(305 ILCS 5/4-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-8)

Sec. 4-8. Mismanagement of assistance grant.

(a) If the County Department has reason to believe that the money payment for basic maintenance is not being used, or may not be used, in the best interests of the child and the family and that there is present or potential damage to the standards of health and well-being that the grant is intended to assure, the County Department shall provide the parent or other relative with the counseling and guidance services with respect to the use of the grant and the management of other funds available to the family as may be required to assure use of the grant in the best interests of the child and family. The Illinois Department shall by rule prescribe criteria which shall constitute evidence of grant mismanagement. The criteria shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) A determination that a child in the assistance unit is not receiving proper and necessary support or other care for which assistance is being provided under this Code.

(2) A record establishing that the parent or relative has been found guilty of public assistance fraud under Article VIIIA.

(3) A determination by an appropriate person, entity, or agency that the parent or other relative requires treatment for substance use disorders, mental health services, or other special care or treatment.

The Department shall at least consider non-payment of rent for two consecutive months as evidence of grant mismanagement by a parent or relative of a recipient who is responsible for making rental payments for the housing or shelter of the child or family, unless the Department determines that the non-payment is necessary for the protection of the health and well-being of the recipient. The County Department shall advise the parent or other relative grantee that continued mismanagement will result in the application of one of the sanctions specified in this Section.

The Illinois Department shall consider irregular school attendance by children of school age grades 1 through 8, as evidence of lack of proper and necessary support or care. The Department may extend this consideration to children in grades higher than 8.

The Illinois Department shall develop preventive programs in collaboration with school and social service networks to encourage school attendance of children receiving assistance under Article IV. To the extent that Illinois Department and community resources are available, the programs shall serve families whose children in grades 1 through 8 are not attending school regularly, as defined by the school. The Department may extend these programs to families whose children are in grades higher than 8. The programs shall include referrals from the school to a social service network, assessment and development of a service plan by one or more network representatives, and the Illinois Department's encouragement of the family to follow through with the service plan. Families that fail to follow the service plan as determined by the service provider, shall be subject to the protective payment provisions of this Section and Section 4-9 of this Code.

Families for whom a protective payment plan has been in effect for at least 3 months and whose school children continue to regularly miss school shall be subject to sanction under Section 4-21. The sanction shall continue until the children demonstrate satisfactory attendance, as defined by the school. To the extent necessary to implement this Section, the Illinois Department shall seek appropriate waivers of federal requirements from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(b) In areas of the State where clinically appropriate substance use disorder treatment capacity is available, if the local office has reason to believe that a caretaker relative is experiencing a substance use disorder, the local office shall refer the caretaker relative to a licensed treatment provider for assessment. If the assessment indicates that the caretaker relative is experiencing a substance use disorder, the local office shall require the caretaker relative to comply with all treatment recommended by the assessment. If the caretaker relative refuses without good cause, as determined by rules of the Illinois Department, to submit to the assessment or treatment, the caretaker relative shall be ineligible for assistance, and the local office shall take one or more of the following actions:

(i) If there is another family member or friend who is ensuring that the family's needs are being met, that person, if willing, shall be assigned as protective payee.

(ii) If there is no family member or close friend to serve as protective payee, the local office shall provide for a protective payment to a substitute payee as provided in Section 4-9. The Department also shall determine whether a referral to the Department of Children and Family Services is warranted and, if appropriate, shall make the referral.

(iii) The Department shall contact the individual who is thought to be experiencing a substance use disorder and explain why the protective payee has been assigned and refer the individual to treatment.

(c) This subsection (c) applies to cases other than those described in subsection (b). If the efforts to correct the mismanagement of the grant have failed, the County Department, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, shall initiate one or more of the following actions:

1. Provide for a protective payment to a substitute payee, as provided in Section 4-9. This action may be initiated for any assistance unit containing a child determined to be neglected by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and in any case involving a record of public assistance fraud.

2. Provide for issuance of all or part of the grant in the form of disbursing orders. This action may be initiated in any case involving a record of public assistance fraud, or upon the request of a substitute payee designated under Section 4-9.

3. File a petition under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for an Order of Protection under Section 2-25, 2-26, 3-26, 3-27, 4-23, 4-24, 5-730, or 5-735 of that Act.

4. Institute a proceeding under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for the appointment of a guardian or legal representative for the purpose of receiving and managing the public aid grant.

5. If the mismanagement of the grant, together with other factors, has rendered the home unsuitable for the best welfare of the child, file a neglect petition under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, requesting the removal of the child or children.

(Source: P.A. 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)