Public Act 099-0746
 
SB2906 EnrolledLRB099 18090 KTG 42455 b

    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 Section 9A-8 as follows:
 
    (305 ILCS 5/9A-8)  (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8)
    Sec. 9A-8. Operation of Program.
    (a) At the time of application or redetermination of
eligibility under Article IV, as determined by rule, the
Illinois Department shall provide information in writing and
orally regarding the education, training and employment
program to all applicants and recipients. The information
required shall be established by rule and shall include, but
need not be limited to:
        (1) education (including literacy training),
    employment and training opportunities available, the
    criteria for approval of those opportunities, and the right
    to request changes in the personal responsibility and
    services plan to include those opportunities;
        (1.1) a complete list of all activities that are
    approvable activities, and the circumstances under which
    they are approvable, including work activities, substance
    abuse or mental health treatment, activities to escape and
    prevent domestic violence, caring for a medically impaired
    family member, and any other approvable activities,
    together with the right to and procedures for amending the
    responsibility and services plan to include these
    activities;
        (1.2) the rules concerning the lifetime limit on
    eligibility, including the current status of the applicant
    or recipient in terms of the months of remaining
    eligibility, the criteria under which a month will not
    count towards the lifetime limit, and the criteria under
    which a recipient may receive benefits beyond the end of
    the lifetime limit;
        (2) supportive services including child care and the
    rules regarding eligibility for and access to the child
    care assistance program, transportation, initial expenses
    of employment, job retention, books and fees, and any other
    supportive services;
        (3) the obligation of the Department to provide
    supportive services;
        (4) the rights and responsibilities of participants,
    including exemption, sanction, reconciliation, and good
    cause criteria and procedures, termination for
    non-cooperation and reinstatement rules and procedures,
    and appeal and grievance procedures; and
        (5) the types and locations of child care services.
    (b) The Illinois Department shall notify the recipient in
writing of the opportunity to volunteer to participate in the
program.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment
and self-sufficiency, the Department shall conduct an
individualized assessment of the participant's employability.
No participant may be assigned to any component of the
education, training and employment activity prior to such
assessment. The plan shall include collection of information on
the individual's background, proficiencies, skills
deficiencies, education level, work history, employment goals,
interests, aptitudes, and employment preferences, as well as
factors affecting employability or ability to meet
participation requirements (e.g., health, physical or mental
limitations, child care, family circumstances, domestic
violence, sexual violence, substance abuse, and special needs
of any child of the individual). As part of the plan,
individuals and Department staff shall work together to
identify any supportive service needs required to enable the
client to participate and meet the objectives of his or her
employability plan. The assessment may be conducted through
various methods such as interviews, testing, counseling, and
self-assessment instruments. In the assessment process, the
Department shall offer to include standard literacy testing and
a determination of English language proficiency and shall
provide it for those who accept the offer. Based on the
assessment, the individual will be assigned to the appropriate
activity. The decision will be based on a determination of the
individual's level of preparation for employment as defined by
rule.
    (e) Recipients determined to be exempt may volunteer to
participate pursuant to Section 9A-4 and must be assessed.
    (f) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment
and self-sufficiency under Section 4-1, an employability plan
for recipients shall be developed in consultation with the
participant. The Department shall have final responsibility
for approving the employability plan. The employability plan
shall:
        (1) contain an employment goal of the participant;
        (2) describe the services to be provided by the
    Department, including child care and other support
    services;
        (3) describe the activities, such as component
    assignment, that will be undertaken by the participant to
    achieve the employment goal. The Department shall treat
    participation in high school and high school equivalency
    programs as a core activity and count participation in high
    school and high school equivalency programs toward the
    first 20 hours per week of participation. The Department
    shall approve participation in high school or high school
    equivalency programs upon written or oral request of the
    participant if he or she has not already earned a high
    school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate.
    However, participation in high school or high school
    equivalency programs may be delayed as part of an
    applicant's or recipient's personal plan for achieving
    employment and self-sufficiency if it is determined that
    the benefit from participating in another activity, such
    as, but not limited to, treatment for substance abuse or an
    English proficiency program, would be greater to the
    applicant or recipient than participation in high school or
    a high school equivalency program. The availability of high
    school and high school equivalency programs may also delay
    enrollment in those programs. The Department shall treat
    such activities as a core activity as long as satisfactory
    progress is made, as determined by the high school or high
    school equivalency program. Proof of satisfactory progress
    shall be provided by the participant or the school at the
    end of each academic term; and
        (4) describe any other needs of the family that might
    be met by the Department.
    (g) The employability plan shall take into account:
        (1) available program resources;
        (2) the participant's support service needs;
        (3) the participant's skills level and aptitudes;
        (4) local employment opportunities; and
        (5) the preferences of the participant.
    (h) A reassessment shall be conducted to assess a
participant's progress and to review the employability plan on
the following occasions:
        (1) upon completion of an activity and before
    assignment to an activity;
        (2) upon the request of the participant;
        (3) if the individual is not cooperating with the
    requirements of the program; and
        (4) if the individual has failed to make satisfactory
    progress in an education or training program.
    Based on the reassessment, the Department may revise the
employability plan of the participant.
(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)