HB 3949

Abstract

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Defines "homeless service provider" to mean a person or entity who provides services to homeless persons under any of the programs of or identified by the Department of Human Services. Requires the Department of Public Health to consider all homeless service providers in the State to be essential critical infrastructure workers under specified guidance from the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Provides that the Department shall ensure that homeless service providers qualify for the same priority benefits afforded to health care organizations and frontline workers by the State, including federal COVID-19 relief funding, personal protective equipment, and vaccinations. Provides for repeal of the provisions on January 1, 2023. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes language providing for repeal of the provisions on January 1, 2023. Provides that the Department of Public Health may adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the provisions and to ensure that homeless service providers are considered essential critical infrastructure workers in the event of a pandemic. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that the Department of Public Health shall ensure that homeless service providers qualify for the same priority benefits afforded to frontline workers (rather than health care organizations and frontline workers) by the State. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-431 new Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-434 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Adds a statement of purpose. Requires the Department of Public Health to consider all homeless service providers in the State to be essential critical infrastructure workers in accordance with the most recent guidance from the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (rather than under the Agency's "Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers Guidance Version 4.0"). Provides that during a federally-designated public health emergency or a public health disaster declared by a proclamation issued by the Governor under specified provisions of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the Department and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall offer recommendations to their local counterparts encouraging them to consider homeless service providers when making determinations about providing assistance.