(20 ILCS 1305/10-25)

Sec. 10-25. Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program.

(a) The Department shall participate in the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition program of the federal government to the maximum extent permitted by the federal appropriation and allocation to the State of Illinois. In order to efficiently process electronically issued WIC benefits, the Department may use an account held outside of the state treasury for the deposit and issuance of WIC benefits. The Department shall report quarterly to the Governor and the General Assembly the status of obligations and expenditures of the WIC nutrition program appropriation and make recommendations on actions necessary to expend all available federal funds. Other appropriations and funds from any public or private source in addition to federal funds may be used by the Department for the purpose of maximum participation in the WIC nutrition program.

(b) The Department shall maintain a drug abuse education program for participants in the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program. The program shall include but need not be limited to (1) the provision of information concerning the dangers of drug abuse and (2) the referral of participants who are suspected drug abusers to drug abuse clinics, treatment programs, counselors or other drug abuse treatment providers.

(c) The Department shall cooperate with the Department of Public Health for purposes of the smoking cessation program for participants in the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program maintained by the Department of Public Health under Section 2310-435 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law (20 ILCS 2310/2310-435).

(d) The Department may contract with any bank as defined by the Illinois Banking Act to redeem bank drafts issued by the Department under the United States Department of Agriculture Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Any bank with which the Department has entered into a contract to redeem bank drafts may receive, pursuant to an appropriation to the Department, an initial advance and periodic payment of funds for the Women, Infants and Children Program in amounts determined by the Secretary. Notwithstanding any other law, such funds shall be retained in a separate account by the bank. Any interest earned by monies in such account shall accrue to the USDA Women, Infants and Children Fund and shall be used exclusively for the redemption of bank drafts issued by the Department. WIC program food funds received by the bank from the Department shall be used exclusively for the redemption of bank drafts. The bank shall not use such food funds, or interest accrued thereon, for any other purpose including, but not limited to, reimbursement of administrative expenses or payments of administrative fees due the bank pursuant to its contract or contracts with the Department.

Such initial and periodic payments by the Department to the bank shall be effected, pursuant to an appropriation, in an amount needed for the redemption of bank drafts issued by the Department under the United States Department of Agriculture Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children in any initial or succeeding period. The State Comptroller shall, upon presentation by the Secretary of adequate certification of funds needed for redemption of bank drafts, promptly draw a warrant payable to the bank for deposit to the separate account of the bank. Such certification may be in magnetic tape or computer output form, indicating the amount of the total payment made by the bank for the redemption of bank drafts from funds provided to the bank under this Section.

The separate account of the bank established under this Section, any payments to that account, and the use of such account and funds shall be subject to (1) audit by the Department or a private contractor authorized by the Department to conduct audits, including but not limited to such audits as may be required by State law, (2) audit by the federal government or a private contractor authorized by the federal government, and (3) post audit pursuant to the Illinois State Auditing Act.

(e) The Department may include a program of lactation support services as part of the benefits and services provided for pregnant and breast feeding participants in the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program. The program may include payment for breast pumps, breast shields, or any supply deemed essential for the successful maintenance of lactation, as well as lactation specialists who are registered nurses, licensed dietitians, or persons who have successfully completed a lactation management training program.

(f) The Department shall coordinate the operation of the Women, Infants and Children program with the Medicaid program by interagency agreement whereby each program provides information about the services offered by the other to applicants for services.

(Source: P.A. 101-636, eff. 6-10-20.)