Metro East Sun

State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) has long advocated for the protection of residents with profound physical and mental disabilities living in Illinois’ State-Operated Developmental Centers (SODC) and Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILA). As a member of the House Human Services and Health and Human Services Appropriation Committees, Meier recently announced his successful effort to amend legislation aimed at strengthening protections and imposing stricter penalties on negligent CILAs.

Senate Bill 3753, which passed the House of Representatives with a unanimous vote of 111-0, includes provisions requiring SODCs and CILAs contracting with the State of Illinois to develop an annual review process to ensure that individual resident needs are met. The bill also empowers the Department of Human Services to impose progressive sanctions on non-compliant providers, including stopping payments, suspending admissions, revoking certifications, and licenses.

“I’ve worked for many years to root out corruption, negligence, and abuse at various Community Integrated Living Arrangement facilities throughout the state,” Meier said. “I won’t tolerate any abuse of the residents of these facilities. The people living in these situations have physical and mental disabilities that mean they need extra help with everyday things like cooking, cleaning, bathing, and using the restroom. Not one person living in a CILA has the same set of life challenges. SB 3753, as amended, will provide the right kind of consequences for private companies that do not live up to the high expectations that I have for the care that is supposed to be provided to the individuals living in Illinois’ CILAs.”

Meier emphasized that significant taxpayer funds are invested in providing care for individuals in CILAs. He noted that companies failing to meet expected care standards could face severe penalties. "The horrors that I have heard have happened to residents living in CILAs include purposeful starvation, sexual assault, physical non-sexual assault," Meier said. "We cannot...fail to hold accountable the companies responsible for failing to provide excellent care."

Reflecting on past efforts by various administrations since Governor Pat Quinn’s tenure to transition residents from SODCs like Centralia's Warren G. Murray Center into CILAs, Meier stressed the importance of setting high standards for community-based care while recognizing that some individuals require state-run settings due to their profound disabilities.

“Going as far back as Governor Pat Quinn, administrations have tried to trim down the numbers of people living in SODCs in favor of CILAs,” Meier said. “Not everyone can live in a CILA...This bill will put some teeth in the law and hold companies accountable if they don’t provide [the required] high level of care.”

With SB 3753 now moving back to the Senate for a concurrence motion following its amendment in the House, Meier anticipates eventual approval by Governor Pritzker.

State Representative Charlie Meier represents Illinois' 109th District encompassing parts of Bond, Clinton, Madison, St. Clair, and Washington counties.

For more information visit CharlieMeier.net or contact Rep. Meier’s district office at 618-651-0405.

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