IL HR0194

Illinois ranks 47th among states for spending on community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), with inadequate reimbursement rates forcing many Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to rely on public assistance despite working full-time

The DSP workforce experiences a 54.5% turnover rate and 13.7% vacancy rate in Illinois, well above national averages; the workforce is 86% women and 59% people of color

Illinois has been under the Ligas Consent Decree since 2011 requiring increased funding for I/DD services, and was found out of compliance by a federal court in 2017

The Guidehouse Rate Study recommends a $329 million General Revenue Fund investment in FY22 across seven priority areas to maintain a sustainable system; the Governor's FY22 budget included only $77 million to partially fund four of the seven priorities

The resolution urges the State to fully fund the Guidehouse rate study recommendations in FY22 to achieve compliance with the Ligas Consent Decree and keep pace with minimum wage increases