SB2906 EngrossedLRB099 18090 KTG 42455 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 9A-8 as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/9A-8)  (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8)
7    Sec. 9A-8. Operation of Program.
8    (a) At the time of application or redetermination of
9eligibility under Article IV, as determined by rule, the
10Illinois Department shall provide information in writing and
11orally regarding the education, training and employment
12program to all applicants and recipients. The information
13required shall be established by rule and shall include, but
14need not be limited to:
15        (1) education (including literacy training),
16    employment and training opportunities available, the
17    criteria for approval of those opportunities, and the right
18    to request changes in the personal responsibility and
19    services plan to include those opportunities;
20        (1.1) a complete list of all activities that are
21    approvable activities, and the circumstances under which
22    they are approvable, including work activities, substance
23    abuse or mental health treatment, activities to escape and

 

 

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1    prevent domestic violence, caring for a medically impaired
2    family member, and any other approvable activities,
3    together with the right to and procedures for amending the
4    responsibility and services plan to include these
5    activities;
6        (1.2) the rules concerning the lifetime limit on
7    eligibility, including the current status of the applicant
8    or recipient in terms of the months of remaining
9    eligibility, the criteria under which a month will not
10    count towards the lifetime limit, and the criteria under
11    which a recipient may receive benefits beyond the end of
12    the lifetime limit;
13        (2) supportive services including child care and the
14    rules regarding eligibility for and access to the child
15    care assistance program, transportation, initial expenses
16    of employment, job retention, books and fees, and any other
17    supportive services;
18        (3) the obligation of the Department to provide
19    supportive services;
20        (4) the rights and responsibilities of participants,
21    including exemption, sanction, reconciliation, and good
22    cause criteria and procedures, termination for
23    non-cooperation and reinstatement rules and procedures,
24    and appeal and grievance procedures; and
25        (5) the types and locations of child care services.
26    (b) The Illinois Department shall notify the recipient in

 

 

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1writing of the opportunity to volunteer to participate in the
2program.
3    (c) (Blank).
4    (d) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment
5and self-sufficiency, the Department shall conduct an
6individualized assessment of the participant's employability.
7No participant may be assigned to any component of the
8education, training and employment activity prior to such
9assessment. The plan shall include collection of information on
10the individual's background, proficiencies, skills
11deficiencies, education level, work history, employment goals,
12interests, aptitudes, and employment preferences, as well as
13factors affecting employability or ability to meet
14participation requirements (e.g., health, physical or mental
15limitations, child care, family circumstances, domestic
16violence, sexual violence, substance abuse, and special needs
17of any child of the individual). As part of the plan,
18individuals and Department staff shall work together to
19identify any supportive service needs required to enable the
20client to participate and meet the objectives of his or her
21employability plan. The assessment may be conducted through
22various methods such as interviews, testing, counseling, and
23self-assessment instruments. In the assessment process, the
24Department shall offer to include standard literacy testing and
25a determination of English language proficiency and shall
26provide it for those who accept the offer. Based on the

 

 

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1assessment, the individual will be assigned to the appropriate
2activity. The decision will be based on a determination of the
3individual's level of preparation for employment as defined by
4rule.
5    (e) Recipients determined to be exempt may volunteer to
6participate pursuant to Section 9A-4 and must be assessed.
7    (f) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment
8and self-sufficiency under Section 4-1, an employability plan
9for recipients shall be developed in consultation with the
10participant. The Department shall have final responsibility
11for approving the employability plan. The employability plan
12shall:
13        (1) contain an employment goal of the participant;
14        (2) describe the services to be provided by the
15    Department, including child care and other support
16    services;
17        (3) describe the activities, such as component
18    assignment, that will be undertaken by the participant to
19    achieve the employment goal. The Department shall treat
20    participation in high school and high school equivalency
21    programs as a core activity and count participation in high
22    school and high school equivalency programs toward the
23    first 20 hours per week of participation. The Department
24    shall approve participation in high school or high school
25    equivalency programs upon written or oral request of the
26    participant if he or she has not already earned a high

 

 

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1    school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate.
2    However, participation in high school or high school
3    equivalency programs may be delayed as part of an
4    applicant's or recipient's personal plan for achieving
5    employment and self-sufficiency if it is determined that
6    the benefit from participating in another activity, such
7    as, but not limited to, treatment for substance abuse or an
8    English proficiency program, would be greater to the
9    applicant or recipient than participation in high school or
10    a high school equivalency program. The availability of high
11    school and high school equivalency programs may also delay
12    enrollment in those programs. The Department shall treat
13    such activities as a core activity as long as satisfactory
14    progress is made, as determined by the high school or high
15    school equivalency program. Proof of satisfactory progress
16    shall be provided by the participant or the school at the
17    end of each academic term; and
18        (4) describe any other needs of the family that might
19    be met by the Department.
20    (g) The employability plan shall take into account:
21        (1) available program resources;
22        (2) the participant's support service needs;
23        (3) the participant's skills level and aptitudes;
24        (4) local employment opportunities; and
25        (5) the preferences of the participant.
26    (h) A reassessment shall be conducted to assess a

 

 

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1participant's progress and to review the employability plan on
2the following occasions:
3        (1) upon completion of an activity and before
4    assignment to an activity;
5        (2) upon the request of the participant;
6        (3) if the individual is not cooperating with the
7    requirements of the program; and
8        (4) if the individual has failed to make satisfactory
9    progress in an education or training program.
10    Based on the reassessment, the Department may revise the
11employability plan of the participant.
12(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)