SB1278 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 29994 KTG 56414 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1278

Introduced 2/3/2023, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Task Force on Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren to conduct public hearings throughout the State regarding services needed by and available to grandparents raising their grandchildren. Provides that the Task Force shall be comprised of 10 appointed members of the General Assembly who shall serve without compensation. Requires the Department on Aging, in collaboration with the Departments of Children and Family Services, Healthcare and Family Services, and Human Services and any other relevant agencies, to issue a report to the Task Force by July 1, 2023 that assesses existing State and federal assistance programs that include the following: (1) a review of all guaranteed benefits and other available support provided to grandparents through the Department of Children and Family Services' foster care program, the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance program, and other relevant programs; (2) a review of all guaranteed benefits and other available support provided to grandparents through the Department of Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and other relevant programs; (3) a review of all other means of grandparent-related support provided by State-funded and federally funded programs; and (4) the estimated cost to the State if grandparents were not willing to or refused to take custody of and raise their grandchildren. Requires the Task Force to submit a report to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2024 that makes recommendations on changes that should be made to services provided to grandparents raising their grandchildren through the foster care and TANF "child-only" grant programs. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning grandparent caregiver.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Task Force on Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) In Illinois, over 200,000 children under the age of 18 are living with and being cared for by more than 100,000 grandparents.

(2) Grandparent caregivers, the majority of whom are single women ranging in age from 30 to 90 with an average annual income of $15,000 to $25,000, typically raise one to 2 grandchildren and have been doing so for 5 years or longer.

(3) Factors contributing to the growing number of grandparents raising grandchildren include, but are not limited to, alcohol and drug abuse, neglect, abuse, abandonment, death of a parent, HIV/AIDS, divorce, unemployment, poverty, parental incarceration, teen pregnancy, and welfare reform.

(4) Due to their assumed caregiving responsibilities, many grandparents deplete their savings and retirement income and face severe financial risk and economic strains while struggling to pay for expenses related to caring for their grandchildren, such as, but not limited to, food, diapers, clothing, child care, medical treatment, legal assistance, and housing needs.

(5) Many grandparents take custody of and raise their grandchildren after a harmful incident has been suffered by their grandchildren that has caused the Department of Children and Family Services to designate them to be "at risk".

(6) Many other grandparents take preventive measures by choosing to take custody of and raise their grandchildren prior to their grandchildren suffering a harmful incident when they recognize that their grandchildren's health, safety, and welfare are at risk.

(7) Grandparents who take custody of their grandchildren prior to the grandchildren's suffering of a harmful incident are ineligible for foster care funding and assistance from the Department of Children and Family Services.

(8) The only financial assistance option for this group of grandparents is "child only" grants from the Department of Human Services' Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.

(9) The Department of Children and Family Services' foster care program provides monthly financial assistance that is 3 to 4 times greater than the TANF "child only" grants, and it also provides counseling, child care support, education services, college scholarships, and health services.

(10) Grandparents raising grandchildren who are not in the foster care program are as valuable to the grandchildren and to the State as those who are in the foster care program.

(11) A significant function of government is to promote the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.

Section 10. Task Force on Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren.

(a) The Task Force on Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren is created and shall be comprised of 10 members of the General Assembly appointed as follows:

(1) Three members of the Senate, one of whom shall be co-chairperson, appointed by the President of the Senate.

(2) Two members of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(3) Three members of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be co-chairperson, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(b) Task Force members shall serve without compensation. The Department on Aging shall provide administrative support to the Task Force.

Section 15. Agency reports. The Department on Aging, in collaboration with the Departments of Children and Family Services, Healthcare and Family Services, and Human Services and any other relevant agencies, shall issue a report to the Task Force no later than July 1, 2023 that assesses existing State and federal assistance programs, including the following:

(1) a review of all guaranteed benefits and other available support provided to grandparents through the Department of Children and Family Services' foster care program, including counseling, child care support, education services, college scholarships, and health services; the Children's Health Insurance Program; the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance program; and other relevant programs;

(2) a review of all guaranteed benefits and other available support provided to grandparents through the Department of Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and other relevant programs;

(3) a review of all other means of grandparent-related support provided by State-funded and federally funded programs; and

(4) the estimated cost to the State if grandparents were not willing to or refused to take custody of and raise their grandchildren.

Section 20. Public hearings. The Task Force shall hold public hearings throughout the State regarding services needed by and available to grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Section 25. Task Force reports. The Task Force shall issue a report to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2024 that makes recommendations on changes that should be made to services provided to grandparents raising their grandchildren through the foster care and TANF "child-only" grant programs.

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