104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2541 Introduced , by Rep. Nicole La Ha SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 70/1.4220 ILCS 1705/3.5 new405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Expands the definition of "developmental disability" to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Expands the definition of "severe and multiple impairments" to include a substantial disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Exempts persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome from any assessment or evaluation to measure cognitive functioning or IQ for purposes of making determinations on whether such persons have severe and multiple impairments eligible for home-based and community-based services. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to include Prader-Willi syndrome as a developmental disability in any rule defining the term "developmental disability" and in any rule listing specific medical conditions or disabilities eligible for developmental disability services provided by the Department. Amends the Statute on Statutes. Provides that, except where the context indicates otherwise: (i) in any rule, contract, or other document the term "developmental disability" shall include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome; and (ii) whenever there is a reference in any Act to "development disability" the term shall be construed to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2541 Introduced , by Rep. Nicole La Ha SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 70/1.4220 ILCS 1705/3.5 new405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 5 ILCS 70/1.42 20 ILCS 1705/3.5 new 405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106 405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Expands the definition of "developmental disability" to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Expands the definition of "severe and multiple impairments" to include a substantial disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Exempts persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome from any assessment or evaluation to measure cognitive functioning or IQ for purposes of making determinations on whether such persons have severe and multiple impairments eligible for home-based and community-based services. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to include Prader-Willi syndrome as a developmental disability in any rule defining the term "developmental disability" and in any rule listing specific medical conditions or disabilities eligible for developmental disability services provided by the Department. Amends the Statute on Statutes. Provides that, except where the context indicates otherwise: (i) in any rule, contract, or other document the term "developmental disability" shall include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome; and (ii) whenever there is a reference in any Act to "development disability" the term shall be construed to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2541 Introduced , by Rep. Nicole La Ha SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 70/1.4220 ILCS 1705/3.5 new405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 5 ILCS 70/1.42 20 ILCS 1705/3.5 new 405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106 405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 5 ILCS 70/1.42 20 ILCS 1705/3.5 new 405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106 405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Expands the definition of "developmental disability" to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Expands the definition of "severe and multiple impairments" to include a substantial disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Exempts persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome from any assessment or evaluation to measure cognitive functioning or IQ for purposes of making determinations on whether such persons have severe and multiple impairments eligible for home-based and community-based services. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to include Prader-Willi syndrome as a developmental disability in any rule defining the term "developmental disability" and in any rule listing specific medical conditions or disabilities eligible for developmental disability services provided by the Department. Amends the Statute on Statutes. Provides that, except where the context indicates otherwise: (i) in any rule, contract, or other document the term "developmental disability" shall include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome; and (ii) whenever there is a reference in any Act to "development disability" the term shall be construed to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b A BILL FOR HB2541LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 AN ACT concerning mental health. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Statute on Statutes is amended by changing 5 Section 1.42 as follows: 6 (5 ILCS 70/1.42) 7 Sec. 1.42. Developmental disability. 8 (a) Except where the context indicates otherwise, in any 9 rule, contract, or other document a reference to a 10 developmentally disabled person or a similar reference shall 11 be considered a reference to a person with a developmental 12 disability and a reference to the developmentally disabled or 13 a similar reference shall be considered a reference to persons 14 with developmental disabilities. 15 (b) Except where the context indicates otherwise, in any 16 rule, contract, or other document the term "developmental 17 disability" shall include a disability attributable to 18 Prader-Willi syndrome. 19 (c) Except where the context indicates otherwise, whenever 20 there is a reference in any Act to "development disability" 21 this term shall be construed to include a disability 22 attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. 