Bill Text: IL HB1301 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Rural Hospital Task Force Act. Establishes the Rural Hospital Task Force within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of investigating the current state of rural hospitals and providing recommendations to prevent further closures of rural hospitals and to potentially expand rural hospital services. Provides that the Task Force shall convene to conduct business on at least 4 separate days. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires each agency and entity represented on the Task Force to share with the Task Force any data of the agency or entity necessary to achieve the purpose of the Task Force. Provides that all findings and recommendations made by the Task Force must be reported to the General Assembly before January 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2027

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-27 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly [HB1301 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB1301-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1301 Introduced , by Rep. Amy Briel SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Rural Hospital Task Force Act. Establishes the Rural Hospital Task Force within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of investigating the current state of rural hospitals and providing recommendations to prevent further closures of rural hospitals and to potentially expand rural hospital services. Provides that the Task Force shall convene to conduct business on at least 4 separate days. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires each agency and entity represented on the Task Force to share with the Task Force any data of the agency or entity necessary to achieve the purpose of the Task Force. Provides that all findings and recommendations made by the Task Force must be reported to the General Assembly before January 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2027
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Rural
Hospital Task Force Act.
Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Between January 2013 and February 2020, over 100
rural hospitals closed in Illinois.
(2) Rural hospitals struggle for several reasons:
(A) low patient volume;
(B) high fixed costs; and
(C) a greater reliance on public payers than
privately insured patients.
(3) A task force to investigate the current state of
rural hospitals and to provide legislative action could
prevent further closures and expand services.
Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
"Rural hospital" has the meaning given in subsection (d)
of Section 8 of the Hospital Licensing Act.
"Task Force" means the Rural Hospital Task Force
established under this Act.

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Section 15. Rural Hospital Task Force.
(a) The Rural Hospital Task Force is created within the
Department of Public Health. The purpose of this Task Force is
to investigate the current state of rural hospitals and to
provide recommendations to prevent further closures of rural
hospitals and to potentially expand services provided by rural
hospitals.
(b) The Task Force shall be composed of the following
members:
(1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the
Speaker's designee;
(2) the President of the Senate or the President's
designee;
(3) the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives or the Minority Leader's designee;
(4) the Minority Leader of the Senate or the Minority
Leader's designee;
(5) one member appointed by the Director of Public
Health;
(6) one member appointed by the Director of Financial
and Professional Regulation;
(7) one member appointed by the Director of Healthcare
and Family Services;
(8) one member appointed by the Director of Aging;
(9) one member representing the Illinois Rural Health
Association, appointed by the Governor; and

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(10) one member representing the Illinois Health and
Hospital Association, appointed by the Governor.
(b) The Task Force shall convene to conduct business on at
least 4 separate days, the first of which shall be held within
30 days after the members of the Task Force have been
appointed.
(c) The members of the Task Force shall serve without
compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose.
(d) The Department of Public Health shall provide
administrative and other support to the Task Force. Each
agency and entity represented on the Task Force shall share
with the Task Force any data of the agency or entity necessary
to achieve the purpose of the Task Force under this Act.
Section 20. Task Force deadline; repeal.
(a) All findings and recommendations made by the Task
Force must be reported to the General Assembly before January
1, 2027.
(b) The Task Force is dissolved, and this Act is repealed,
on January 1, 2027.