Public Act 0192 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3424 Enrolled LRB103 27315 KTG 53686 b

Public Act 103-0192

AN ACT concerning public aid.

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

Section 5. The Township Code is amended by changing Section 85-13 as follows:

(60 ILCS 1/85-13)

Sec. 85-13. Township services, generally.

(a) The township board may either expend funds directly or may enter into any cooperative agreement or contract with any other governmental entity, not-for-profit corporation, non-profit community service association, or any for-profit business entity as provided in subsection (b) with respect to the expenditure of township funds, or funds made available to the township under the federal State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, to provide any of the following services to the residents of the township:

(1) Ordinary and necessary maintenance and operating expenses for the following:

(A) Public safety (including law enforcement, fire protection, and building code enforcement).

(B) Environmental protection (including sewage disposal, sanitation, and pollution abatement).

(C) Public transportation (including transit systems, paratransit systems, and streets and roads).

(D) Health, including mental, behavioral, eye, dental, or other healthcare.

(E) Recreation.

(F) Libraries.

(G) Social services for the poor and aged.

(2) Ordinary and necessary capital expenditures authorized by law.

(3) Development and retention of business, industrial, manufacturing, and tourist facilities within the township.

(b) To be eligible to receive funds from the township under this Section, a private not-for-profit corporation or community service association shall have been in existence at least one year before receiving the funds. The township board may, however, for the purpose of providing day care services, contract with day care facilities licensed under the Child Care Act of 1969, regardless of whether the facilities are organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.

(c) Township governments that directly expend or contract for day care shall use the standard of need established by the Department of Children and Family Services in determining recipients of subsidized day care and shall use the rate schedule used by the Department of Children and Family Services for the purchase of subsidized day care. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the township board may approve the application of a different, publicly available, professional or academically recognized standard of need in determining eligibility for subsidized day care.

(d) Township governments that directly expend or contract for senior citizen services may contract with for-profit (or not-for-profit) and non-sectarian organizations as provided in Sections 220-15 and 220-35.

(e) Those township supervisors or other elected township officials who are also members of a county board shall not vote on questions before the township board or the county board that relate to agreements or contracts between the township and the county under this Section or agreements or contracts between the township and the county that are otherwise authorized by law.

(f) The township board may enter into direct agreements with for-profit corporations or other business entities to carry out recycling programs in unincorporated areas of the township.

The township board may by ordinance administer a recycling program or adopt rules and regulations relating to recycling programs in unincorporated areas of the township that it from time to time deems necessary and may provide penalties for violations of those rules and regulations.

(g) For purposes of alleviating high unemployment, economically depressed conditions, and lack of moderately priced housing, the trustees of a township that includes all or a portion of a city that is a "financially distressed city" under the Financially Distressed City Law may contract with one or more not-for-profit or for-profit organizations to construct and operate within the boundaries of the township a factory designed to manufacture housing or housing components. The contract may provide for the private organization or organizations to manage some or all operations of the factory and may provide for (i) payment of employee compensation and taxes; (ii) discharge of other legal responsibilities; (iii) sale of products; (iv) disposition of the factory, equipment, and other property; and (v) any other matters the township trustees consider reasonable.

(Source: P.A. 95-119, eff. 8-13-07.)

Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Sections 1-10, 6-9, and 6-12 and by adding Section 6-11a as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/1-10)

Sec. 1-10. Drug convictions.

(a) Persons convicted of an offense under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Cannabis Control Act, or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act which is a Class X felony, or a Class 1 felony, or comparable federal criminal law which has as an element the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in Section 102(6) of the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(c)), shall not be eligible for cash assistance provided under this Code.

(b) Persons convicted of any other felony under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Cannabis Control Act, or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act which is not a Class X or Class 1 felony, or comparable federal criminal law which has as an element the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in Section 102(6) of the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(c)), shall not be eligible for cash assistance provided under this Code for 2 years from the date of conviction. This prohibition shall not apply if the person is in a drug treatment program, aftercare program, or similar program as defined by rule.

(c) Persons shall not be determined ineligible for food stamps provided under this Code based upon a conviction of any felony or comparable federal or State criminal law which has an element the possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in Section 102(6) of the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(c)).

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, persons shall not be determined ineligible for cash assistance provided under Article IV or Article VI of this Code based upon a conviction for any drug-related felony under State or federal law.

