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HB 2695

DHS-EQUITABLE PAY ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mary Beth Canty and 8 co-sponsors

Illinois DHS must study wage/benefit gaps for state-funded community-based providers, form a diverse task force, and recommend rate increases to 2030 with annual disparity/funding reports.

Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
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Bill Summary · HB 2695

HB 2695 — “Human Services (DHS) — Equitable Pay Act” (Illinois)

Summary
This bill (titled the Human Services Equitable Pay Act in Illinois; also shown in the file are unrelated Arizona materials) directs the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to study and address wage and benefit disparities affecting workers at community-based human services providers that receive State funding. Its goal is to produce evidence-based recommendations and a timetable for increasing state reimbursement rates so provider wages/benefits better match comparable public- and private-sector positions, thereby improving recruitment and retention.

Key provisions and timeline
- Human Services Compensation Study (DHS)
- DHS must commission a compensation study comparing wages and benefits for positions funded by DHS with comparable roles among: (1) State employees, (2) community-based human services providers, and (3) comparable for‑profit private-sector employees in Illinois and nationally.
- The study must disaggregate results by setting, education level and by race/ethnicity of executive directors, identify common role equivalencies, and be submitted to the Task Force by June 30, 2026.

  • Human Services Compensation Task Force

    • DHS must establish the Task Force by December 31, 2025. Members are governor-appointed and include DHS representatives, statewide provider organization representatives, provider representatives from large (≥ $10M) and smaller (< $10M) organizations, labor/trade union representation, human services professionals, and at least three BIPOC executive directors.
    • The Task Force will have two co-chairs (one drawn from provider representatives).
    • Deliverable: by December 1, 2026, the Task Force must report to the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget with:
    • recommendations to strengthen recruitment and retention of human services workers;
    • recommended reimbursement rate levels informed by study findings; and
    • a proposed schedule to raise rates to the recommended levels by July 1, 2030.

  • Ongoing reporting and fiscal analysis

    • Beginning July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, DHS must report to the Task Force and General Assembly on:
    • current salary disparities between provider professionals and comparable State‑contracted employees;
    • annual reimbursement-rate increases needed to eliminate disparities (by July 1, 2029 per text, or per Task Force schedule);
    • the annual appropriation amount required to implement the recommendations; and
    • total amounts paid to providers in the most recent fiscal year.

Definitions and scope highlights
- “Human services provider” = community-based organizations with State-funded human services programs.
- “Rate” = reimbursement rate paid by a State agency to a provider.
- “BIPOC” is defined per Illinois statute cross-reference.
- Effective date: immediate (bill text states “effective immediately”).

Who is affected
- Community-based human services providers that contract with DHS and their employees (direct care staff, counselors, caseworkers, etc.).
- DHS and the Governor’s Office (administration, budgeting, and implementation).
- State budget/appropriations if recommended rate increases are adopted.

Potential impact
- Intended to identify and reduce compensation disparities that hinder recruitment/retention in the human services sector.
- Fiscal impacts depend on Task Force recommendations and subsequent legislative appropriations to increase provider reimbursement rates and fund higher wages/benefits.

Status and related legislation
- Sponsors: Rep. Lilian Jiménez (primary) with multiple co-sponsors; Chief co-sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe added Sept. 11, 2025.
- Companion: SB 1833.
- Legislative actions indicate the bill passed the House and was transmitted to the Senate; Task Force and study deadlines are set in statute if enacted.

Note
The packet also contains an unrelated Arizona House Bill 2695 (adult protective services / financial institutions). That is a separate measure and is not part of the Illinois DHS Equitable Pay Act described above.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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