(305 ILCS 5/4-22)

Sec. 4-22. Domestic and sexual violence.

(a) The assessment process to develop the personal plan for achieving self-sufficiency shall include questions that screen for domestic and sexual violence issues. If the individual indicates that he or she is the victim of domestic or sexual violence and indicates a need to address domestic or sexual violence issues in order to reach self-sufficiency, the plan shall take this factor into account in determining the work, education, and training activities suitable to the client for achieving self-sufficiency. In addition, in such a case, specific steps needed to directly address the domestic or sexual violence issues may also be made part of the plan, including referral to an available domestic or sexual violence program. The Department shall conduct an individualized assessment and grant waivers of program requirements and other required activities for victims of domestic violence to the fullest extent allowed by 42 U.S.C. 602(a)(7)(A), and shall apply the same laws, regulations, and policies to victims of sexual violence. The duration of such waivers shall be initially determined and subsequently redetermined on a case-by-case basis. There shall be no limitation on the total number of months for which waivers under this Section may be granted, but continuing eligibility for a waiver shall be redetermined no less often than every 6 months.

(b) The Illinois Department shall develop and monitor compliance procedures for its employees, contractors, and subcontractors to ensure that any information pertaining to any client who claims to be a past or present victim of domestic violence or an individual at risk of further domestic violence, whether provided by the victim or by a third party, will remain confidential.

(c) The Illinois Department shall develop and implement a domestic violence training curriculum for Illinois Department employees who serve applicants for and recipients of aid under this Article. The curriculum shall be designed to better equip those employees to identify and serve domestic violence victims. The Illinois Department may enter into a contract for the development of the curriculum with one or more organizations providing services to domestic violence victims. The Illinois Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this subsection.

(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)