HB3211 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 10886 KTG 21121 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB3211

Introduced , by Rep. Litesa E. Wallace

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/12-4.13b new

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to identify and flag all college students who are potentially eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Provides that the factors to be used to determine potential SNAP eligibility shall be prescribed by the Department of Human Services by rule, but at a minimum the Department shall consider income information reported on a college student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Requires ISAC to develop a notice available electronically to institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum, college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline. Requires Illinois institutions of higher education that participate in the Monetary Award Program to provide the notice in writing to all students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and are identified by ISAC as potentially SNAP eligible and, if possible, to designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Contains provisions concerning: SNAP Employment and Training program requirements; protocols to identify and verify all potential exemptions to an eligibility rule described in a specified federal regulation and to identify and verify a student's participation in educational programs; and other matters. Requires the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement specified provisions on or before October 1, 2017. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 adding Section 12-4.13b as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.13b new)

Sec. 12-4.13b. College student eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance benefits.

(a)(1) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) shall identify and flag all college students who are potentially eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The factors to be used to determine potential SNAP eligibility shall be prescribed by the Department of Human Services by rule, but at a minimum the Department shall consider income information reported on a college student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. ISAC shall develop a notice available electronically to institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum, college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline.

(2) Illinois institutions of higher education that participate in the Monetary Award Program shall provide the notice described in paragraph (1) in writing to all students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and are identified by ISAC as potentially SNAP eligible and, if possible, shall designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible.

(3) The Illinois Community College Board shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection (a) on or before October 1, 2017.

(b) For the purposes of Section 273.5(b)(11)(ii) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, an educational program offered at a community college under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-270) that could be a component of a SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program, as identified by the Department of Human Services, shall be considered an employment and training program under Section 273.7 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, unless prohibited by federal law.

(c) The Department of Human Services, in consultation with representatives of the Office of the Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, the Illinois Community College Board, ISAC, the Illinois Workforce Investment Board, and advocates for students and SNAP recipients, shall establish a protocol to identify and verify all potential exemptions to the eligibility rule described in Section 273.5(a) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and to identify and verify a student's participation in educational programs, including, but not limited to, self-initiated placements, that would exempt a student from the eligibility rule described in Section 273.5(a) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations. To the extent possible, this consultation shall take place through existing workgroups convened by the Department of Human Services.

(d) If the United States Department of Agriculture requires federal approval of the exemption designation established pursuant to subsection (b) and the protocol established pursuant to subsection (c), the Department of Human Services shall seek and obtain that approval before publishing the guidance or regulation required by subsection (f).

(e)(1) This Section does not require the Department of Human Services to offer a particular component, support services, or workers' compensation to a college student found eligible for an exemption pursuant to this Section.

(2) This Section does not restrict or require the use of federal funds for the financing of SNAP E&T programs.

(3) This Section does not require an institution of higher education to verify eligibility for SNAP.

(f) The Department of Human Services shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) on or before October 1, 2017.

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