HB5157 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 26025 RJF 35455 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5157

Introduced 1/27/2022, by Rep. Joe Sosnowski

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 605/605-1095 new

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer the Illinois In-Person Learning for All Benefit Program to provide reimbursement to parents and guardians to cover the costs of allowable expenses related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Provides that under the Program, an eligible parent or guardian may receive, per child, the lesser of $10,000 or the resident school district's per capita tuition rate. Provides that a parent or guardian may permanently enroll his or her child in a different educational setting and receive reimbursement. Provides Program eligibility requirements. Provides that the Department may use funds appropriated from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide benefits under the Program. Provides for the adoption of rules. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-1095 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-1095 new)

Sec. 605-1095. In-Person Learning for All Benefit Program.

(a) The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer the Illinois In-Person Learning for All Benefit Program to provide reimbursement to parents and guardians to cover the costs of allowable expenses if the public school attended by a child of a parent or guardian has closed or transitioned to remote learning for any amount of time beginning with the 2021-2022 school year and in any subsequent school year due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

(b) Parents and guardians may apply to the Program for any education interrupted by a school closure or transition to remote learning for any number of school days in which the parent or guardian must use personal funds to cover the costs of any allowable expense. Under the Program, an eligible parent or guardian may receive, per child, the lesser of $10,000 or the resident school district's per capita tuition rate. A parent or guardian may permanently enroll his or her child in a different educational setting and receive reimbursement under this Section.

(c) In applying for benefits under the Program, the parent or guardian must submit: (i) proof of student enrollment in a public elementary or secondary school in this State; (ii) proof that the child's public school either closed or transitioned to remote learning for any number of days; (iii) proof of expenditures made by the parent or guardian for any allowable expenses; and (iv) proof of income eligibility. In order to be eligible for the Program, the child's family must also have a household income at or below 350% of the Federal Poverty Level.

(d) The Department may use funds appropriated from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide benefits under the Program.

(e) The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education, shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

(f) For purposes of this Section:

"Allowable expenses" includes school tuition, including nonpublic school tuition, childcare, daycare, after-school care, and before-school care fees, online tutoring, learning materials and curricula programs, and school-related transportation costs.

"Program" means the Illinois In-Person Learning for All Benefit Program created under this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.