A measure championed by State Senator Omar Aquino to increase the availability of home health services and in-home care was signed into law Friday.

“The demand for programs that provide skilled, compassionate in-home care is growing,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “This law addresses that need by expanding the pool of home health services that can provide critical in-home care to older residents and people with disabilities.”

Under Aquino’s legislation, professional licenses for home health, home services, and home nursing agencies will be valid for 240 days instead of 120 days. The new law also allows agencies to receive a renewal of a provisional license for up to 90 days while working toward full licensure, enabling them to continue offering services without disruption for thousands of patients who require in-home care.

In-home care workers provide essential services to seniors and people with disabilities so that they can live independently in their homes and contribute to their communities. Home health agencies have reported an inability to admit patients due to staffing and service shortages in recent years, with some agencies rejecting as many as 40% of new patent referrals, according to the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. Aquino’s law will ensure that home health agencies who are not in operation at the time of application for licensure will be able to operate on a provisional license as long as they are making progress toward full licensure requirements.

“Without home care, people often have no other option than to move into a nursing home, even if they aren’t ready – a choice that no family should have to face,” Aquino said. “By alleviating some of the yearly license renewal requirements and other administrative barriers, this law will help increase the availability of home health services and alleviate the stress on families trying to navigate care for their loved ones.”

Senate Bill 2271 was signed into law Friday and will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.

CHICAGO – Following the news of the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“While we knew this day was coming, I don’t think anyone can be fully prepared for the devastating impact of this attack on women’s reproductive rights. I am appalled, but not shocked.

“This decision is a severe infringement on the civil liberties of our nation’s women, and even worse, this opens the door to further attacks on the civil liberties of us all. I stand with fellow leaders to continue the fight for reproductive rights in Illinois and beyond.”

State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) joined Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce a plan that provides tax refunds worth $1.8 billion to benefit most Illinoisans. The Pay It Forward Plan includes provisions to expand the state’s earned income tax credit (EIC) to support low-income families and includes people who use Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN.)

“The earned income tax credit is one of the most effective anti-poverty policies to help low-to-moderate-income families out of poverty through promoting work and expanding economic security,” Aquino said. “We are signaling to the most at-risk communities that we have not forgotten about them. It’s the working families in all corners of our state facing the struggles.”

Aquino’s measure is part of a comprehensive approach led by the Senate Democrats to ease the impact of high inflation and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislative package includes temporarily eliminating state taxes on back-to-school shopping and stopping higher gas taxes, expanding the earned income tax credit, and property tax refunds statewide.

Senator Aquino’s provision of the package will increase the state’s earned income tax credit to 19% of the federal earned income tax credit. It also expands the credit to those who use an ITIN to file taxes and taxpayers aged 18-24 and 65, and older who would otherwise qualify for the federal earned income tax credit.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1150, was filed in the Senate and is expected to be voted on in the coming days.