HR0586 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0586 LRB103 39112 LAW 69252 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Over the past several years, elected officials in Illinois have passed a series of reforms intended to publicly show that Illinois is a safe haven for migrants; and

WHEREAS, In 2017, the General Assembly passed the Illinois TRUST Act, which prohibits law enforcement from using or inquiring about a person's immigration status as part of their investigatory duties and prohibits local law enforcement from working with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and

WHEREAS, Between 2020 and 2022, under Governor JB Pritzker, the majority party in the legislature implemented a series of healthcare coverage expansions for low-income immigrant seniors and adults; and

WHEREAS, The true cost of this healthcare on state taxpayers was unknown to the general public until late March 2023 when the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) released a report by its contracted actuary that highlighted the significant costs associated with the healthcare expansion; and

WHEREAS, HFS paused enrollment related to Medicaid benefits for undocumented immigrant seniors and adults as of November 6, 2023 and July 1, 2023, respectively; and

WHEREAS, HFS released information dated December 14, 2023 that showed dramatic growth in the Medicaid program for undocumented immigrants, which will potentially require $792 million in general revenue funds (GRF) in State Fiscal Year (FY) 2024; and

WHEREAS, Despite pauses to new enrollees, FY 2024 cost projections still exceed FY 2024 appropriations by over $242 million; and

WHEREAS, Aside from Medicaid, Illinois has provided or committed over $638 million in funding to address the crisis involving asylum seekers since August 2022; and

WHEREAS, The funding has been provided through programs at HFS, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority; and

WHEREAS, The funding includes $115 million in direct funding from the State to the City of Chicago for asylum seeker support services, food, and shelter, and to municipalities to support asylum seekers statewide; and

WHEREAS, On November 16, 2023, Governor Pritzker announced new additional State investments, via the Illinois Department of Human Services, totaling $160 million to fund winterized base camps and welcoming centers and to provide services to asylum seekers as they await hearings; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives believes there should be more transparency in how State funds are used to fund asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants here in Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we direct the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the State spending on asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants, and the audit shall include:

(1) A review of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services' program enrollment numbers and amount of money expended for fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024 on Medicaid services for asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants; and

(2) A comprehensive analysis of any spending by any State agency on asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants for fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, and any other entity having information relevant to the audit to cooperate fully and promptly with the Office of the Auditor General in the conduct of this audit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we direct the Auditor General to commence this audit as soon as possible and report his findings and recommendations upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to Governor JB Pritzker, Speaker of the House Emanuel "Chris" Welch, President of the Senate Don Harmon, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, and Senate Minority Leader John Curran.