Older Adult Services Bill Approved by Governor

July 14, 2005

Springfield…. Governor Rod Blagojevich has given his approval to a bill co-sponsored by State Rep. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) that requires the State’s Older Adult Services Advisory Committee to have a citizen representative who is at least 60 years old or be the uncompensated caregiver of a person 60 or older.

According to Reis, when he discovered that no one on the advisory committee was even 60 years of age and there was no one on the committee who was even caring for someone 60 or older, he became firmly committed to SB2062 and became an alternate chief sponsor. “It was amazing to me that no one on the committee fit the category of the people the committee was created to help and protect” said Reis.

The 108th District State Representative said “Under the Older Adult Service Act, the Department of Aging provides help for older adults who wish to remain in their homes by providing ways to include home-based services as well as institutional care when needed.”

Reis added that the “committee was created to advise the state Directors of Aging, Public Aid and Public Health on all matters related to the Older Adult Services Act and the delivery of services to older adults in general.” The committee is made up of representatives from various state agencies and 32 citizen members appointed by the Directors of Public Health and Public Aid.

Senate Bill 2062 received unanimous support in both the House and Senate before being approved by the Governor.