We need your help in contacting your state representatives to Oppose HB4180.
It has been assigned to the House Human Services Committee and your legislator is a member of this committee. If the bill is called for a vote and passes out of committee, it then moves on to the full House Chamber and further in the legislative process. We have several concerns with this bill.
- It would amend the Life Care Facilities Act, stating that residents are entitled to be represented by at least one resident voting member on the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the community.
- It would require a provider with more than one facility in the state to have a resident on each facility's governing body.
- In the bill, a resident has the right to self-organization.
- The bill prohibits reprisal by a provider in response to these activities.
- It further requires a provider's board of directors or equivalent governing body to hold quarterly meetings to discuss specified subjects and consult and discuss with a facility's residents or the representatives of a facility's residents any proposed action that might significantly affect the well-being of the facility's residents or the financial stability of the facility before taking the proposed action.
- The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) would be responsible for ensuring providers comply with the requirements by instituting a penalty for noncompliance.
- If passed, the requirements would be effective immediately.
In consulting with the life plan communities in Illinois, there is consensus that this legislation would be burdensome and ineffective in representing all of the communities residents interests.
We ask that you join your fellow members in this advocacy effort to oppose this legislation as it does not serve the best interests of residents and the community as a whole.
Please forward this message to your staff and board members so that they can take part in this advocacy effort as well.
Thank you for your advocacy and leadership.