(Source: P.A. 102-178, eff. 10-30-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/6-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-9)

Sec. 6-9. (a) (1) A local governmental unit may provide assistance to households under its General Assistance program following a declaration by the President of the United States of a major disaster or emergency pursuant to the Federal Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as now or hereafter amended, if the local governmental unit is within the area designated under the declaration. A local government unit may also provide assistance to households under its General Assistance program following a disaster proclamation issued by the Governor if the local governmental unit is within the area designated under the proclamation. Assistance under this Section may be provided to households which have suffered damage, loss or hardships as a result of the major disaster or emergency. Assistance under this Section may be provided to households without regard to the eligibility requirements and other requirements of this Code. Assistance under this Section may be provided only during the 90-day period following the date of declaration of a major disaster or emergency.

(2) A local governmental unit shall not use State funds to provide assistance under this Section. If a local governmental unit receives State funds to provide General Assistance under this Article, assistance provided by the local governmental unit under this Section shall not be considered in determining whether a local governmental unit has qualified to receive State funds under Article XII. A local governmental unit which provides assistance under this Section shall not, as a result of payment of such assistance, change the nature or amount of assistance provided to any other individual or family under this Article.

(3) This Section shall not apply to any municipality of more than 500,000 population in which a separate program has been established by the Illinois Department under Section 6-1.

(b) (1) A local governmental unit may provide assistance to households for food and temporary shelter. To qualify for assistance a household shall submit to the local governmental unit: (A) such application as the local governmental unit may require; (B) a copy of an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (hereinafter "FEMA") or the Small Business Administration (hereinafter "SBA") for assistance; (C) such other proof of damage, loss or hardship as the local governmental unit may require; and (D) an agreement to reimburse the local governmental unit for the amount of any assistance received by the household under this subsection (b).

(2) Assistance under this subsection (b) may be in the form of cash or vouchers. The amount of assistance provided to a household in any month under this subsection (b) shall not exceed the maximum amount payable under Section 6-2.

(3) No assistance shall be provided to a household after it receives a determination of its application to FEMA or SBA for assistance.

(4) A household which has received assistance under this subsection (b) shall reimburse the local governmental unit in full for any assistance received under this subsection. If the household receives assistance from FEMA or SBA in the form of loans or grants, the household shall reimburse the local governmental unit from those funds. If the household's request for assistance is denied or rejected by the FEMA or SBA, the household shall repay the local governmental unit in accordance with a repayment schedule prescribed by the local governmental unit.

(c) (1) A local governmental unit may provide assistance to households for structural repairs to homes or for repair or replacement of home electrical or heating systems, bedding and food refrigeration equipment. To qualify for assistance a household shall submit to the local governmental unit: (A) such application as the local governmental unit may require; (B) a copy of claim to an insurance company for reimbursement for the damage or loss for which assistance is sought; (C) such other proof of damage, loss or hardship as the local governmental unit may require; and (D) an agreement to reimburse the local governmental unit for the amount of any assistance received by the household under this subsection (c).

(2) Any assistance provided under this subsection (c) shall be in the form of direct payments to vendors, and shall not be made directly to a household. The total amount of assistance provided to a household under this subsection (c) shall not exceed $1,500.

(3) No assistance shall be provided to a household after it receives a determination of its insurance claims.

(4) A household which has received assistance under this subsection (c) shall reimburse the local governmental unit in full for any assistance received under this subsection. If the household's insurance claim is approved, the household shall reimburse the local governmental unit from the proceeds. If the household's insurance claim is denied, the household shall repay the local governmental unit in accordance with a repayment schedule prescribed by the local governmental unit.

(Source: P.A. 85-1233.)

(305 ILCS 5/6-11a new)

Sec. 6-11a. Townships. A local governmental unit may provide assistance under its General Assistance program under a service that complies with Section 85-13 of the Township Code. Before a local governmental unit provides assistance under this Section, the board of the local governmental unit shall adopt a policy providing which services are eligible under Section 85-13 of the Township Code for General Assistance.

(305 ILCS 5/6-12) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-12)

Sec. 6-12. General Assistance not funded by State. General Assistance programs in local governments that do not receive State funds shall continue to be governed by Sections 6-1 through 6-10, as applicable, as well as other relevant parts of this Code and other laws. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, any unit of local government that does not receive State funds may implement a General Assistance program that complies with Section 6-11 and 6-11a. So long as the that program complies with either Section 6-11 or 6-12, the program shall not be deemed out of compliance with or in violation of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 87-860.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2024