SPRINGFIELD (AP) - A task force examining the safety of Illinois nursing homes is meeting in Springfield to hear public comments.

Today's meeting at the Illinois State Museum Auditorium will be streamed live over the Internet. The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m.

A similar meeting in Chicago lasted four hours. Public testimony included calls for an end to the state's prac-tice of housing younger adults with mental illness in nursing homes and descriptions of violent assaults.

Gov. Pat Quinn formed the task force to respond to concerns for the safety of nursing home residents raised in a recent series of articles in the Chicago Tribune.

Agencies that regulate nursing homes, protect residents' rights and screen potential residents are taking part.