SB2545 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 16331 KTG 31593 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB2545

Introduced 1/12/2010, by Sen. Mattie Hunter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/9A-2	from Ch. 23, par. 9A-2
305 ILCS 5/9A-4	from Ch. 23, par. 9A-4

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Changes the definition of the term "recipient", as used in specified provisions under the Code, to mean persons who receive aid under the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) Program for themselves and nonrecipient parents receiving aid for their children (rather than persons who receive aid under the TANF program). Provides for additional circumstances under which a TANF recipient is exempt from participating in the Department of Human Services' education, training, and employment program. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public aid.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Sections 9A-2 and 9A-4 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/9A-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-2)

Sec. 9A-2. As used in this Article only, "recipient" means only those persons receiving aid under Article IV for themselves and nonrecipient parents receiving aid under Article IV for their children.

(Source: P.A. 86-1184; 86-1381.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-4)

Sec. 9A-4. Participation.

(a) Except for those exempted under subsection (b) below, and to the extent resources permit, the Illinois Department as a condition of eligibility for public aid, may, as provided by rule, require all recipients to participate in an education, training, and employment program, which shall include accepting suitable employment and refraining from terminating employment or reducing earnings without good cause.

(b) Recipients shall be exempt from the requirement of participation in the education, training, and employment program in the following circumstances:

(1) The recipient is a person over age 60; or

(2) The recipient is a person with a child under age one; .

(3) The recipient is a child who is not a parent;

(4) The recipient is a parent in a family when only children are receiving TANF benefits and the parent is an alien who is ineligible to receive assistance due to his or her immigration status;

(5) The recipient is a parent in a family when only children are receiving TANF benefits and the parent is a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or regular Social Security Disability benefits; or

(6) The recipient is a parent providing care for a disabled family member living in the home who does not attend school on a full-time basis.

Recipients are entitled to request a reasonable modification to the requirement of participation in the education, training and employment program in order to accommodate a qualified individual with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for a reasonable modification shall be evaluated on a case-by-case functional basis by designated staff based on Department rule. All such requests shall be monitored as part of the agency's quality assurance process or processes to attest to the expediency with which such requests are addressed. Implementation of the changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly is subject to appropriation.

(Source: P.A. 94-629, eff. 1-1-06.)

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