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92_HJ0033
LRB9208805RHrhA
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act was
3 enacted in 1999 and was scheduled to be implemented on
4 January 1, 2001; and
5 WHEREAS, The Illinois legislature delayed the passage of
6 the act for three years until sufficient safeguards were in
7 place to protect the safety and well-being of the residents;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, The Legislature identified the Department of
10 Public Health as the oversight agency because of its history
11 of regulating community residential establishments; and
12 WHEREAS, The proposed fiscal year 2002 budget assumes
13 privatization of the assisted living inspection and licensure
14 function and fails to fund enforcement including
15 investigators to respond to reports of abuse and neglect; and
16 WHEREAS, It is the intent of the Department of Public
17 Health to require establishments to become accredited by one
18 or more designated accrediting bodies in lieu of licensure;
19 and
20 WHEREAS, The accrediting agencies have indicated that
21 accreditation status is not a dependable indication of
22 compliance with State licensing standards or quality of care;
23 and
24 WHEREAS, The use of accreditation in lieu of licensure
25 effectively shifts the State administrative costs to
26 residents, which has the potential of pricing assisted living
27 out of the reach of many seniors; and
28 WHEREAS, Requiring the residents to underwrite the cost
29 of inspection and investigation of claims of abuse or neglect
30 will have a chilling effect on reporting by seniors and their
-2- LRB9208805RHrhA
1 families; and
2 WHEREAS, The safety and well-being of the residents must
3 be the State's primary concern; therefore, be it
4 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
6 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the State of Illinois
7 reaffirms its intent to operate a strong, aggressive
8 oversight system for assisted living and shared housing
9 establishments; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That the Illinois General Assembly finds that a
11 policy mandating accreditation in lieu of licensure or
12 contracting with an accrediting body to complete surveying
13 functions is not in the best interest of assisted living and
14 shared housing residents; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16 delivered to the Governor of the State of Illinois and the
17 Illinois Department of Public Health.