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90_HB0447
305 ILCS 5/9A-9 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9
Amends the Public Aid Code. Adds community service as a
component of the education, training, and employment program
for AFDC recipients. Provides that a recipient whose
youngest child is age 13 or older may be required to perform
at least 20 hours of community service per week. Requires
priority for community service placements in public schools.
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1 AN ACT to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code by changing
2 Section 9A-9.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
6 changing Section 9A-9 as follows:
7 (305 ILCS 5/9A-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9)
8 Sec. 9A-9. Program Components. The Department shall
9 establish education, training and placement components by
10 rule. Not all of the same components need be provided in
11 each county in the State. Such components may include the
12 following:
13 (a) Education (Below post secondary). Participants who
14 are determined ready to participate but in need of education
15 are referred to the education component. In this component,
16 the individual receives information, referral, counseling
17 services and support services to increase the individual's
18 employment potential. Participants may be referred to
19 testing, counseling and education resources. Educational
20 activities will include basic and remedial education; English
21 proficiency classes; high school or its equivalency (e.g.,
22 GED) or alternative education at the secondary level; and
23 with any educational program, structured study time to
24 enhance successful participation.
25 (b) Job Skills Training (Vocational). Job Skills
26 Training is designed to increase the individual's ability to
27 obtain and maintain employment. Job Skills Training
28 activities will include vocational skill classes designed to
29 increase a participant's ability to obtain and maintain
30 employment. Job Skills Training may include certificate
31 programs.
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1 (c) Job Readiness. The job readiness component is
2 designed to enhance the quality of the individual's level of
3 participation in the world of work while learning the
4 necessary essentials to obtain and maintain employment. This
5 component helps individuals gain the necessary job finding
6 skills to help them find and retain employment that will lead
7 to economic independence.
8 (d) Job Search. Job Search may be conducted
9 individually or in groups. Job Search includes the provision
10 of counseling, job seeking skills training and information
11 dissemination. Group job search may include training in a
12 group session. Assignment to job search cannot be in excess
13 of 8 weeks (or its equivalent) in any period of 12
14 consecutive months.
15 (e) Work Experience. Near job ready participants who
16 have not found employment and who need orientation to work,
17 work experience or training, in order to prevent
18 deterioration of or to enhance existing skills are referred
19 to the Work Experience component. Work Experience assignments
20 are with not-for-profit and public agencies in the State.
21 Not-for-profit and public agencies shall not use Work
22 Experience participants to displace regular employees. Work
23 Experience programs shall be limited to those which serve a
24 useful public purpose in fields such as health, social
25 service, environmental protection, education, urban and rural
26 development and redevelopment, welfare, recreation, public
27 facilities, public safety, and child care. Participants in
28 Work Experience may perform work in the public interest
29 (which otherwise meets the requirements of this Section) for
30 a federal office or agency with its consent, and
31 notwithstanding the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1342, or any
32 other provision of law, such agency may accept such services,
33 but participants shall not be considered federal employees
34 for any purpose. A participant shall be reassessed at the end
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1 of assignment to Work Experience. The participant may be
2 reassigned to Work Experience or assigned to another
3 component, based on the reassessment. A participant shall
4 not be assigned to Work Experience for more than a total of 6
5 months in any 12 consecutive month period. This 6 month
6 limitation does not apply to parents in families eligible for
7 assistance under Article IV due to unemployment of the
8 principal wage earner.
9 (f) On the Job Training. In On the Job Training, a
10 participant is hired by a private or public employer and
11 while engaged in productive work receives training that
12 provides knowledge or skills essential to full and adequate
13 performance of the job.
14 (g) Work Supplementation. In work supplementation, the
15 Department pays a wage subsidy to an employer who hires a
16 participant. The cash grant which a participant would receive
17 if not employed is diverted and the diverted cash grant is
18 used to pay the wage subsidy.
19 (h) Post Secondary Education. Individuals may be
20 referred to post secondary education programs. Post secondary
21 education must be administered by an educational institution
22 accredited under requirements of State law.
23 (i) Self Initiated Education. Participants who are
24 attending an institution of higher education or a vocational
25 or technical program at the time they enter the Project
26 Chance program and who are in good standing, may continue to
27 attend if the educational program is approved by the
28 Department.
29 (j) Job Development and Placement. Department staff
30 shall develop through contacts with public and private
31 employers unsubsidized job openings for participants. Job
32 interviews will be secured for clients by the marketing of
33 participants for specific job openings. Job ready individuals
34 may be assigned to Job Development and Placement.
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1 (k) Job Retention. The job retention component is
2 designed to assist participants in retaining employment.
3 Initial employment expenses are provided. The individual's
4 support service needs are assessed and the individual
5 receives counseling regarding job retention skills.
6 Counseling may continue up to 3 months after employment.
7 (l) Community Service. A participant whose youngest
8 child is 13 years of age or older may be required to perform
9 at least 20 hours of community service per week as a
10 condition of eligibility for aid under Article IV. The
11 Illinois Department shall give priority to community service
12 placements in public schools, where participants can serve as
13 hall and lunchroom monitors, assist teachers, and perform
14 other appropriate services.
15 (Source: P.A. 87-860; 88-124.)
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