SB3511 Summary

• Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging to establish wage increases for homemaker service providers in the Community Care Program, with rates increasing to $19.89/hour on July 1, 2018, $21.49/hour on July 1, 2019, $23.09/hour on July 1, 2020, and $24.69/hour on July 1, 2021, with each increase intended to raise employee wages by at least $1 per hour.

• Prohibits reduction of fringe benefits including paid time off, training payments, health insurance, travel, and transportation in relation to the wage rate increases.

• Establishes an enhanced rate of $1.77 per hour (adjustable through actuarial analysis) for in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage to their direct service workers.

• Enhances the Community Care Program effectiveness through various reforms including evening and weekend service availability, participant choice in services, accuracy improvements to assessment tools, and federal compliance measures including enrollment in Medicaid and the Balance Incentive Payment Program.

• Creates a Community Care Program Advisory Committee to advise the Department on service delivery, with representatives from providers, advocacy groups, unions, area agencies on aging, and older adults.