The Appropriations—Human Services Committee which I chair has approved a series of budget bills which set out spending which prioritizes resources for families and communities around the state. Our priorities include increasing support for childcare, community mental health and substance abuse providers, supportive housing, efforts to support the work of the Heroin Task Force to reduce the heroin epidemic spreading across Illinois, HIV/AIDS prevention and education efforts, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis protection, services for foster families, family preservation, adoption and guardianship, and immigrant and refugee health.
Here are some of the key increases for FY 2015. These items are dependent on legislation to maintain current state revenues, and on passage of a supplemental appropriation of FY14 revenues that have exceeded projections:
Supporting Children and Families
- Maternal/Child Healthcare $2,000,000
- DCFS Family Preservation $5,000,000
- Foster Homes and Specialized Foster Care $1,956,900
- Adoption and Guardianship Services $1,000,000
- Prevention of Childrens’ Psychiatric Lockouts$7,000,000
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health $7,000,000
- Autism Respite Care $ 500,000
- Youth Programs and After School Activities $10,000,000
- Foster Family Rate Increase
- Childcare Provider Rate Increase
Building Community, Prevention and Safety
- Mental Health Supportive Housing $2,905,000
- Community Mental Health $11,558,700
- Addiction Treatment $5,923,800
- Rape Victims Crisis Counseling and Support $ 350,000
- Homeless Youth Services $2,000,000
- Domestic Violence Shelters $ 750,000
- Homelessness Prevention $1,000,000
- Supportive Housing Services $3,359,600
- Sexual Assault Services and Prevention $ 500,000
- Food Depositories and Distribution $1,000,000
- Veterans Homes Upgrades and Services $1,000,000
- HIV/AIDS Education, Prevention and Services$2,150,000
- Mobile Asthma Care $ 500,000
- Immigrant/Refugee Hepatitis Prevention $1,000,000
- Opioid Dependence/Heroin Task Force $1,500,000
- Increasing the Personal Needs Allowance for CILA and ICF/DD Residents
- Asylee and Refugee Assistance $ 200,000
You can see the major department appropriation bills here:
DHS—HB6072: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/98/HB/PDF/09800HB6072ham001.pdf
DCFS—HB6057: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/98/HB/PDF/09800HB6057ham001.pdf
IDPH—HB6069:http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/98/HB/PDF/09800HB6069ham001.pdf
This legislation has been voted out of my committee, and now awaits action by the full House, along with the Education, Public Safety, Higher Education and General Service Committees’ reports. If approved by the House, they will then go to the Senate for approval, and then on to the Governor for his signature.
In addition, our Committee approved and sent to the full House legislation to guarantee the full payment of the State’s contributions to its employee retiree pension and health systems, amounts necessary to meet the debt service obligations of the State as certified by the Treasurer and to continue to substantially reduce the backlog of unpaid bills. You can see this legislation HB6066 here: http://ilga.gov/legislation/98/HB/PDF/09800HB6066ham001.pdf
As always, I appreciate your comments and suggestions. I can be reached in Springfield at 217 782 3835 or at greg@gregharris.org.