILCS 30/6.6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4166.6)
19        (This  Section  is  scheduled  to  be repealed January 1,
20    2000.)
21        Sec. 6.6.  Subpoenas; testimony; penalty.  The  Inspector
22    General shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and compel
23    the   production   of   books  and  papers  pertinent  to  an
24    investigation authorized by this Act, provided that the power
25    to subpoena or to compel the production of books  and  papers
26    shall  not  extend  to  the  person  or  documents of a labor
27    organization or its representatives insofar as the person  or
28    documents  of  a labor organization relate to the function of
29    representing an employee subject to investigation under  this
30    Act.  Mental health records of patients shall be confidential
31    as   provided  under  the  Mental  Health  and  Developmental
32    Disabilities Confidentiality Act.  Any person  who  fails  to
 
                            -8-                LRB9105933ACtm
 1    appear in response to a subpoena or to answer any question or
 2    produce  any  books  or  papers pertinent to an investigation
 3    under this Act, except as otherwise provided in this Section,
 4    or who knowingly gives false  testimony  in  relation  to  an
 5    investigation   under  this  Act  is  guilty  of  a  Class  A
 6    misdemeanor.
 7        This Section is repealed on January 1, 2000.
 8    (Source: P.A. 89-427, eff. 12-7-95.)

 9        (210 ILCS 30/6.7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4166.7)
10        (This Section is scheduled  to  be  repealed  January  1,
11    2000.)
12        Sec.  6.7.  Annual  report.   The Inspector General shall
13    provide to the General Assembly and the  Governor,  no  later
14    than  January  1  of  each  year,  a  summary  of reports and
15    investigations made under this Act for the prior fiscal  year
16    with   respect   to   residents  of  institutions  under  the
17    jurisdiction of the Department.  The report shall detail  the
18    imposition  of  sanctions  and the final disposition of those
19    recommendations.   The  summaries  shall  not   contain   any
20    confidential   or   identifying  information  concerning  the
21    subjects of the reports and investigations.  The report shall
22    also include a trend  analysis  of  the  number  of  reported
23    allegations  and  their  disposition,  for  each facility and
24    Department-wide, for the most recent 3-year time period and a
25    statement, for  each  facility,  of  the  staffing-to-patient
26    ratios.   The  ratios shall include only the number of direct
27    care  staff.   The  report  shall   also   include   detailed
28    recommended    administrative   actions   and   matters   for
29    consideration by the General Assembly.
30        This Section is repealed on July 1, 2000.
31    (Source: P.A. 89-427, eff. 12-7-95.)

32        (210 ILCS 30/6.8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4166.8)
 
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 1        (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2000)
 2        Sec. 6.8.  Program  audit.   The  Auditor  General  shall
 3    conduct  a  biennial  program  audit  of  the  office  of the
 4    Inspector General in  relation  to  the  Inspector  General's
 5    compliance  with  this  Act.   The  audit  shall specifically
 6    include   the   Inspector    General's    effectiveness    in
 7    investigating   reports   of  alleged  neglect  or  abuse  of
 8    residents in any facility operated by the Department  and  in
 9    making  recommendations  for  sanctions to the Departments of
10    Human Services and Public Health.  The Auditor General  shall
11    conduct  the program audit according to the provisions of the
12    Illinois State Auditing Act and shall report its findings  to
13    the  General  Assembly  no  later  than  January  1  of  each
14    odd-numbered year.
15        This Section is repealed on January 1, 2000.
16    (Source: P.A. 89-427, eff. 12-7-95; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

17        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
18    becoming law.

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