Illinois House Bill HB4632

Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/24
• Refer: 1/31/24

Caption

SOS-ADVANCE DIRECTIVE REGISTRY

Impact

The bill mandates that the information stored in the Advance Directive Registry be available to hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act and those associated with the University of Illinois. This access allows hospitals to rely on the information retrieved from the registry as an accurate representation of patients' advance directives, which may improve compliance with individuals’ health care desires and potentially alleviate burdens on families during critical medical decisions.

Summary

House Bill 4632 seeks to amend the Secretary of State Act to establish the Advance Directive Registry in Illinois. This electronic registry will enable residents of Illinois to store their completed Department of Public Health Uniform POLST forms. The registry's creation is intended to facilitate better healthcare planning and decision-making for patients by ensuring that vital end-of-life care information is readily accessible to medical professionals when needed.

Contention

One notable aspect of the bill is the provision granting immunity to the Secretary of State and its employees from civil or criminal liability, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct, in relation to the maintenance of the registry. This could lead to concerns regarding accountability and the handling of sensitive personal information. Additionally, the bill establishes penalties for unauthorized submissions to the registry, classifying such violations as a Class A misdemeanor, which introduces a legal dimension to the management of advance directives that may be viewed as excessive by some stakeholders.