2007 Legislative Agenda

Support People with Autism Directly

1. HB 2041: FUNDING to families! (Rep. Feigenholtz)
Fund Families First Campaign

• Expand funding for home/community services by $52 million
• Directly support individuals with autism/DD’s by giving them choices
• Keep our loved ones at home and in the community
• Cost-effective: federal matching dollars, costs 90% less than institutions
• Serve 3,126 new people on the waiting list
• Serve 2,007 children in 2007 — HIGHEST PRIORITY of the Autism Task Force
• TOP PRIORITY OF THE AUTISM COMMUNITY

STATUS: Pending before House Human Serivces Appropriations Committee (63 co-sponsors so far)

2. SB 51: Autism defined as a DD (Sen. Garrett, Rep. Schock)

• Allow individuals with autism onto developmental disability (DD) services waiting list
• Eliminate IQ threshold in determining disability

STATUS: Passed Senate 58-0 on April 25; passed House 115-0 on May 22 — now goes to Governor

Protect People with Autism

3. SB 1245: Increase safety at facilities (Sen. Link, Rep. Ryg)

• Requires DHS (Department of Homeland Security) to increase inspections of state facilities that care for those with autism and other DD’s, and require DHS to study and report on increasing the use of cameras and video recording to identify and prevent abuse and neglect.

STATUS: Passed Senate 56-0 on March 30; passed House Disability Services Committe8-0 on May 23 — now goes to House floor

4. HB 3454: Police training (Rep. Bellock, Sen. Millner)

• Requires autism instruction as part of training for probationary officers

STATUS: Passed Senate 55-0 on May 18; passed House 104-0 on March 22 — now goes to Governor

Improve Autism Education

5. SB 79: Improve IEPs (Sen. Garrett, Rep. Bellock)

• Requires IEP (individualized education program) teams to discuss aspects of autism
• Reduce litigation, improve outcomes

STATUS: Passed Senate 57-0 on March 22; passed House 115-0 on May 22 — now goes to Governor

6. HB 383: Fund teacher training program (Rep. Flowers)

• Would increase ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) funding for teacher training

STATUS: Pending before House Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations Committee

7. HB 1825: Study use of vouchers (Rep. Winters)

• Requires ISBE to study use of autism scholarships to provide additional choices

STATUS: Second Reading in House

Other Bills We Support

8. HB 2808: Autism license plates (Rep. Bellock, Sen. Delgado)

• Allows purchase of awareness plates to fund research

STATUS: Passed House 115-1 on April 27; passed Senate 56-3 on May 22 — now goes to Governor

9. HB 191: DCFS and autism (Rep. Flowers)

• Requires DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services) to provide family preservation services for children with autism

STATUS: Second Reading in House

10. SB 133: Thimerosal-free vaccines (Sen. Garrett, Rep. Granberg)

• Eliminates loophole that allows continued use of mercury additive in flu shots

STATUS: Passed Senate 54-0 on May 18 — now in House Human Services Committee

11. HB 1535: Adults with autism (Rep. Mulligan, Sen. Pankau)

• Requires DHS to research possible funding streams for the development and implementation of services for adults with autism spectrum disorders without mental retardation

STATUS: Passed House 116-0 on March 27; passed Senate 56-0 on May 16 — now goes to Governor

12. SB 765: Olmstead implementation (Sen. Crotty, Rep. Ryg)

• Promotes civil rights of persons with disabilities by increasing the use of home and community-based services

STATUS: Passed Senate 56-0 on May 8; passed Disability Services Committee 8-0 on May 23 — now goes to full House

13. HB 817: Special ed until 22nd Birthday (Rep. Coulson, Sen. Demuzio)

• Continues special education until the day before the child turns 22

STATUS: Passed House 111-0 on March 8; passed Senate 56-0 on May 16 — now goes to Governor

14. SB 381: CILAs of 4 or less (Sen. Garrett, Rep. Hannig)

• Provides incentives for adult CILA (Community Integrated Living Arrangement) providers to have 4 or fewer residents with private rooms

STATUS: Passed Senate 58-0 on March 29 — in House Executive Committee

15. SB 581: Community Residential Choices (Sen. Wilhelmi, Rep. Golar)

• Provides for a Community Residential Choices Program to allow a person with a developmental disability to participate in a community-based residential program where he or she is grouped in a home with no more than 3 roommates, each of whom has a developmental disability, whose disabilities, service needs, ages and gender are compatible.
• Adds 80 non-crisis placements per year

STATUS: Passed Senate 57-0 on March 29 — in House Executive Committee

 

Our legislative efforts strive to fulfill the mission of The Autism Society of Illinois in supporting its 5000+ members and the thousands more families in Illinois affected by autism, which is to promote lifelong access and opportunities for people with autism and their families in order that they may be fully included, participating members of their communities.

We believe that the best way to provide for the wide differences among persons with autism across their lifespan is to provide them and their families with real choices and control over how and where state funding should be spent.

Christopher M. Kennedy
Legislative Director
847-219-6646

Updated May 18, 2007