HJ0023LRB102 04431 LAW 14449 r


  
1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The Illinois ABLE program is a transformative 
3tool for Illinoisans with disabilities and their families who 
4want to save for additional expenses that come with living 
5with a disability; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Before ABLE, people with disabilities lived with 
7chronic financial insecurity, and only those with means had a 
8real pathway to financial independence and to achieve the 
9promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act to assure 
10equality of opportunity, full participation, independent 
11living, and economic self-sufficiency; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, In 2014, a great bi-partisan victory was achieved 
13when members of Congress joined together to pass the Stephen 
14Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, making 
15it possible for people with disabilities to save for 
16disability expenses without losing federal means-tested 
17benefits, and more than 43 states plus the District of 
18Columbia have launched ABLE programs since then; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly passed ABLE 
20legislation in 2015, and Illinois now leads a 18-state 
21National ABLE Alliance, representing approximately one-quarter 
22of the ABLE eligible population nationwide; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Illinois ABLE was launched by the State 
2Treasurer's Office in January 2017, and four years later, as 
3of January 1, 2021, more than 1,900 Illinois ABLE accounts 
4have been opened; approximately $17 million  has been 
5contributed to save for a wide range of qualified disability 
6expenses, such as therapy, adaptive equipment, training, 
7transportation, job coaching, housing, and more; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Illinois ABLE has created a pathway to greater 
9financial independence for Illinoisans with disabilities and 
10their families, incentivizes employment of people with 
11disabilities, and increases economic self-reliance and 
12person-centered independence for many individuals with 
13disabilities; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, The State Treasurer offers his thanks and 
15heartfelt appreciation for the path that Illinois lawmakers 
16blazed four years ago and acknowledges that we must build upon 
17our progress to keep Illinois ABLE on the path to advancement 
18through cooperation and collaboration with Illinois human 
19services agencies and departments to accomplish the long term 
20goals of the ABLE ACT; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Illinois human services agencies and departments, 
22including the Illinois Department of Human Services, the 
 
 
HJ0023- 3 -LRB102 04431 LAW 14449 r

1Division of Family and Community Services, the Division of 
2Rehabilitation Services, the Division of Mental Health, the 
3Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Division of 
4Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, the Department of 
5Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and 
6Family Services, the Department on Aging, and the Illinois 
7State Board of Education can aid in the identification of 
8ABLE-eligible persons and direct the dissemination of 
9information about ABLE through a direct connection to 
10approximately 300,000 people in the State of Illinois who are 
11ABLE-eligible; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The State Treasurer recognizes these State 
13agencies and departments for their excellent service to people 
14with disabilities across the State and looks to achieve 
15support from these agencies and departments in helping 
16Illinoisans with disabilities achieve a better life experience 
17through ABLE savings plans as they are essential to the 
18continued success of Illinois ABLE; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
20HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
21SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we encourage these State 
22agencies and departments to continue their efforts to train 
23staff and share information about Illinois ABLE to the 
24beneficiaries they serve; and be it further
  
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
2delivered to the Illinois Department of Human Services, the 
3Division of Family and Community Services, the Division of 
4Rehabilitation Services, the Division of Mental Health, the 
5Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Division of 
6Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, the Department of 
7Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and 
8Family Services, the Department on Aging, the Illinois State 
9Board of Education, and the Treasurer's Office.