Bill > SB1997

This bill would amend two Illinois state laws to increase the hourly wages for direct service workers, including personal assistants and home health workers, who provide services to seniors and people with disabilities through the Community Care Program and Home Services Program. Specifically, the bill mandates that, subject to federal approval, starting January 1, 2026, these workers will receive an hourly wage sufficient to sustain a minimum of $30 per hour. The bill requires service providers to certify compliance with this wage increase and stipulates that fringe benefits like paid time off, training, health insurance, and transportation cannot be reduced in relation to these rate increases. The wage increases are designed to help prevent unnecessary institutionalization by ensuring competitive wages for home care workers, thereby helping seniors and people with disabilities remain in their homes and receive necessary care. These changes are part of a broader effort to support home and community-based services, making them more attractive to workers and more sustainable for service providers.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1997&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104