HB2397, the Eddie Thomas Act, creates a new reporting requirement for the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) on hospice and palliative care for committed persons. The bill defines hospice and palliative care for incarcerated people with terminal conditions or permanent unconsciousness and requires the DOC to publish an annual report on its website by December 1 each year covering the prior fiscal year. The report must include demographic information, enrollment and discharge data, timing of care, deaths in custody with and without hospice care, facility policies, staffing and volunteer information, program costs, and procedures related to advance directives and implementation of care.
The bill is aimed at standardizing and improving transparency around end-of-life care in prisons. It responds to findings that Illinois’ prison population is aging, that hospice care is currently provided inconsistently across facilities, and that the DOC lacks centralized data on program participation, outcomes, grievances, and staffing. The measure also requires that the reported data be anonymized to protect privacy.
Impact
HB2397 amends the Unified Code of Corrections by adding Section 3-2-15, imposing a new annual public reporting obligation on the Department of Corrections. It does not create a new criminal offense or change sentencing rules; instead, it affects DOC administrative practice, recordkeeping, and disclosure obligations related to hospice and palliative care services in correctional institutions. The bill also indirectly affects incarcerated persons with terminal illnesses, DOC staff, volunteers, and any facilities offering end-of-life care by requiring more consistent data collection and publication.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generally favorable support, as reflected by its passage in both chambers with substantial majorities. The House passed it 78-27 on third reading, and the Senate passed it 33-18 on third reading. The vote margins suggest broad bipartisan acceptance of the bill’s transparency and humane-care goals, though not unanimous support.
Contention
The main points of concern appear to center on the scope of DOC reporting, the administrative burden of collecting detailed facility-level data, and the handling of sensitive information about incarcerated people receiving end-of-life care. The bill itself anticipates privacy concerns by requiring anonymization of the data. Any opposition likely reflects broader disagreements over prison policy, DOC resource demands, or whether legislative reporting mandates are the best way to improve hospice and palliative care in correctional settings.