Statewide Independent LivingCouncil of Illinois
Statewide Independent LivingAPPROVED: May 5, 2005
Call to Order: The quarterly meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois was called to order by Chair Heavens at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2005. Heavens welcomed members present and introductions were made.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the November 2004 minutes were distributed for review.
MOTION: Motion made by Sherwin to approve the minutes of November 2004 with the correction of Judy Panko Reis’s name on page 3. Motion seconded by Arellano. Motion passed.
Discussion: Heavens reported that SILC member Paul Henry has passed away. Dunning provided the information about the services.
MOTION: Gilson motioned that SILC donate $100 to the Henry family and take up a cash collection from SILC members to send the family. Gunther seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Legislative Update: Broeker reported on the proposed reauthorization of the Federal Workforce Investment Act which includes reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act. There was discussion about NCIL’s recommendations. The most significant change to the Rehabilitation Act is the expansion to include students with disabilities ages 16 - 21.
Public Act 93-902 Reintegration of Seniors. This is a $2 million dollar pilot project for Department on Aging to integrate seniors into the community.
SB101 Assistive Technology Protection Act. This bill would provide a warranty for assistive technology (AT) and would require providers of AT to pass as exam for certification. Gunther reported that the Illinois Assistive Technology Program will be introducing their own bill that is strictly a warranty bill with no exam requirements.
SB83/HB151 Property Tax Freeze for the Disabled would create a mandate that the exemptions continue regardless of whether the taxing township receives reimbursement from the state and expand the current property tax freeze for seniors and people with disabilities.
HB438 Disabled Person Home Services Assets. This bill would increase the asset limit from $10,000 to $20,000 for people with disabilities’ eligibility for home services.
Broeker discussed a proposed bill which will be introduced by Senator Schoenberg that will allow all service providers to opt into the state health insurance. The bill would require the state to subsidize 50% of premiums for those who opt in.
There was discussion about the formula funding legislation INCIL is drafting. The intent is to provide equity in the funding of the Illinois Centers for Independent Living.
MOTION: Arellano motioned to support INCIL’s formula funding legislation. Gilson seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Executive Director Report: Broeker reported that he has visited 11 of the 24 Centers for Independent Living as directed by the Council. He stated he has found these meetings to be very helpful in gathering information from the CILs about their needs.
Broeker reported that after discussion with the Operations Committee he has changed Tara Dunning’s job title to Financial Manager. This title change is more in line with the actual duties Dunning is performing. A new fiscal policy has been approved by the Executive Committee that has specific tasks that are to be done on a regular basis. Broeker reported that he is in the process of securing employee dishonesty coverage. When all of this is completed Tara and Gerard will be able to sign all checks. All checks will require two signatures regardless of the amount of the check. Steps are being taken to secure a company credit card in Tara’s name.
MOTION: Arellano motioned to adopt the new fiscal policy and to allow Tara to incur debt. Gunther seconded the motion. Motion passed.
SILC Congress: Broeker reported Gilson, Lourash and he all attended the 2005 SILC Congress in January. Broeker stated that he found it to be a great experience and he learned a lot about what other SILCs are doing. Some of the discussion at the SILC Congress was about lobbying. SILC is only allowed to use 20% of its budget to lobby. Broeker discussed the possibility of finding outside grants that will allow SILC to hire a lobbyist or him to lobby on SILC’s behalf. The Council agreed that Broeker should investigate this possibility and the cost associated with it.
2005 Policy Initiatives: The draft 2005 Policy Initiatives were distributed for review. After discussion and some language changes the policy was finalized.
MOTION: Gonzalez motioned to accept the 2005 Policy Initiatives with the changes discussed. Lourash seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Chair Report: Chair Heavens stressed the need for everyone to be involved and stay involved in advocacy.
Youth Summit Update: Summit Planning Committee Chair Lourash gave a brief update on the 2005 Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit. Lourash reported that Christy Smith has been selected as keynote speaker. The application for youth participants is at the printer and should be ready for distribution within the next week. A Call for Proposals has been sent to potential presenters.
INCIL Update: Ann Ford gave the INCIL report for Pete Roberts who has been busy with his office move. Ford reported that INCIL is working on legislation called The Community First Act. The goal is to redirect the long term care spending in Illinois from institutions to community supports. Ford reported this is the first time INCIL has developed and introduced a bill. They already have sponsors in the Senate. INCIL will also be training the CILs on how to effectively communicate about this bill. Ford discussed the upcoming budget address by the governor. Centers for Independent Living may get a 5% cut.
Homeownership Coalition Future: Broeker discussed the future of the Homeownership Coalition for People with Disabilities. There have been concerns that SILC is not a direct service provider yet SILC is running the Homeownership Coalition. There was discussion about the expansion of the Homeownership Coalition into several CILs. This has created a competition for grant money. An ad-hoc committee was formed to develop an exit plan by fiscal year 2007. This committee will meet within the month and begin the planning for the Homeownership Coalition to become its own entity.
Outreach Committee Report: Outreach Committee Chair Arellano reported that the Committee met this morning and discussed outreach to the Hispanic community.
Operations Committee Report: Operations Committee Chair Gunther reported that the Committee met last week to discuss revisions to job descriptions, policies on timekeeping, fiscal policy and other reporting forms for staff. All of these forms need to be approved.
MOTION: Gilson motioned to approve the leave request form, the revised time sheet and the sign in and out sheet. Sherwin seconded the motion. Motion passed.
MOTION: Lourash motioned to approve the flex time policy. Gapsis seconded the motion. Motion passed.
MOTION: Sherwin motioned to approve all of the revisions to the job descriptions. Arellano seconded the motion. Motion passed.
MOTION: Roberts motioned to approve the PA Policy for SILC members and the PA Policy for SILC staff. Sherwin seconded the motion. Motioned passed with one abstention.
Programs Committee Report: Programs Committee Chair Lourash reported that the Committee met this morning to discuss the lobbying. This Committee will also be working on guidelines for the Stipend Program.
Planning Committee Report: No report given.
State Rehabilitation Council Update: Arellano reported that at the last SRC meeting there was lots of discussion about the VR Program are not taking any new consumers and how the CAP Program has been temporarily closed due to money constraints.
MOTION: Arellano motioned to adjourn the meeting of SILC. Roberts seconded the motion. Motioned passed. Meeting adjourned.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2005 at the SILC office located at 510 East Monroe in Springfield. The conference room is in the lower level of the Security Bank building.
Minutes prepared for J. Anel Gonzalez, Secretary by Tara Dunning and Gerard Broeker
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