SB 3707

Abstract

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the amendatory Act applies to any person who is employed by the Department on Aging, or is contracted with the Department, to provide direct services to individuals enrolled in the Community Care Program. Requires dementia training of at least 2 hours to be completed at the start of employment with the Department or contractor. Provides that persons who are employees of the Department or a contractor on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall complete this training within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the training to cover the following subjects: Alzheimer's disease and dementia, safety risks, and communication and behavior. Requires annual continuing education training to include at least 2 hours of dementia training covering those subjects. Provides that if laws or rules existing on the effective date of the amendatory Act contain more rigorous training requirements for employees or contractors providing direct services to Community Care Program enrollees, those laws or rules shall apply. Provides that where there is overlap between the provisions of the amendatory Act and other laws and rules, the Department shall interpret the provisions of the amendatory Act to avoid duplication of requirements while ensuring that the minimum requirements set in the amendatory Act are met. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that the amendatory Act applies to any person who is employed by the Department on Aging, or by an agency that is contracted with the Department, to provide direct services to individuals participating in the Community Care Program (rather than the amendatory Act applies to any person who is employed by the Department, or is contracted with the Department, to provide direct services to individuals enrolled in the Community Care Program). Provides that the amendatory Act is designed to improve the quality of training for Community Care Program direct service workers (rather than to address gaps in current dementia training requirements for Community Care Program direct service workers and improve the quality of training). Provides that an individual who is required to receive dementia training under other laws and rules may be considered exempt, as long as the requirement includes a minimum 2 hours of dementia training. Provides that an individual shall be required to show proof he or she received the training required under the amendatory Act. Removes language providing that where there is overlap between the amendatory Act and other laws and rules, the Department shall interpret the amendatory Act to avoid duplication of requirements while ensuring that the minimum requirements set in the amendatory Act are met.