23 (d) The use of either "developmentally disabled" or 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2541 Introduced , by Rep. Nicole La Ha SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 70/1.4220 ILCS 1705/3.5 new405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 5 ILCS 70/1.42 20 ILCS 1705/3.5 new 405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106 405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 5 ILCS 70/1.42 20 ILCS 1705/3.5 new 405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106 405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Expands the definition of "developmental disability" to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Expands the definition of "severe and multiple impairments" to include a substantial disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Exempts persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome from any assessment or evaluation to measure cognitive functioning or IQ for purposes of making determinations on whether such persons have severe and multiple impairments eligible for home-based and community-based services. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to include Prader-Willi syndrome as a developmental disability in any rule defining the term "developmental disability" and in any rule listing specific medical conditions or disabilities eligible for developmental disability services provided by the Department. Amends the Statute on Statutes. Provides that, except where the context indicates otherwise: (i) in any rule, contract, or other document the term "developmental disability" shall include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome; and (ii) whenever there is a reference in any Act to "development disability" the term shall be construed to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b A BILL FOR 5 ILCS 70/1.42 20 ILCS 1705/3.5 new 405 ILCS 5/1-106 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106 405 ILCS 80/2-3 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3 LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 2 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 2 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 2 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 "developmental disability" or "the developmentally disabled" 2 or "persons with developmental disabilities" shall not 3 invalidate any rule, contract, or other document. 4 (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.) 5 Section 10. The Mental Health and Developmental 6 Disabilities Administrative Act is amended by adding Section 7 3.5 as follows: 8 (20 ILCS 1705/3.5 new) 9 Sec. 3.5. Prader-Willi syndrome. The Department shall 10 include Prader-Willi syndrome as a developmental disability in 11 any rule defining the term "developmental disability" and in 12 any rule listing specific medical conditions or disabilities 13 eligible for developmental disability services provided by the 14 Department. 15 Section 15. The Mental Health and Developmental 16 Disabilities Code is amended by changing Section 1-106 as 17 follows: 18 (405 ILCS 5/1-106) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1-106) 19 Sec. 1-106. "Developmental disability" means a severe, 20 chronic disability, other than mental illness, found to be 21 closely related to an intellectual disability because this 22 condition results in impairment of general intellectual HB2541 - 2 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 3 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 3 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 3 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of persons 2 with ID, and requires services similar to those required for a 3 person with an intellectual disability. In addition, a 4 developmental disability: (1) is manifested before the 5 individual reaches 22 years of age; (2) is likely to continue 6 indefinitely; (3) results in substantial functional 7 limitations in three or more of the following areas of major 8 life activity: self-care, receptive and expressive language, 9 learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent 10 living, or economic self-sufficiency; and (4) reflects the 11 individual's need for a combination and sequence of special 12 interdisciplinary or generic services, individualized 13 supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or 14 extended duration and are individually planned and 15 coordinated. "Developmental disability" includes a disability 16 attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. This definition does 17 not supersede the "developmental disability" definition in 18 Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act 19 which is required to be applied under that Act for the purpose 20 of mandatory reporting. 21 (Source: P.A. 102-972, eff. 1-1-23.) 22 Section 20. The Developmental Disability and Mental 23 Disability Services Act is amended by changing Section 2-3 as 24 follows: HB2541 - 3 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 4 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 4 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 4 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 (405 ILCS 80/2-3) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 1802-3) 2 Sec. 2-3. As used in this Article, unless the context 3 requires otherwise: 4 (a) "Agency" means an agency or entity licensed by the 5 Department pursuant to this Article or pursuant to the 6 Community Residential Alternatives Licensing Act. 7 (b) "Department" means the Department of Human Services, 8 as successor to the Department of Mental Health and 9 Developmental Disabilities. 10 (c) "Home-based services" means services provided to an 11 adult with a mental disability who lives in his or her own 12 home. These services include but are not limited to: 13 (1) home health services; 14 (2) case management; 15 (3) crisis management; 16 (4) training and assistance in self-care; 17 (5) personal care services; 18 (6) habilitation and rehabilitation services; 19 (7) employment-related services; 20 (8) respite care; and 21 (9) other skill training that enables a person to 22 become self-supporting. 23 (d) "Legal guardian" means a person appointed by a court 24 of competent jurisdiction to exercise certain powers on behalf 25 of an adult with a mental disability. 