101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB3492

 

Introduced , by Rep. Aaron M. Ortiz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish an Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program (Program) to ensure the availability and affordability of broadband service to low income families. Provides that the Department shall coordinate with Local Administrative Agencies (LAAs) to determine eligibility for the Program, provided that eligible income shall be no more than 135% of the federal poverty level. Provides that families whose annual household income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty level shall be eligible for free broadband service. Provides that a credit of at least $9.95 a month for broadband services shall be payable monthly to: (i) families whose annual household income is above 100% of the federal poverty level but no greater than 135% of the federal poverty level; and (ii) families that include at least one adult person or dependent child who qualifies for or participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Supplemental Security Income program, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits Programs, and other specified assistance programs. Provides that the $9.95 broadband service credit may be adjusted according to family size. Provides that families who participate in the federal Lifeline program or any other State Internet service subsidy program shall not be eligible to participate in the Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program. Contains provisions concerning continued eligibility requirements; bill payments requirements; and rulemaking authority.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Section:
7    "Broadband service" means a high speed service connection
8to the public Internet capable of supporting, in at least one
9direction, a speed in excess of 200 kilobits per second (kbps)
10to the network demarcation point at the subscriber's premises.
11    "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
12Opportunity.
13    "Economic unit" means all adult individuals contributing
14to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household.
15    "Family" or "household" means any individual or group of
16individuals who live together at the same address as one
17economic unit.
18    "Federal poverty level" means the poverty guidelines
19updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S.
20Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines set
21poverty levels by family size.
 
22    Section 10. Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance

 

 

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1Program. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
2shall establish an Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance
3Program to ensure the availability and affordability of
4broadband service to low income families. The Department shall
5coordinate with Local Administrative Agencies (LAAs) to
6determine eligibility for the Program, provided that eligible
7income shall be no more than 135% of the federal poverty level.
 
8    Section 15. Eligible families.
9    (a) Families whose annual household income is at or below
10100% of the federal poverty level shall be eligible for free
11broadband service.
12    (b) A credit of at least $9.95 a month for broadband
13services shall be payable monthly to:
14        (1) families whose annual household income is above
15    100% of the federal poverty level but no greater than 135%
16    of the federal poverty level; and
17        (2) families that include at least one adult person or
18    dependent child who qualifies for or received benefits
19    under one of the following programs:
20            (A) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
21            (B) Supplemental Security Income program.
22            (C) Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits
23        Programs.
24            (D) Federal Public Housing Assistance Program.
25            (E) Medical Assistance Program under Article V of

 

 

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1        the Illinois Public Aid Code.
2            (F) Tribal Programs for Native Americans.
3            (G) National School Lunch Program.
4    Credit amounts provided under this subsection (b) may be
5adjusted according to family size as prescribed by the
6Department.
7    (c) Families who receive a discount for broadband service
8under the federal Lifeline program or any other State Internet
9service subsidy program shall not be eligible to participate in
10the Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program.
 
11    Section 20. Application requirements; continued
12eligibility. To be eligible for free broadband service or a
13monthly credit for broadband service under this Act an
14applicant must provide proof of eligibility in the form and
15manner prescribed by the Department. Families who participate
16in the Program must annually recertify their eligibility.
17Families who fail to recertify their eligibility shall be
18disenrolled from the Program.
 
19    Section 25. Broadband service payments and credit.
20    (a) For each family enrolled in the Illinois Low Income
21Broadband Assistance Program, the Department shall remit,
22through the LAAs, to the broadband service provider that
23portion of the family's bill that is not the responsibility of
24the family. For purposes of this Section, payment is due on the

 

 

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1date specified on the family's bill. The Department, the
2Department of Revenue, and LAAs shall adopt processes that
3provide for the timely payment required by this Section.
4    (b) Each family that receives a credit for broadband
5service under subsection (b) of Section 15 is responsible for
6all actual charges for broadband service in excess of the
7credit provided under subsection (b) of Section 15. The
8Department may terminate a program participant's eligibility
9for the credit available under subsection (b) of Section 15
10upon notification by the broadband service provider that the
11participant's monthly service payment is more than 45 days past
12due.
 
13    Section 30. Rules. The Department may adopt any rules
14necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.