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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Illinois Home Services Program Overtime Rules Public Hearings: Oct 3rd in Chicago : Oct 6th in Springfield

The ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES has posted Notice Of Public Hearings For Illinois Home Services Program Rules on Overtime Rules.
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The following infromation is being shared from Access Living (CIL) of Metro Chicago;
For the public hearings, anyone who was affected by the overtime policy as it was put into effect from May 1 to August 3, should consider attending to describe what you think of the proposed overtime policy. The proposed policy is pretty much similar to what was in effect from May 1 to August 3.

The first hearing is on Monday, October 3. The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) will host the hearing to accept public comment on the topic of the proposed overtime policy for HSP. The hearing will be from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle in Chicago, in Room C-500, 5th Floor Auditorium. There will be a sign in sheet to testify, and testimony is limited to under 10 minutes. Testimony will be recorded.

The second hearing will be on Thursday, October 6, also from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Michael Howlett Building Auditorium at 2nd & Edwards Streets, Springfield. As in Chicago, there will be a sign in sheet to testify, and testimony is limited to under 10 minutes. Testimony will be recorded.

We would urge anyone planning to testify at the public hearings to consider making suggestions on how the overtime policy could be improved, and how to best ensure that people with disabilities who have HSP are able to continue living in their own homes, hiring and managing the personal attendants of their choice. It has taken many years to build HSP and thousands of people rely on it to be able to do basic activities of daily living.

We urge those of you who cannot make the hearings in person to send written testimony to DHS no later than October 3.The written testimony can simply be in the form of a letter telling your story. It should focus on the HSP overtime policy and whether that affected you in a positive or negative way from May 1 to August 3. If you have suggestions for the policy, the written testimony is a good way to go. Written testimony should be sent to:

Illinois Department of Human Services
Tracie Drew, Chief
Bureau of Administrative Rules and Procedures
Department of Human Services
100 South Grand Avenue East
Harris Building, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62762
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If HSP is near and dear to your heart, please consider attending the hearings or sending in written comment.  The policies for HSP should be driven by you, the HSP customers, your right to control your services, and your individual needs.

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