26 (e) "Adult with a mental disability" means a person over HB2541 - 4 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 5 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 5 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 5 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 the age of 18 years who lives in his or her own home; who needs 2 home-based services, but does not require 24-hour-a-day 3 supervision; and who has one of the following conditions: 4 severe autism, severe mental illness, a severe or profound 5 intellectual disability, or severe and multiple impairments. 6 (f) In one's "own home" means that an adult with a mental 7 disability lives alone; or that an adult with a mental 8 disability is in full-time residence with his or her parents, 9 legal guardian, or other relatives; or that an adult with a 10 mental disability is in full-time residence in a setting not 11 subject to licensure under the Nursing Home Care Act, the 12 Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the 13 ID/DD Community Care Act, the MC/DD Act, or the Child Care Act 14 of 1969, as now or hereafter amended, with 3 or fewer other 15 adults unrelated to the adult with a mental disability who do 16 not provide home-based services to the adult with a mental 17 disability. 18 (g) "Parent" means the biological or adoptive parent of an 19 adult with a mental disability, or a person licensed as a 20 foster parent under the laws of this State who acts as a foster 21 parent to an adult with a mental disability. 22 (h) "Relative" means any of the following relationships by 23 blood, marriage or adoption: parent, son, daughter, brother, 24 sister, grandparent, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, great 25 grandparent, great uncle, great aunt, stepbrother, stepsister, 26 stepson, stepdaughter, stepparent or first cousin. HB2541 - 5 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 6 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 6 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 6 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 (i) "Severe autism" means a lifelong developmental 2 disability which is typically manifested before 30 months of 3 age and is characterized by severe disturbances in reciprocal 4 social interactions; verbal and nonverbal communication and 5 imaginative activity; and repertoire of activities and 6 interests. A person shall be determined severely autistic, for 7 purposes of this Article, if both of the following are 8 present: 9 (1) Diagnosis consistent with the criteria for 10 autistic disorder in the current edition of the Diagnostic 11 and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 12 (2) Severe disturbances in reciprocal social 13 interactions; verbal and nonverbal communication and 14 imaginative activity; repertoire of activities and 15 interests. A determination of severe autism shall be based 16 upon a comprehensive, documented assessment with an 17 evaluation by a licensed clinical psychologist or 18 psychiatrist. A determination of severe autism shall not 19 be based solely on behaviors relating to environmental, 20 cultural or economic differences. 21 (j) "Severe mental illness" means the manifestation of all 22 of the following characteristics: 23 (1) A primary diagnosis of one of the major mental 24 disorders in the current edition of the Diagnostic and 25 Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders listed below: 26 (A) Schizophrenia disorder. HB2541 - 6 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 7 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 7 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 7 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 (B) Delusional disorder. 2 (C) Schizo-affective disorder. 3 (D) Bipolar affective disorder. 4 (E) Atypical psychosis. 5 (F) Major depression, recurrent. 6 (2) The individual's mental illness must substantially 7 impair his or her functioning in at least 2 of the 8 following areas: 9 (A) Self-maintenance. 10 (B) Social functioning. 11 (C) Activities of community living. 12 (D) Work skills. 13 (3) Disability must be present or expected to be 14 present for at least one year. 15 A determination of severe mental illness shall be based 16 upon a comprehensive, documented assessment with an evaluation 17 by a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, and shall 18 not be based solely on behaviors relating to environmental, 19 cultural or economic differences. 20 (k) "Severe or profound intellectual disability" means a 21 manifestation of all of the following characteristics: 22 (1) A diagnosis which meets Classification in Mental 23 Retardation or criteria in the current edition of the 24 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for 25 severe or profound mental retardation (an IQ of 40 or 26 below). This must be measured by a standardized instrument HB2541 - 7 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 8 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 8 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 8 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 for general intellectual functioning. 2 (2) A severe or profound level of disturbed adaptive 3 behavior. This must be measured by a standardized adaptive 4 behavior scale or informal appraisal by the professional 5 in keeping with illustrations in Classification in Mental 6 Retardation, 1983. 7 (3) Disability diagnosed before age of 18. 8 A determination of a severe or profound intellectual 9 disability shall be based upon a comprehensive, documented 10 assessment with an evaluation by a licensed clinical 11 psychologist or certified school psychologist or a 12 psychiatrist, and shall not be based solely on behaviors 13 relating to environmental, cultural or economic differences. 14 (l) "Severe and multiple impairments" means the 15 manifestation of all of the following characteristics: 16 (1) The evaluation determines the presence of a 17 developmental disability which is expected to continue 18 indefinitely, constitutes a substantial disability and is 19 attributable to any of the following: 20 (A) Intellectual disability as defined in Section 21 1-116 of the Mental Health and Developmental 22 Disabilities Code. 23 (B) Cerebral palsy. 24 (C) Epilepsy. 25 (D) Autism. 