State Representative Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) said two pieces of legislation she promoted this year grew out of concerns brought to her. Governor Bruce Rauner signed both bills into law this month.
Hammond said hospital report cards are the subject of one of the laws.
According to a release from the Illinois General Assembly, “[The] hospital report card gives consumers access to information about the quality and safety of health care provided in Illinois hospitals." The bill expands the requirement to include information about health care providers’ success rates when treating diabetes and various cardiovascular complications.
“I had some folks that came to me that suggested that this information be included in the hospital report card. Prior to this legislation, that information was not included,” Hammond stated.
Hammond said consumers have the right to know which hospitals are doing a good job of treating certain conditions and which are not.
Hammond said the other piece of constituent-influenced legislation concerns the Department of Children and Family Services. She said an individual who was unable to visit their grandchild contacted her. The child was under the care of the state.
The new bill requires the DCFS to update its non-custodial grandparent visitation rights every five years. Hammond referred to it as a “common-sense bill” and said grandparents can play an important role in the lives of children.
Grandparents were not previously given visitation rights above and beyond those of the child’s parents, and this legislation will require the courts to acknowledge this option when appropriate.
