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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Suspension of expenditures for indigent burial
3funds contained in the Department of Human Services budget was
4announced on April 3, 2015, retroactive to January 15 of that
5year; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Governor Rauner's administration's proposed FY
72016 budget eliminated funding for the program in its entirety;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Articles III, IV, V, and VI of the Illinois Public
10Aid Code directs the State to pay "such reasonable amounts as
11may be necessary to meet costs of the funeral, burial space,
12and cemetery charges"; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Department of Humans Services (DHS) website
14proclaims the funeral and burial benefits program "pays for the
15funeral and burial expenses when a person's resources and all
16other sources of payment are less than the DHS standard payment
17rates"; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The website further states these funds are
19available for individuals who at the time of their death are
20participating in or who are qualified for All Kids Assist,
21Parent/All Kids Assist, All Kids Moms & Babies, Family Assist,

 

 

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1and AABD Medical or were receiving TANF or an AABD cash grant;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, This program provided burial and funeral
4assistance to 8,649 Illinoisans of all ages in FY 2014, whose
5estates were insufficient to cover necessary expenses and for
6whom no responsible relative existed; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Every person deserves to be treated with dignity
8and respect at their death, regardless of their income; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Implementation of such an edict without a workable
10alternative plan in place may reduce the states expenditures
11but is not a solution the citizens of the State of Illinois
12find acceptable; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
14HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15we request the immediate reinstatement of the program and
16release of such funds; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That providers of medical services to residents
18qualifying for benefits authorized under the Illinois Public
19Aid Code must be notified of this reinstatement; and be it
20further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That media outlets statewide be alerted and asked
2to report the restatement with instructions for how families in
3need of assistance can apply.