26 (E) Prader-Willi syndrome. HB2541 - 8 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 9 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 9 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 9 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 (F) (E) Any other condition which results in 2 impairment similar to that caused by an intellectual 3 disability and which requires services similar to 4 those required by persons with intellectual 5 disabilities. 6 (2) Except as otherwise provided for persons diagnosed 7 with Prader-Willi syndrome, the The evaluation determines 8 multiple disabilities in physical, sensory, behavioral or 9 cognitive functioning which constitute a severe or 10 profound impairment attributable to one or more of the 11 following: 12 (A) Physical functioning, which severely impairs 13 the individual's motor performance that may be due to: 14 (i) Neurological, psychological or physical 15 involvement resulting in a variety of disabling 16 conditions such as hemiplegia, quadriplegia or 17 ataxia, 18 (ii) Severe organ systems involvement such as 19 congenital heart defect, 20 (iii) Physical abnormalities resulting in the 21 individual being non-mobile and non-ambulatory or 22 confined to bed and receiving assistance in 23 transferring, or 24 (iv) The need for regular medical or nursing 25 supervision such as gastrostomy care and feeding. 26 Assessment of physical functioning must be based HB2541 - 9 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 10 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 10 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 10 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 on clinical medical assessment by a physician licensed 2 to practice medicine in all its branches, using the 3 appropriate instruments, techniques and standards of 4 measurement required by the professional. 5 (B) Sensory, which involves severe restriction due 6 to hearing or visual impairment limiting the 7 individual's movement and creating dependence in 8 completing most daily activities. Hearing impairment 9 is defined as a loss of 70 decibels aided or speech 10 discrimination of less than 50% aided. Visual 11 impairment is defined as 20/200 corrected in the 12 better eye or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. 13 Sensory functioning must be based on clinical medical 14 assessment by a physician licensed to practice 15 medicine in all its branches using the appropriate 16 instruments, techniques and standards of measurement 17 required by the professional. 18 (C) Behavioral, which involves behavior that is 19 maladaptive and presents a danger to self or others, 20 is destructive to property by deliberately breaking, 21 destroying or defacing objects, is disruptive by 22 fighting, or has other socially offensive behaviors in 23 sufficient frequency or severity to seriously limit 24 social integration. Assessment of behavioral 25 functioning may be measured by a standardized scale or 26 informal appraisal by a clinical psychologist or HB2541 - 10 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 11 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 11 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 11 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 psychiatrist. 2 (D) Cognitive, which involves intellectual 3 functioning at a measured IQ of 70 or below. 4 Assessment of cognitive functioning must be measured 5 by a standardized instrument for general intelligence. 6 Persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome are 7 exempt from any assessment or evaluation to measure 8 cognitive functioning or IQ for purposes of making a 9 determination of severe and multiple impairments. 10 (3) Except as otherwise provided for persons diagnosed 11 with Prader-Willi syndrome, the The evaluation determines 12 that development is substantially less than expected for 13 the age in cognitive, affective or psychomotor behavior as 14 follows: 15 (A) Cognitive, which involves intellectual 16 functioning at a measured IQ of 70 or below. 17 Assessment of cognitive functioning must be measured 18 by a standardized instrument for general intelligence. 19 Persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome are 20 exempt from any assessment or evaluation to measure 21 cognitive functioning or IQ for purposes of making a 22 determination on whether such persons have severe and 23 multiple impairments. 24 (B) Affective behavior, which involves over and 25 under responding to stimuli in the environment and may 26 be observed in mood, attention to awareness, or in HB2541 - 11 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 12 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 12 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 12 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b 1 behaviors such as euphoria, anger or sadness that 2 seriously limit integration into society. Affective 3 behavior must be based on clinical assessment using 4 the appropriate instruments, techniques and standards 5 of measurement required by the professional. 6 (C) Psychomotor, which includes a severe 7 developmental delay in fine or gross motor skills so 8 that development in self-care, social interaction, 9 communication or physical activity will be greatly 10 delayed or restricted. 11 (4) A determination that the disability originated 12 before the age of 18 years. 13 A determination of severe and multiple impairments shall 14 be based upon a comprehensive, documented assessment with an 15 evaluation by a licensed clinical psychologist or 16 psychiatrist. Persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome are 17 exempt from any assessment or evaluation to measure cognitive 18 functioning or IQ for purposes of making determinations on 19 whether such persons have severe and multiple impairments 20 eligible for home-based and community-based services. 21 22 If the examiner is a licensed clinical psychologist, 23 ancillary evaluation of physical impairment, cerebral palsy or 24 epilepsy must be made by a physician licensed to practice 25 medicine in all its branches. 26 Regardless of the discipline of the examiner, ancillary HB2541 - 12 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541- 13 -LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 13 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 13 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b HB2541 - 13 - LRB104 08083 KTG 18129 b