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SB 3615

HIV/AIDS RESPONSE FUND GRANTS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Kimberly Lightford

Creates a Fund to replenish and guide annual grants for African-American HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Illinois, including Centers of Excellence and priority grants.

Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
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Bill Summary · SB 3615

Summary of Bill SB3615 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Title: HIV/AIDS RESPONSE FUND GRANTS

Directly related act: African-American HIV/AIDS Response Act

Effective date: Immediate upon enactment

Status: Introduced February 5, 2026 by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford; proposed amendments to Sections of the Act, with repeals of certain provisions. Rulemaking and fund transfer provisions would take effect as specified. (Note: This is a bill as introduced; final status would depend on legislative action.)

1) Main purpose and intent

  • To replenish and programmatically guide funding for African-American HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts in Illinois.
  • Establishes a framework for annual transfers to the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund (the Fund) to ensure a minimum level of resources for grants and program activities.
  • Modernizes and clarifies grant administration, prioritization, and long-term sustainability of a Black-led HIV/AIDS infrastructure in Illinois.

2) Key provisions and changes

A. Creation and funding of the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund

  • The Fund is a special fund in the State treasury.
  • Source of moneys: General Assembly appropriations, federal funds, and other public resources.
  • Governance and administration may designate a lead agent to administer grants and subgrantees, with the grant administration exempt from certain Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) public notice requirements to ensure timely distribution, while still maintaining necessary accountability.
  • On August 1 of each year (starting in 2026), the Comptroller shall order and the Treasurer shall transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the Fund an amount equal to the difference:
    • (i) $15,000,000 minus
    • (ii) the amount appropriated to the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund by the General Assembly for the current fiscal year.
  • This mechanism ensures a target annual baseline funding level for the Fund, subject to appropriations.

B. Purposes and use of Fund resources

  • Grants to support programs to prevent HIV transmission and other related HIV/AIDS activities, including:
    • Prevention planning targeting high-risk African-American communities.
    • Building and sustaining HIV/AIDS service delivery infrastructure.
    • Statewide HIV testing programs.
    • Funding HIV/AIDS research to improve prevention and treatment.
    • Technical and operational support for African-American community service organizations involved in HIV/AIDS work.
    • Infrastructure development to reduce dependency on government resources.
    • Creation and maintenance of at least one Black-led Center of Excellence HIV Biomedical Resource Hub for every $3,000,000 of available funding.
    • Centers can be stand-alone or collaborative.
    • Services may include PrEP assessment, same-day prescription delivery, primary HIV care or referrals, case management, mental health and substance use services, nutrition, housing, financial assistance, workforce development, criminal justice support, and advocacy.

C. Priorities for grantmaking

  • The Department of Public Health (IDPH) must prioritize comprehensive medical and social services for African-Americans at risk of infection or living with HIV/AIDS in areas with the greatest geographic prevalence.

D. Rules and administration

  • IDPH is tasked with adopting rules under the Fund to implement and administer grants.
  • The Act includes provisions to update the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Code (77 Ill. Admin. Code Part 691) and adapt grant processes (e.g., eligibility criteria for community-based organizations, application windows, and carryover of unexpended funds).

E. Repeals and repurposed sections

  • Repeals provisions related to African-American HIV/AIDS Response Officers and the HIV/AIDS Response Review Panel (sections related to those roles/panels are repealed).
  • Removes or repurposes certain sections of the Act (Sections 10 and 25 rep).

3) Who/what would be affected

  • African-American communities in Illinois at risk for HIV infection or living with HIV/AIDS would be direct beneficiaries through grants and program support.
  • African-American community-based organizations (CBOs) delivering HIV prevention and treatment services would be primary recipients or partners, including potential Centers of Excellence.
  • Department of Public Health (IDPH) would oversee grant administration, rulemaking, and implementation of the Fund.
  • The General Revenue Fund and the State treasury would be involved in annual transfers to the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund, affecting budgeting and annual appropriations.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Transfer mechanism: Annually on August 1, beginning August 1, 2026, transfers from General Revenue Fund to the Fund equal to $15,000,000 minus the current year’s appropriations for African-American HIV/AIDS Response Grants.
  • Rulemaking timeline: IDPH to adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the Fund; amendments to the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Code to reflect new definitions and processes to be adopted “as soon as practical” after the effective date.
  • Grant application window (under proposed amendments): Applications for award of African-American HIV/AIDS Response Grants may be accepted between March 1 and April 30 each year.
  • Carryover provision: Funds awarded but not expended in a given fiscal year may be used for the same purposes in the following fiscal year without reapplication.
  • Minimum grant diversity: Annual awards to at least 15 different African-American community-based organizations.
  • Center of Excellence funding: A rule-based expectation that Centers of Excellence be created/maintained, with a funding rule tied to every $3,000,000 of available funding.

5) Effective date

  • Effective immediately upon enactment, with subsequent rulemaking and transfers outlined above.

Note: This summary reflects the introduced text of SB3615 and its proposed amendments. Final legislative text and enacted provisions may differ.

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

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