Public Act 094-0406
 
HB0595 Enrolled LRB094 07033 RSP 37173 b

    AN ACT in relation to educational materials on hepatitis C
for veterans.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and
Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
amended by changing Section 2310-376 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 2310/2310-376)
    Sec. 2310-376. Hepatitis C education and outreach.
    (a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the
following:
        (1) The World Health Organization characterizes
    Hepatitis C as a disease of primary concern to humanity.
        (2) Hepatitis C is considered a silent killer; no
    recognizable signs or symptoms occur until severe liver
    damage has occurred.
        (3) Studies indicate that nearly 4 million Americans
    (1.8 percent of the population) carry the virus HCV that
    causes the disease.
        (4) 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in the
    United States, and only 25 to 30 percent are diagnosed.
        (5) 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from the disease each
    year.
        (6) 200,000 Illinois residents may be carriers and
    could develop the debilitating and potentially deadly
    liver disease.
        (7) Inmates of correctional facilities have a higher
    incidence of Hepatitis C and, upon their release, present a
    significant health risk to the general population.
        (8) Illinois members of the armed services are subject
    to an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis due to their
    possible receipt of contaminated blood during a
    transfusion occurring for the treatment of wounds and due
    to their service in areas of the World where the disease is
    more prevalent and healthcare is less capable of detecting
    and treating the disease. Many of these service members are
    unaware of the danger of Hepatitis and their increased risk
    of contracting the disease.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall conduct
an education and outreach campaign, in addition to its overall
effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois, in order to
raise awareness about and promote prevention of Hepatitis C.
    (c) Subject to appropriation, in addition to the education
and outreach campaign provided in subsection (b), the
Department shall develop and make available to physicians,
other health care providers, members of the armed services, and
other persons subject to an increased risk of contracting
Hepatitis, educational materials, in written and electronic
forms, on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the
disease. These materials shall include the recommendations of
the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and any
other persons or entities determined by the Department to have
particular expertise on Hepatitis, including the American
Liver Foundation. These materials shall be written in terms
that are understandable by members of the general public.
    (d) The Department shall establish an Advisory Council on
Hepatitis to develop a Hepatitis prevention plan. The
Department shall specify the membership, members' terms,
provisions for removal of members, chairmen, and purpose of the
Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall consist of one
representative from each of the following State agencies or
offices, appointed by the head of each agency or office:
        (1) The Department of Public Health.
        (2) The Department of Public Aid.
        (3) The Department of Corrections.
        (4) The Department of Veterans' Affairs.
        (5) The Department on Aging.
        (6) The Department of Human Services.
        (7) The Department of State Police.
        (8) The office of the State Fire Marshal.
    The Director shall appoint representatives of
organizations and advocates in the State of Illinois,
including, but not limited to, the American Liver Foundation.
The Director shall also appoint interested members of the
public, including consumers and providers of health services
and representatives of local public health agencies, to provide
recommendations and information to the members of the Advisory
Council. Members of the Advisory Council shall serve on a
voluntary, unpaid basis and are not entitled to reimbursement
for mileage or other costs they incur in connection with
performing their duties.
(Source: P.A. 93-129, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.