103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2722

 

Introduced 1/12/2024, by Sen. Laura Fine

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/12-4.11  from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.11

    Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning October 1, 2024, and each October 1 thereafter, the maximum benefit levels under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to at least 40% (rather than 35%) of the most recent poverty guidelines updated periodically by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


LRB103 34759 KTG 64609 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2722LRB103 34759 KTG 64609 b

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 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5changing Section 12-4.11 as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.11)  (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.11)
7    Sec. 12-4.11. Grant amounts. The Department, with due
8regard for and subject to budgetary limitations, shall
9establish grant amounts for each of the programs, by
10regulation. The grant amounts may vary by program, size of
11assistance unit and geographic area. Grant amounts under the
12Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program may not
13vary on the basis of a TANF recipient's county of residence.
14    Aid payments shall not be reduced except: (1) for changes
15in the cost of items included in the grant amounts, or (2) for
16changes in the expenses of the recipient, or (3) for changes in
17the income or resources available to the recipient, or (4) for
18changes in grants resulting from adoption of a consolidated
19grant amount.
20    The maximum benefit levels provided to TANF recipients
21shall increase as follows: beginning October 1, 2023, the
22Department of Human Services shall increase TANF grant amounts
23in effect on September 30, 2023 to at least 35% of the most

 

 

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1recent United States Department of Health and Human Services
2Federal Poverty Guidelines for each family size. Beginning
3October 1, 2024, and each October 1 thereafter, the maximum
4benefit levels shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to
5at least 40% 35% of the most recent poverty guidelines updated
6periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of
7Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C.
89902(2) for each family size.
9    TANF grants for child-only assistance units shall be at
10least 75% of TANF grants for assistance units of the same size
11that consist of a caretaker relative with children.
12    In fixing standards to govern payments or reimbursements
13for funeral and burial expenses, the Department shall
14establish a minimum allowable amount of not less than $1,000
15for Department payment of funeral services and not less than
16$500 for Department payment of burial or cremation services.
17On January 1, 2006, July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, the
18Department shall increase the minimum reimbursement amount for
19funeral and burial expenses under this Section by a percentage
20equal to the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index
21for All Urban Consumers, if any, during the 12 months
22immediately preceding that January 1 or July 1. In
23establishing the minimum allowable amount, the Department
24shall take into account the services essential to a dignified,
25low-cost (i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation, including
26reasonable amounts that may be necessary for burial space and

 

 

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1cemetery charges, and any applicable taxes or other required
2governmental fees or charges. If no person has agreed to pay
3the total cost of the (i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation
4charges, the Department shall pay the vendor the actual costs
5of the (i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation, or the minimum
6allowable amount for each service as established by the
7Department, whichever is less, provided that the Department
8reduces its payments by the amount available from the
9following sources: the decedent's assets and available
10resources and the anticipated amounts of any death benefits
11available to the decedent's estate, and amounts paid and
12arranged to be paid by the decedent's legally responsible
13relatives. A legally responsible relative is expected to pay
14(i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation expenses unless
15financially unable to do so.
16    Nothing contained in this Section or in any other Section
17of this Code shall be construed to prohibit the Illinois
18Department (1) from consolidating existing standards on the
19basis of any standards which are or were in effect on, or
20subsequent to July 1, 1969, or (2) from employing any
21consolidated standards in determining need for public aid and
22the amount of money payment or grant for individual recipients
23or recipient families.
24(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)