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Public Act 91-0451
HB2492 Enrolled LRB9104209SMmb
AN ACT to create a demonstration grant program to build
accessible housing.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Accessible Housing Demonstration Grant Program Act.
Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
"Authority" means the Illinois Housing Development
Authority.
"Spec home" means a private single-family residence
constructed by a builder or individual for sale on the open
market and not built for an individual for immediate
occupancy.
Section 10. Accessibility demonstration grant program.
Subject to appropriation for this purpose, the Authority
shall establish a demonstration grant program to encourage
the building of spec homes that are accessible to the
disabled. Through the program the Authority shall provide
grants to builders who build spec homes meeting the basic
access standards described in Section 15. The goal of the
demonstration program shall be that at least 10% of all new
spec homes within a development participating in the
demonstration grant program for which construction begins 6
or more months after the effective date of this Act meet the
minimum standards for basic access as described in Section
15.
Builders who wish to participate in the demonstration
grant program shall submit a grant application to the
Authority in accordance with rules promulgated by the
Authority. The Authority shall prescribe by rule standards
and procedures for the provision of demonstration grant funds
in relation to each grant application.
Section 15. Basic access standards. Every spec home
for which a builder is eligible to receive a grant under this
Act shall include the following features:
(1) The home shall have at least one no-step exterior
entrance with a 36-inch-wide entrance door to allow for
wheelchair access into the home.
(2) All interior passage doors in the home shall allow
at least 32 inches of clearance in width.
(3) No electrical outlet in the home shall be lower than
15 inches from the finished floor and no light switch in the
home shall be more than 48 inches from the finished floor.
All environmental controls in the home shall be in accessible
locations.
(4) In each bathroom or other room containing a toilet,
bathtub, shower stall, or shower seat, the walls adjacent to
those fixtures shall be reinforced in a manner that will
allow the later installation of grab bars around those
fixtures.
Section 20. Task Force on Housing Accessibility. There
is created a Task Force on Housing Accessibility. The Task
Force shall consist of 7 members who shall be appointed by
the Governor as follows: the executive vice president of the
Illinois Association of Realtors or his or her designee, the
executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of
Illinois or his or her designee, an architect with expertise
and experience in designing accessible housing for persons
with disabilities, a senior citizen, a person with
disabilities, a representative from the Attorney General's
Office, and the Director of the Authority or his or her
designee. The terms of the Task Force members shall last 4
years and shall begin 60 days after the effective date of
this Act, or as soon thereafter as all members of the Board
have been appointed. At the expiration of the term of each
Task Force member, and of each succeeding Task Force member,
or in the event of a vacancy, the Governor shall appoint a
Task Force member to hold office, in the case of a vacancy,
for the unexpired term, or in the case of expiration, for a
term of 4 years or until a successor is appointed by the
Governor. The members shall receive no compensation for
their services on the Task Force but shall be reimbursed by
the Authority for any ordinary and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties.
The Task Force shall provide recommendations to builders
regarding the types of accommodations needed in new housing
stock for disabled persons. The recommendations shall
include provisions on how to build homes that will retain
their resale and aesthetic value.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
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