Tuesday, May 14, 2024
With a growing population of older adults, policymakers and advocates need to recognize the importance of comprehensive measures to address aging challenges. We all have a role to play in creating policies and supports that make aging in the community easier.
Send an action alert!
There are currently 3 legislative issues that need our immediate attention! Send a letter to all 3 action alerts now.
- Support Older Adults and Caregivers: Advocate for Increased Funding
- Send a letter now to your state representatives via our action alert to ask them to support Senate Bill 3919. This bill increases funding by $1M (for a total of $6 M) to support service and resource expansion for family caregivers
- Support Older Adults in the Federal FY25 Budget
- Send a letter to your federal representatives requesting $2.084 billion in funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III programs in FY25.
- Please ask Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act
- Help us tell Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act because these valuable local programs provide older adults with in-home services, meals, transportation, caregiver support, health and wellness programs, and other essential services that help them maintain their health and independence.
Other Aging Legislation to Watch
Next, let’s delve into some of the key legislative initiatives currently being considered in Illinois.
Illinois Senate Legislation:
- Family Caregiver Services- Appropriations (SB3919)
- Appropriates $1 M in additional general revenue funds to bring the total to $6,000,000 to the Department on Aging for distribution to the Illinois Area Agencies on Aging to provide services as described under the Family Caregiver Act and in accordance with Part E of Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
- Nursing Facility- Residency (SB3723)
- Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. These changes would strengthen the rights of residents in all nursing homes as well as assisted living and shared housing establishments as they relate to transfers and discharges.
- Medicaid Expansion Task Force (SB2655)
- Creates the Medicaid Expansion of Network Providers for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Task Force Act. Establishes the Medicaid Expansion of Network Providers for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Task Force to develop and propose policies to increase the State’s Medicaid provider networks to give Medicaid clients more provider choice for their health care needs.
- Senior Property Tax Freeze (SB2673)
- Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2024 and thereafter, the maximum income limitation for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is $75,000 for all qualified property.
- Senior Financial Exploitation (SB3804)
- Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Expands the list of mandated reporters under the Act to include broker-dealers and officers and employees of financial institutions.
Illinois House Legislation:
- Family Caregiver Services- Appropriations (House Version of SB3919)
- Appropriates $6,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for distribution to Area Agencies on Aging to provide services as allowed under the Family Caregiver Act and pursuant to Title III E of the Older Americans Act.
- Nursing Home Care- Disclosure (HB2843)
- Enhances nursing home care; nursing home accountability; and improved quality of life for Illinois nursing home residents.
- Income Tax- Caregiver Credit (HB4676)
- Establishes family caregiver income tax credit to support unpaid caregivers as they support their loved ones.
- Long Term Ombudsman (HB4249)
- In a provision requiring a long-term care facility to permit the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman to examine and copy a resident’s clinical and other records, includes access to facility incident reports. In the definition of “access”, changes “express written consent” to “express consent”.
