Advocacy
The Illinois Coalition on Mental Health & Aging advocates for services and policies that promote quality care and the reduction and prevention of mental illnesses affecting older adults in Illinois.
Advocacy Update
June 10, 2020
Gov. Pritzker Signs Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget
Joins Governors Across the Nation in Urging Congress to Pass Funding for State and Local Governments
Press Release
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 – Office of the Governor
Springfield – In an effort to address the massive economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a $42.9 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 General Funds operating budget (SB 264, HB357) that maintains funding for critical programs, such as education, health care, and human services while advocating for a national program to support state and local governments. SB2099, providing authorization for Illinois to directly access the Federal Reserve Bank’s Municipal Liquidity Facility program was signed May 29th.
“Since taking office, my administration has prioritized effective and efficient government as we’ve worked to undo years of financial mismanagement while rebuilding our hollowed out state government,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the enormous role government plays in keeping communities safe and providing the tools people need to build better lives. While the pandemic has had a devastating impact on our state revenues, investing in our people will allow the state to rebound and recover from this pandemic as we safely re-open. I will continue to advocate for a national program to support state and local governments to make up the difference in the revenues that fund vital services like hospitals and salaries for teachers and first responders.”
“This budget buys the state time to get to a better tomorrow, one in which medical science helps us push back against this disease and Washington steps up to help jump-start the economic recovery of Illinois and every other state in the country,” said Senate President Don Harmon. “I want to thank Senators Heather Steans, Andy Manar, Omar Aquino, Elgie Sims and Laura Ellman for their efforts to confront so many unknowns and find a way to bring needed stability to the budget.”
“It’s important for Illinois to stand strong with our neighbors right now,” said House Majority Leader Greg Harris. During all the stress and increased need in our communities, this budget helps support and stabilize our schools, colleges and universities, human services and healthcare systems. We prioritized funding for communities that have long suffered disparities and that now have been hardest by COVID-19, and focused our resources where the need is greatest.
The major components of the FY21 budget invest in the governor’s key priorities of education, healthcare, public safety, vital human services, criminal justice reform, and, ongoing COVID-19 relief, while fully funding the state’s pension contributions.
The FY 2021 budget also directs more than $5 billion in federal aid from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and other federal aid packages, to public health, social services, small businesses, local governments and households, including funding targeted to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
The FY 2021 budget reflects reductions in operations appropriations of $200 million and another $140 million at the Department of Transportation from introduced levels and includes savings from an ongoing partial hiring freeze and restricted operations expenditures.
If Congress fails to enact funding for states and local governments in the near term and additional revenue from Public Act 101-8 doesn’t pass, the governor and his administration will work with the newly created Legislative Budget Oversight Commission and the Illinois General Assembly to identify solutions for addressing any financial gaps.
The budget will go into effect on July 1, 2020, the beginning of the state’s 2021 fiscal year.
Download the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Highlights
May 11, 2020
ICMHA thanks the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging for sharing Joel Miller’s slide presentation entitled,
“Federal Policy Legislative Response in the Era of COVID-19” from the May 7, 2020 NCMHA Meeting .
Joel Miller is the President of NCMHA and Executive Director and CEO of the American Mental Health Counselors Association.
Advocacy Update
March 14, 2020
Older Americans Act Reauthorized by Congress
According to a Legislative Update published by n4a – the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4334 on March 11, 2020 to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The House action concurred with the Senate’s version of the bill which was passed unanimously on March 3, 2020
Key provisions H.R. 4334 – Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act of 2020:
- Reauthorizing the OAA for five years through FY 2024
- Increasing authorized funding levels: a seven percent increase is recommended for the first year, with six percent increases in each subsequent year through FY 2024, totaling a 35 percent increase over five years
- Language clarifying that AAAs can, outside of the OAA, engage in private pay, integrated care and other arrangements to expand services
- Removing the Title III E funding cap on grandfamilies and older relative caregivers
- Authorizing an HCBS grant demonstration program for Title VI Native American aging programs to enhance the capacity of Title VI programs to support wrap-around supportive services to Native American elders in tribal country. The bill also authorizes $500k in additional annual funding for Title VI programs
- Establishing a research, demonstration and evaluation center for the Aging Network to improve assessment and promote advancement of the relationship between OAA programs and services and health outcomes
- Encouraging states to work with AAAs to address potential administrative barriers to transferring funds between nutrition programs to best meet local needs
The bill now goes to the White House for approval by the President.
March 11, 2020
Advocacy Update – FY2021 Proposed State Budget
On February 19, 2020, Governor Pritzker presented his proposed budget for the State of Illinois for Fiscal Year 2021
The entire state budget is posted on the website of the Illinois Office of Management and Budget and is available at this link:
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/budget/Pages/default.aspx
The Illinois Department on Aging posted budget summaries for IDoA and other state human service agencies on their website: https://www2.illinois.gov/aging/Pages/default.aspx
Download the IDOA Strategic Budget Presentation and
the Health and Human Services Budget Presentation for FY2021
January 7, 2020
New Illinois Laws in 2020
On December 25, 2019, Sam Dunklau, reporter for Illinois Issues and NPR Illinois published a summary of new laws enacted in Illinois effective in 2020. For details go to the following link and download the text and podcast:
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/new-year-new-illinois-laws-whats-coming-2020
New Illinois Laws 2020: Health and Human Services
Review the new laws that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Published December 30, 2019
By Lorraine Swanson, Patch Staff
Source: Illinois State Democrats
For more information and links to specific legislation go to this link:
https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/new-illinois-laws-2020-health-human-services
On The National Scene
EVENT: Update on Federal Legislation” presented by Joel Miller to the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging
DATE: June 26, 2017
INFO: Download the Powerpoint presentation by clicking the button below.
At The State Level
Advocacy Update – Illinois State Budget for FY2018
On July 6, 2017, the Illinois House of Representatives overrode the Governor’s veto and passed a balanced budget.
The General Assembly enacted three budget bills:
and the
SB 0042 – the Budget Implementation Bill (BIMP)
A summary of the budget bills is attached below, courtesy of State Representative Greg Harris (D-13).
Also attached below are the House’s analyses of these bills reflecting final action by the Senate and House, provided courtesy of Terry Steczo, with Government Strategy Associates.
TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY
- Tell your story – and empower consumers to tell their stories;
- Be factual – always tell the truth, be a reliable information source;
- Be authentic – stay true to the voice of the people you represent;
- Be present – don’t underestimate the power of showing up;
- Be engaging – invite lawmakers to share their stories about your issue;
- Be strategic – know when to act and send your message;
- Be persistent – ask lawmakers to commit to supporting your position;
- Be a good team player – coalesce with other advocates, report back; and
- Be thankful – recognize and thank lawmakers for their support.
