Illinois § 2310-376

§ 2310-376.

Hepatitis education and outreach. (a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the following: (1) The World Health Organization characterizes hepatitis as a disease of primary concern to humanity. (2) Hepatitis is considered a silent killer; no recognizable signs or symptoms occur until severe liver damage has occurred. (3) Studies indicate that nearly 4 million Americans (1.8 percent of the population) carry the virus HCV that causes the disease. (4) 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in the United States, and only 25 to 30 percent are diagnosed. (5) 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from the disease each year. (6) 200,000 Illinois residents may be carriers and could develop the debilitating and potentially deadly liver disease. (7) Inmates of correctional facilities have a higher incidence of hepatitis and, upon their release, present a significant health risk to the general population. (8) Illinois members of the armed services are subject to an increased risk of contracting hepatitis due to their possible receipt of contaminated blood during a transfusion occurring for the treatment of wounds and due to their service in areas of the World where the disease is more prevalent and healthcare is less capable of detecting and treating the disease. Many of these service members are unaware of the danger of hepatitis and their increased risk of contracting the disease. (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall conduct an education and outreach campaign, in addition to its overall effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois, in order to raise awareness about and promote prevention of hepatitis. (c) Subject to appropriation, in addition to the education and outreach campaign provided in subsection (b), the Department shall develop and make available to physicians, other health care providers, members of the armed services, and other persons subject to an increased risk of contracting hepatitis, educational materials, in written and electronic forms, on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease. These materials shall include the recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and any other persons or entities determined by the Department to have particular expertise on hepatitis, including the American Liver Foundation. These materials shall be written in terms that are understandable by members of the general public. (d) The Department shall establish an Advisory Council on Hepatitis to develop a hepatitis prevention plan. The Department shall specify the membership, members' terms, provisions for removal of members, chairmen, and purpose of the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall consist of one representative from each of the following State agencies or offices, appointed by the head of each agency or office: (1) The Department of Public Health. (2) The Department of Public Aid. (3) The Department of Corrections. (4) The Department of Veterans Affairs. (5) The Department on Aging. (6) The Department of Human Services. (7) The Illinois State Police. (8) The office of the State Fire Marshal. The Director shall appoint representatives of organizations and advocates in the State of Illinois, including, but not limited to, the American Liver Foundation. The Director shall also appoint interested members of the public, including consumers and providers of health services and representatives of local public health agencies, to provide recommendations and information to the members of the Advisory Council. Members of the Advisory Council shall serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis and are not entitled to reimbursement for mileage or other costs they incur in connection with performing their duties. (Source: P.A. 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)