IL HB6836

Creates the Community Services to the Severely Mentally Ill Care Act and establishes a new Division of Community Services to the Severely Mentally Ill within the Department of Public Health to regulate community-based mental health organizations serving severely mentally ill individuals.

Department of Human Services continues to accredit, certify, and license agencies while the Department of Public Health establishes administrative rules for operation and procedures substantially similar to Nursing Home Care Act requirements.

Establishes Type A and Type B violations with corresponding penalties for agencies that fail to comply with administrative rules, with Type A violations presenting substantial probability of death or serious harm and Type B violations directly threatening health, safety, or welfare.

Requires agencies to comply with pre-admission screening, criminal history analysis, and offender notification requirements identical to those in the Nursing Home Care Act.

Creates a pilot program in Cook County to track services, service changes, and costs for at least 1,000 severely mentally ill clients, with results to be reported to the General Assembly by March 1, 2012; participation is voluntary and individual identities are protected.