Sen. Steve Stadelman

Filed: 5/2/2016

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2906

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2906, AS AMENDED,
3by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
4following:
 
5    "Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
6changing Section 9A-8 as follows:
 
7    (305 ILCS 5/9A-8)  (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8)
8    Sec. 9A-8. Operation of Program.
9    (a) At the time of application or redetermination of
10eligibility under Article IV, as determined by rule, the
11Illinois Department shall provide information in writing and
12orally regarding the education, training and employment
13program to all applicants and recipients. The information
14required shall be established by rule and shall include, but
15need not be limited to:
16        (1) education (including literacy training),

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1    achieve the employment goal. The Department shall treat
2    participation in high school and high school equivalency
3    programs as a core activity and count participation in high
4    school and high school equivalency programs toward the
5    first 20 hours per week of participation. The Department
6    shall approve participation in high school or high school
7    equivalency programs upon written or oral request of the
8    participant if he or she has not already earned a high
9    school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate.
10    However, participation in high school or high school
11    equivalency programs may be delayed as part of an
12    applicant's or recipient's personal plan for achieving
13    employment and self-sufficiency if it is determined that
14    the benefit from participating in another activity, such
15    as, but not limited to, treatment for substance abuse or an
16    English proficiency program, would be greater to the
17    applicant or recipient than participation in high school or
18    a high school equivalency program. The availability of high
19    school and high school equivalency programs may also delay
20    enrollment in those programs. The Department shall treat
21    such activities as a core activity as long as satisfactory
22    progress is made, as determined by the high school or high
23    school equivalency program. Proof of satisfactory progress
24    shall be provided by the participant or the school at the
25    end of each academic term; and
26        (4) describe any other needs of the family that might

 

 

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1    be met by the Department.
2    (g) The employability plan shall take into account:
3        (1) available program resources;
4        (2) the participant's support service needs;
5        (3) the participant's skills level and aptitudes;
6        (4) local employment opportunities; and
7        (5) the preferences of the participant.
8    (h) A reassessment shall be conducted to assess a
9participant's progress and to review the employability plan on
10the following occasions:
11        (1) upon completion of an activity and before
12    assignment to an activity;
13        (2) upon the request of the participant;
14        (3) if the individual is not cooperating with the
15    requirements of the program; and
16        (4) if the individual has failed to make satisfactory
17    progress in an education or training program.
18    Based on the reassessment, the Department may revise the
19employability plan of the participant.
20(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)".