HB2773 amends the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act to increase the fees charged by the Department of Public Health for furnishing records of specified proceedings. For an original transcript, the bill raises the per-page charge from 70 cents to $3. For certified copies, it raises the charge from 25 cents to 75 cents per page.
The bill also changes the fee for any part of a transcript that was ordered and paid for before the original record is written, increasing that charge from 25 cents to 75 cents per page. In practical terms, the measure updates the statutory fee schedule for obtaining nursing home proceeding transcripts and related records from the Department of Public Health.
Impact
If enacted, HB2773 would amend Section 3-711 of the Nursing Home Care Act and directly change the amount the Illinois Department of Public Health may charge interested parties for copies of transcripts and records from specified proceedings. The affected parties would likely include nursing home residents, families, attorneys, advocates, and others seeking records for appeals, complaints, or litigation. The bill does not change substantive nursing home regulation, but it would increase the cost of accessing official records under the Act.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history available with the bill materials, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from debate or roll call data. Based on the text alone, the bill appears narrowly focused and administrative rather than controversial in policy terms, though the fee increases could draw concern from parties who rely on these records for oversight or legal action.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the higher cost of obtaining transcripts and certified copies, especially for residents, families, advocates, and attorneys who may need these records to investigate care issues or pursue claims. Supporters would likely frame the change as a fee update for administrative costs, while opponents could argue it creates a barrier to transparency and access to records in nursing home proceedings. No specific stakeholder positions are documented in the provided materials.