IL SB0242

Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act to grant home care consumers in the Department of Human Services' Home Services Program the right to select and hire their own personal assistant and determine how many hours per week that provider may work

Prohibits the State from imposing a limit on personal assistant weekly hours that is less than 55 hours per week, subject to the Department's authority to approve total monthly hours in a consumer's service plan

Allows personal assistants to work up to 66 hours per week for consumers who receive services under a court-ordered plan, have a Determination of Need score of 70 or above, or have an exceptional care rate

Requires the Department to establish an exceptions and appeals process allowing consumers to request weekly hour limits up to at least 66 hours, with pre-approval lasting at least one year and after-the-fact approval options for circumstances including delayed provider arrival, sudden loss of provider, or provider illness

Mandates the Department work with consumers facing serious risk of institutionalization to ensure appropriate community care through authorized overtime or other solutions, while preserving Department authority to disqualify providers for reasons unrelated to hours worked