Statutes > Illinois Statutes > CHAPTER 405 MENTAL HEALTH > 405 ILCS 80/ Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. > Article VI - Community Residential Choices Program

Article VI - Community Residential Choices Program


 
    (405 ILCS 80/Art. VI heading)
ARTICLE VI. COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CHOICES PROGRAM
(Source: P.A. 95‑636, eff. 10‑5‑07.)

    (405 ILCS 80/6‑1)
    Sec. 6‑1. Community Residential Choices Program.
    (a) The purpose of this Article is to promote greater compatibility among individuals with developmental disabilities who live together by allowing individuals with developmental disabilities who meet either the emergency or critical need criteria of the Department of Human Services as defined under the Department's developmental disabilities cross‑disability database (as required by Section 10‑26 of the Department of Human Services Act), and who also meet the Department's developmental disabilities priority population criteria for residential services as defined in the Department's developmental disabilities Community Services Agreement and whose parents are over the age of 60, to choose to live together in a community‑based residential program.
    (b) For purposes of this Article:
    "Community‑based residential program" means one of a variety of living arrangements for persons with developmental disabilities, including existing settings such as community‑integrated living arrangements, and may also include newly developed settings that are consistent with this definition.
    "Developmental disability" may include an autism spectrum disorder.
    (c) A person diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder may be assessed for eligibility for services under Home and Community‑Based Services Waivers for persons with developmental disabilities without regard to whether that person is also diagnosed with mental retardation, so long as the person otherwise meets applicable level‑of‑care criteria under those waivers. This provision does not create any new entitlement to a service, program, or benefit, but shall not affect any entitlement to a service, program, or benefit created by any other law.
(Source: P.A. 95‑636, eff. 10‑5‑07.)

    (405 ILCS 80/6‑5)
    Sec. 6‑5. Placements. Commencing with the State fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2007, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall fund residential capacities in geographic locations in the State with the goal of placing no fewer than 80 individuals who meet the emergency or critical need criteria of the Department's developmental disabilities cross‑disabilities database, and who also meet the Department's developmental disabilities priority population criteria for residential services as defined in the Department's developmental disabilities Community Services Agreement and whose parents are over the age of 60, in community‑based residential programs with chosen housemates. Priority in the allocation of funds for this program shall be given to individuals who choose to reside with 3 or fewer individuals.
(Source: P.A. 95‑636, eff. 10‑5‑07.)

    (405 ILCS 80/10‑5)
    Sec. 10‑5. Task force created. A workforce task force for persons with disabilities is created, consisting of 16 members. The task force shall consist of the following members:
        (1) Two members of the Senate, appointed one each by
     the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate.
        (2) Two members of the House of Representatives,
     appointed one each by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
        (3) Three members appointed by the Secretary of
     Human Services or his or her designee, one each representing the Office of Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Rehabilitation Services, and the Office of Mental Health within the Department.
        (4) One member representing the Illinois Council on
     Developmental Disabilities, selected by the Council.
        (5) One member appointed by the Director of Aging or
     his or her designee.
        (6) One member appointed by the Director of
     Employment Security or his or her designee.
        (7) One member appointed by the Director of Commerce
     and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee.
        (8) Two members representing private businesses, one
     of the 2 representing the Business Leaders Network, appointed by the Secretary of Human Services.
        (9) One member representing the Illinois Network of
     Centers for Independent Living, selected by the Network.
        (10) One member representing the Coalition of
     Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois, selected by the Coalition.
        (11) One member representing People First of
     Illinois, selected by that organization.
(Source: P.A. 94‑793, eff. 5‑19‑06.)

    (405 ILCS 80/10‑10)
    Sec. 10‑10. Task force's duties.
    (a) The task force shall review, assess, and develop recommendations and an implementation plan to address the following issues:
        (1) Identification of State‑specific barriers that
     prevent persons with disabilities from enjoying the same employment level as persons without those disabilities.
        (2) Identification of strategies that create parity
     in the unemployment rate between persons with disabilities and persons without those disabilities.
        (3) Identification of issues that impede the
     training, hiring, and retention of personal care assistants to help persons with disabilities remain in their own homes and obtain employment both in and outside their homes.
        (4) Identification of models or strategies that
     foster shared arrangements between persons with disabilities in terms of personal care assistance and shared housing.
    (b) In identifying the issues set forth in subsection (a), especially concerning the retention of personal care assistants and direct care workers for individuals with developmental disabilities, the task force shall employ methods that include a review of other states' practices and experiences in developing financial and non‑financial incentives that would reduce Illinois' high employment turnover rate of personal assistants for persons with disabilities. These incentives may include, but need not be limited to, forgiveness of student loans, implementation of a benefits program, and the offering of community‑college‑level courses.
    (c) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly 6 months after the date that the task force is formed.
(Source: P.A. 92‑303, eff. 8‑9‑01.)

    (405 ILCS 80/10‑15)
    Sec. 10‑15. High school students; transition study.
    (a) The task force shall do the following:
        (1) Conduct a longitudinal study of the outcomes
     that secondary education programs have for students with disabilities after exiting the secondary school environment.
        (2) Identify gaps in services that may exist for
     students with disabilities transitioning out of their secondary education.
        (3) Identify strategies to narrow any gaps in
     services that may exist.
    (b) The task force shall designate the staff who are to conduct the study under subdivision (a)(1).
(Source: P.A. 92‑303, eff. 8‑9‑01.)