Sen. Steve Stadelman

Filed: 3/29/2016

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2906

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2906 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
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

 

 

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1    criteria for approval of those opportunities, and the right
2    to request changes in the personal responsibility and
3    services plan to include those opportunities;
4        (1.1) a complete list of all activities that are
5    approvable activities, and the circumstances under which
6    they are approvable, including work activities, substance
7    abuse or mental health treatment, activities to escape and
8    prevent domestic violence, caring for a medically impaired
9    family member, and any other approvable activities,
10    together with the right to and procedures for amending the
11    responsibility and services plan to include these
12    activities;
13        (1.2) the rules concerning the lifetime limit on
14    eligibility, including the current status of the applicant
15    or recipient in terms of the months of remaining
16    eligibility, the criteria under which a month will not
17    count towards the lifetime limit, and the criteria under
18    which a recipient may receive benefits beyond the end of
19    the lifetime limit;
20        (2) supportive services including child care and the
21    rules regarding eligibility for and access to the child
22    care assistance program, transportation, initial expenses
23    of employment, job retention, books and fees, and any other
24    supportive services;
25        (3) the obligation of the Department to provide
26    supportive services;

 

 

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1        (4) the rights and responsibilities of participants,
2    including exemption, sanction, reconciliation, and good
3    cause criteria and procedures, termination for
4    non-cooperation and reinstatement rules and procedures,
5    and appeal and grievance procedures; and
6        (5) the types and locations of child care services.
7    (b) The Illinois Department shall notify the recipient in
8writing of the opportunity to volunteer to participate in the
9program.
10    (c) (Blank).
11    (d) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment
12and self-sufficiency, the Department shall conduct an
13individualized assessment of the participant's employability.
14No participant may be assigned to any component of the
15education, training and employment activity prior to such
16assessment. The plan shall include collection of information on
17the individual's background, proficiencies, skills
18deficiencies, education level, work history, employment goals,
19interests, aptitudes, and employment preferences, as well as
20factors affecting employability or ability to meet
21participation requirements (e.g., health, physical or mental
22limitations, child care, family circumstances, domestic
23violence, sexual violence, substance abuse, and special needs
24of any child of the individual). As part of the plan,
25individuals and Department staff shall work together to
26identify any supportive service needs required to enable the

 

 

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1client to participate and meet the objectives of his or her
2employability plan. The assessment may be conducted through
3various methods such as interviews, testing, counseling, and
4self-assessment instruments. In the assessment process, the
5Department shall offer to include standard literacy testing and
6a determination of English language proficiency and shall
7provide it for those who accept the offer. Based on the
8assessment, the individual will be assigned to the appropriate
9activity. The decision will be based on a determination of the
10individual's level of preparation for employment as defined by
11rule.
12    (e) Recipients determined to be exempt may volunteer to
13participate pursuant to Section 9A-4 and must be assessed.
14    (f) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment
15and self-sufficiency under Section 4-1, an employability plan
16for recipients shall be developed in consultation with the
17participant. The Department shall have final responsibility
18for approving the employability plan. The employability plan
19shall:
20        (1) contain an employment goal of the participant;
21        (2) describe the services to be provided by the
22    Department, including child care and other support
23    services;
24        (3) describe the activities, such as component
25    assignment, that will be undertaken by the participant to
26    achieve the employment goal. The Department shall treat

 

 

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1    participation in high school and high school equivalency
2    programs as work activities under 42 U.S.C. 607(c)(1)(A)
3    and (B) and count participation in high school and high
4    school equivalency programs toward the first 20 hours per
5    week of participation; and
6        (4) describe any other needs of the family that might
7    be met by the Department.
8    (g) The employability plan shall take into account:
9        (1) available program resources;
10        (2) the participant's support service needs;
11        (3) the participant's skills level and aptitudes;
12        (4) local employment opportunities; and
13        (5) the preferences of the participant.
14    (h) A reassessment shall be conducted to assess a
15participant's progress and to review the employability plan on
16the following occasions:
17        (1) upon completion of an activity and before
18    assignment to an activity;
19        (2) upon the request of the participant;
20        (3) if the individual is not cooperating with the
21    requirements of the program; and
22        (4) if the individual has failed to make satisfactory
23    progress in an education or training program.
24    Based on the reassessment, the Department may revise the
25employability plan of the participant.
26(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)".