SB0861sam001 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Ram Villivalam

Filed: 4/3/2024

10300SB0861sam001 LRB103 03320 KTG 71621 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 861

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 861 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Illinois Guaranteed Income Law.

Section 3. Findings and declaration of policy. The General Assembly finds, determines, and declares the following:

(1) All people deserve to live with dignity and have their basic needs met.

(2) Elimination of deep poverty in the State of Illinois is attainable and long overdue. While maximizing the potential of existing economic security programs is crucial, these programs alone are inadequate, given the number of Illinoisans living in deep poverty. To build upon our existing safety net, direct cash assistance programs, such as a guaranteed income, are needed to improve the well-being and economic stability of families.

(3) Guaranteed income refers to periodic, unconditional cash payments directly to individuals. A guaranteed income is not universal and is meant to prioritize cash based on need.

(4) The City of Chicago, City of Evanston, and Cook County have successfully conducted guaranteed income pilots. These programs have demonstrated the power of cash in improving outcomes for households in need, and provided valuable insights into the potential benefits of a guaranteed income.

(5) Guaranteed income programs both in Illinois and across the country have been effective in improving outcomes including, but not limited to, those related to physical and mental health, nutrition, employment, housing stability, financial stability, and many others, while also reducing involvement in the child welfare and criminal legal systems.

(6) Guaranteed income programs have shown a remarkable capacity to support caregivers in our communities, including caregivers for children, elderly parents, the disabled, and those supporting formerly incarcerated individuals, acknowledging the often overlooked but vital role these caregivers play in the well-being of our society.

(7) Guaranteed income not only supports people struggling to meet their basic needs but also provides crucial stability for every Illinoisan when confronted with unexpected, challenging, and increasing frequent financial costs, ensuring economic resilience for all.

(8) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision, as conveyed in his last book, "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?", should guide our approach to addressing poverty. His famous declaration that "the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income" should serve as a source of inspiration for our actions.

(9) Recent mothers and new parents face numerous hardships. During the most critical time in a baby's life, the State should provide its full support, recognizing the importance of nurturing the next generation and fostering a strong foundation for Illinois families.

(10) Caregivers come from every community, whether rural or urban, migrant or resident, and their dedication and sacrifices deserve our utmost respect and acknowledgment, as they play a central role in creating thriving and interconnected communities.

(11) The State of Illinois remains committed to exploring innovative and effective ways to address poverty.

Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by adding Section 10-80 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/10-80 new)

Sec. 10-80. Guaranteed Income Task Force.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Task Force" means the Guaranteed Income Task Force.

"Guaranteed income" means periodic, unconditional cash payments directly to individuals. A guaranteed income is not universal and is meant to prioritize cash based on need.

"SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

"TANF" means the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program established under Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(b) The Guaranteed Income Task Force is established within the Department of Human Services to:

(1) evaluate the efficacy of guaranteed income - unconditional periodic direct cash payments - in improving outcomes for Illinois residents;

(2) propose statewide policies to create and implement one or more permanent guaranteed income programs; and

(3) provide oversight related to the implementation of any guaranteed income program enacted by the General Assembly.

(c) Members. The Task Force must consist of the following members:

(1) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who must serve as co-chair;

(2) one member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate President, who must serve as co-chair;

(3) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member of the Senate, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(5) one member appointed by the Governor;

(6) the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary's designee;

(7) the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, or the Director's designee;

(8) two members of the community who have received, or are currently receiving, cash through a guaranteed income pilot or demonstration program in Illinois, including, but not limited to, the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot, the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, the Evanston Guaranteed Income Pilot, the Chicago Future Fund, or any other privately funded guaranteed income pilot, demonstration, or program for Illinois residents;

(9) two members whose professional experience includes advocacy related to guaranteed income or other direct cash supports;

(10) two members whose professional experience includes administering guaranteed income pilots or other direct cash supports; and

(11) two members from community-based organizations who advocate on behalf of and alongside communities that often lack access to cash supports.

(d) Appointments to the Task Force must be complete by December 1, 2024. Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation.

(e) The Task Force must meet at the call of the co-chairs no less than 6 times a year with the first meeting to be held no later than 30 days after all members of the Task Force have been appointed.

(f) The Task Force must complete all of the following tasks:

(1) Evaluate the efficacy of guaranteed income in improving outcomes for Illinois residents, including, but not limited to, outcomes related to public health, nutrition, housing, education, employment, interaction with the criminal legal system, interaction with the child welfare system, public safety, economic indicators, and economic stability.

(2) Review the landscape of cash supports available to low-income residents of Illinois, identify populations without significant access to cash supports, and delineate the current state of cash supports available in Illinois including, but not limited to, one-time payment programs, restricted basic assistance programs, and other income-based programming such as SNAP, TANF, and other State-administered assistance programs.

(3) Evaluate the effectiveness of outreach activities for cash supports in Illinois.

(4) Submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor by December 31, 2026 that evaluates the efficacy of guaranteed income in improving outcomes for Illinois residents as described in paragraph (1). The report shall also include all of the following:

(A) Recommendations for one or more permanent guaranteed income programs including, eligibility guidelines, program rules, the amount of cash provided through the program, and the length of time assistance should be provided.

(B) An analysis of the costs and benefits of each program recommended in the report.

(C) An analysis of potential sources of funding for each program.

(D) Recommendations to minimize administrative burdens and eliminate barriers to access for program applicants.

(E) Input from community partners, including recipients of guaranteed income pilots or Illinois residents who would be eligible to receive guaranteed income payments through each program recommended in the report.

(F) An analysis and set of recommendations to the General Assembly to improve or otherwise expand upon the State's current cash-based programming as described in paragraph (2).

(g) In addition to the mandatory tasks included in subsection (f), the Task Force may engage in any other activity that will advance the creation and implementation of permanent guaranteed income programs in the State.

(h) Deadline. The Task Force must complete all mandatory activities as set forth in subsection (f) and all additional activities under subsection (g) by December 31, 2026.

(i) Committees. The Task Force may establish subcommittees to address specific aspects of its duties. Subcommittees may collaborate with individuals with relevant expertise who are not members of the Task Force to assist the subcommittee in carrying out its duties.

(j) The Department of Human Services shall provide staff and administrative support to the Task Force.

(k) All Task Force meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act.

(l) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to contravene any federal or State law or regulation. Unless specifically referenced in this Section, nothing in this Section shall affect or alter the existing statutory powers of any State agency or be construed as a reassignment or reorganization of any State agency.

(m) The Task Force is dissolved, and this Section is repealed, on December 31, 2027.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".