IllinoisCaregivers face penalties for risking harm to dependent adults in 2027
Starting January 1, 2027, caregivers face criminal penalties for knowingly putting older adults or people with disabilities at substantial risk when they cannot care for themselves.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, caregivers face misdemeanor penalties for knowingly creating a substantial likelihood of harm, even without injury. Good-faith care that fails through no fault of the caregiver is excluded.
Starting January 1, 2027, caregiver duties cover people who knowingly provide ongoing primary and substantial care voluntarily. Certain relatives also qualify when they have reason to know someone relies on them.
Starting January 1, 2027, financial exploitation rules describe how trusted people can misuse someone's assets by taking advantage of an impairment or exploiting trust, dependency, or fear.
Argument forDefining improper pressure could help identify financial exploitation when trusted people use someone's impairment, dependency, or fear to misuse their money.
Argument againstCaregivers could face criminal charges without an actual injury, leaving disputes over how much danger their actions or missed care created.
More detail
Caregivers face a Class A misdemeanor, a criminal offense, for knowingly creating a substantial likelihood of harm through their actions or failure to provide needed care. The person receiving care must be unable to meet their own health and personal care needs and be at least 60 or have a permanent physical or mental impairment. The likely harm must involve danger to life, injury to health, or worsening of an existing physical or mental condition. The law excludes caregivers who try in good faith but cannot provide care through no fault of their own. Exceptions cover doctors and nurses using professional judgment within accepted care standards and prayer-based care consistent with the person's religion. These provisions take effect January 1, 2027.
The caregiver definition includes people who voluntarily take on ongoing primary and substantial care and certain relatives relied upon for physical care. Caregiver duties concern health and personal care at the person's residence. The definition excludes licensed care facilities, their staff, and licensed doctors providing ordinary professional care. A volunteer must knowingly provide ongoing primary and substantial help. Their conduct must show that stopping care would harm the person's physical health. Covered relatives must know or reasonably be expected to know about the person's impairment and inability to care for themselves. The caregiver definition takes effect January 1, 2027.
The law defines undue influence—improper use of influence or power—as a way someone trusted by another person can misuse that person's assets. These rules cover adults age 60 or older and people whose physical or mental impairments limit their ability to manage money or property. The conduct includes taking advantage of an impairment or using a role, relationship, or power to exploit trust, dependency, or fear, or deceptively control decisions. Financial exploitation requires someone in a position of trust to knowingly obtain property through deception or intimidation or illegally use assets. The definition of undue influence takes effect January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 31Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0671Latest
- Jul 31Effective Date January 1, 2027
- Jul 31Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 18Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 1Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter
- May 31Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
- May 31Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick
- May 21Passed Both Houses
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 21Third Reading - Passed; 059-000-000Passed Senate
- May 19Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading **
- May 18Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Sally J. Turner
- May 18Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jason Plummer
- May 14Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026
- May 14Second ReadingMinor
- May 6Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026Minor
- May 6Do Pass Criminal Law; 008-000-000
- May 5
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Assigned to Criminal LawMinor
- Apr 10Referred to Assignments
- Apr 10First ReadingMinor
- Apr 10Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton
- Apr 10Placed on Calendar Order of First ReadingMinor
- Apr 10Arrive in SenateMinor
- Apr 9Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel J. Ugaste
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse
- Apr 9Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr
- Apr 9Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 098-001-000Passed House
- Apr 8Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- Apr 8Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Mar 27Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Mar 26Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary - Criminal Committee; 015-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Judiciary - Criminal Committee; by Voice VoteMajor
- Mar 25House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Criminal Committee
- Mar 24House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- Mar 24House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Martha DeuterMinor
- Feb 17Assigned to Judiciary - Criminal CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Referred to Rules Committee
- Feb 6First ReadingMinor
- Jan 29Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Martha DeuterIntroduced
Criminal JusticeDisability Rights