HB2774 amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Shelters Act to expand and formalize the state’s domestic violence hotline system. The bill updates definitions in the Act, including clarifying that “domestic violence services” are information and referral services provided through the Domestic Violence Hotline, and it adds a new Section 3a establishing the hotline framework. Under the bill, the Department of Human Services is made responsible for providing a single, easy-to-use statewide telephone number for public access to domestic violence information and referrals, and it may contract with a nonprofit “lead entity” to manage, coordinate, and oversee the hotline system.
The bill sets detailed qualifications and duties for the lead entity, including 24/7 toll-free multilingual confidential referral services, victim-centered service experience, staff training requirements, independent auditing, direct referrals to funded providers, staffing for remote and non-English-speaking callers, and technology access for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. It also requires periodic programmatic and fiscal reporting to DHS and states that the new law does not limit other funding sources for the hotline.
Impact
HB2774 changes the Domestic Violence Shelters Act, codified at 20 ILCS 1310, by revising statutory definitions and adding a new section governing the statewide domestic violence hotline. It shifts DHS into a central oversight role for hotline access and authorizes the department to select and contract with a nonprofit lead entity to operate the system, while establishing standards for service delivery, reporting, and organizational capacity. The bill primarily affects domestic violence service providers, hotline operators, and survivors seeking referrals and emergency support.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition in either chamber: the House passed the bill 113-0 and the Senate motion passed 57-0. No committee transcripts were provided, but the unanimous votes suggest the bill was viewed favorably as a service-expansion and coordination measure for domestic violence response. The overall sentiment appears supportive and noncontroversial.
Contention
No notable substantive contention is evident in the provided record. The bill’s detailed requirements for the lead entity—such as staffing, training, reporting, and technology standards—could be areas of administrative concern for implementing organizations, but no opposition or debate is documented here. The only potentially sensitive policy choice reflected in the text is DHS’s authority to designate a single lead entity to manage the statewide hotline, though the unanimous votes indicate that this did not generate visible controversy in the legislative process.