HB2775 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 26333 KTG 52694 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2775

Introduced 2/16/2023, by Rep. Cyril Nichols

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1305/1-75 new

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer an Inform House Grant Program to provide grants to community-based organizations that provide rehabilitative and educational services to youth involved in the criminal justice system and that have the accommodations to provide the following residential and academic services: (1) single occupancy rooms that are equipped with a private bathroom, bed, dresser, closet, window, and door without a lock; (2) a weekly meal plan consisting of 3 nutritionally balanced meals a day with a plant-based option; and (3) on-site educational programs and tutoring to assist youth in meeting the State criteria for high school graduation or for earning a high school equivalency certificate. Provides that the educational programs must include aptitude assessments to determine a youth's academic competency levels with follow-up course work that is tailored to the youth's specific academic needs. Requires the educational programs to also sufficiently prepare youth for postsecondary education by providing high-quality instruction in the following subject areas: (i) reading comprehension; (ii) writing and composition; (iii) mathematics; and (iv) any other subject areas to help youth eliminate any educational gaps or deficiencies. Permits the Department to award up to $5,000,000 in grant money to qualifying community-based organizations and to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by adding Section 1-85 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/1-85 new)

Sec. 1-85. Inform House Grant Program.

(a) The Department of Human Services shall establish and administer an Inform House Grant Program to provide grants to community-based organizations that provide rehabilitative and educational services to youth involved in the criminal justice system and that have the accommodations to provide the following residential and academic services:

(1) Single occupancy rooms that are equipped with a private bathroom, bed, dresser, closet, window, and door without a lock.

(2) A weekly meal plan consisting of 3 nutritionally balanced meals a day with a plant-based option.

(3) On-site educational programs and tutoring to assist youth in meeting the State criteria for high school graduation or for earning a high school equivalency certificate. The educational programs must include aptitude assessments to determine a youth's academic competency levels with follow-up course work that is tailored to the youth's specific academic needs. The educational programs must also sufficiently prepare youth for postsecondary education by providing high-quality instruction in the following subject areas:

(A) reading comprehension;

(B) writing and composition;

(C) mathematics; and

(D) any other subject areas to help youth eliminate any educational gaps or deficiencies.

(b) The Department may award up to $5,000,000 in grant money to qualifying community-based organizations. To obtain a grant under the program, community-based organizations must apply to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the program.