The 95th Illinois General Assembly
Prepared by Patty Riplinger, IDA Legislative Consultant
The 2007 session of the 95th General Assembly continues to meet in September, quickly approaching a record overtime of four months past the scheduled adjournment date of May 31st. Controversy and distrust have been the hallmarks of this legislative session which has resulted in 16 Special Sessions and continual stalemates between the Governor and the legislative leaders of both parties. The battle over the state budget continues and major issues confronting lawmakers remain unsolved including a solution to the transit crisis in Northern Illinois and approval of a capitol plan, both requiring a sustainable revenue source. The Governor continues to push for his universal health care plan which was not approved by the Legislature this year and, to that end, has vetoed approximately $463 million from the $59 billion state spending plan that was sent to him in August. The General Assembly will address these line-item and reduction vetoes of primarily member projects when they convene for the fall veto session on October 2-4 and October 10-12.
Throughout the spring session, the Illinois Dietetic Association tracked approximately 80 legislative proposals which addressed topics relating to ethanol research, eating disorders, trans fat disclosure, school breakfasts, diabetes initiatives, and school health centers to name a few. Members of IDA who attended Lobby Day on April 19th urged lawmakers to favorably consider legislation supported by the Association including the Care of Students with Diabetes Act (HB 146), Coverage for Eating Disorders (HB 1432), Illinois Food, Farms and Jobs Act (HB 1300), Hunger Relief Tax Check-off (SB 1267), Summer School Food Service Programs (HB 1964) and Diabetes Initiative Act (SB 654).
In addition to substantive legislation, IDA members asked lawmakers to support an increased level of funding in FY 08 for the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). Although there is significant support in the Legislature for agricultural related initiatives including research funding, the final version of the budget encompassed in HB 3866 included an appropriation of $4.41 million for C-FAR which is slightly below the FY07 level of $4.5 million.
Bill Summaries
Following is a brief summary of legislation approved by the General Assembly during the 2007 spring session and signed into law by Governor Blagojevich:
HB 570 (Watson/Delgado) Public Act 95-0068 – Allows the Department on Aging to establish a program to ensure the availability of congregate or home-delivered meals to seniors living in communities with a population under 5,000. The program is subject to appropriation and would apply to small communities located in counties other than Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake or Will. The legislation specifically prohibits funds from this program being used to replace funds currently allocated to a given area or program.
HB 1300 (Hamos/Collins, J) Public Act 95-0145 - Creates the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force which will assist in efforts to support and expand a local and organic food system within the state. The Task Force must submit a detailed plan to the General Assembly by September 30, 2008 which outlines policy and funding recommendations to increase the production of locally grown and organic foods.
HB 1964 (Berrios/Martinez) Public Act 95-0155 – Requires a school district to develop a plan by February 15, 2008 for a summer food service program (breakfast, lunch or both) in each school that has a summer school program and in which at least half of the students are eligible for free or reduced price meals. According to the legislation, the district’s plan must be implemented during the summer of 2008. School districts would be allowed to opt out of the requirement if the expense reimbursement would not fully cover the costs of operating the summer food service program.
SB 547 (Delgado/Coulson) Public Act 95-0418 – Provides for the creation of a Health Data Task Force to assist in the creation of a system which will ensure public access to integrated health data. The bill provides that it is the policy of the State that health data be used “to understand and report on the scope of health problems, plan prevention programs, and evaluate program effectiveness at the State and community level” with priority given to addressing racial, ethnic and other health disparities. The Task Force, comprised of Directors of various state agencies or their designees, is required to submit a plan to the General Assembly by July 1, 2008 and report annually on its progress through 2011.
SB 654 (Hunter/Davis) Public Act 95-0419 – Mandates the Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop a strategic plan to slow the rate of diabetes by 2010. The Department must work in collaboration with the Illinois State Diabetes Commission and may convene work groups comprised of health care professionals, researchers, educators and representatives of community-based organizations involved with diabetes. In an attempt to compel the Secretary of DHS to appoint members to the Commission, language was included to require appointments to be made within one year after the effective date of the legislation (8-24-07). IDA also recommended that Commission membership include a Diabetes Professional with CDE or Advanced Practice Level credentials.
SB 935 (Link/Ryg) Public Act 95-0520 – Requires insurance plans and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Public Aid) to provide coverage for amino acid-based elemental formulas, regardless of the delivery method, for the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic disorders and short bowel syndrome. The prescribing physician must issue a written order stating that the formula is medically necessary.
SB 1566 (Righter/Osmond) Awaiting Governor’s Action
The Governor has not yet acted on legislation sent to him on September 6th that requires the Department of Public Health to create a Genetic and Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee to advise the Department on issues relating to newborn screening of metabolic diseases. The 20 member committee will be appointed by the Director of Public Health and will include nutritionists as well as physicians, nurses, geneticists, and other allied health professionals. The bill also states that the goal of the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act (formerly the Phenylketonuria Testing Act) is to provide all newborns with expanded screening for certain Lysosomal Storage Disorders within 3 years.
Anyone interested in the status or a copy of a particular bill or Public Act can visit www.ilga.gov.
top |
