SB2195eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2195 Engrossed LRB094 17370 DRJ 52665 b

AN ACT concerning public aid.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Section 3-1 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/3-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1)

Sec. 3-1. Eligibility Requirements. Financial aid in meeting basic maintenance requirements for a livelihood compatible with health and well-being shall be given under this Article to or in behalf of aged, blind, or disabled persons who meet the eligibility conditions of Sections 3-1.1 through 3-1.7. Financial aid under this Article shall be available only for persons who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or who have been found ineligible for SSI (i) on the basis of income or (ii) due to expiration of the period of eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2). Financial aid based on item (ii) of this paragraph shall be available until July 1, 2006.

"Aged person" means a person who has attained age 65, as demonstrated by such evidence of age as the Illinois Department may by rule prescribe.

"Blind person" means a person who has no vision or whose vision with corrective glasses is so defective as to prevent the performance of ordinary duties or tasks for which eyesight is essential. The Illinois Department shall define blindness in terms of ophthalmic measurements or ocular conditions. For purposes of this Act, an Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card issued pursuant to The Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that the person thereon named has a Type 3 disability shall be evidence that such person is a blind person within the meaning of this Section; however, such a card shall not qualify such person for aid as a blind person under this Act, and eligibility for aid as a blind person shall be determined as provided in this Act.

"Disabled person" means a person age 18 or over who has a physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss which is of a permanent nature and which substantially impairs his ability to perform labor or services or to engage in useful occupations for which he is qualified, as determined by rule and regulation of the Illinois Department. For purposes of this Act, an Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card issued pursuant to The Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that the person thereon named has a Type 1 or 2, Class 2 disability shall be evidence that such person is a disabled person under this Section; however, such a card shall not qualify such person for aid as a disabled person under this Act, and eligibility for aid as a disabled person shall be determined as provided in this Act. If federal law or regulation permit or require the inclusion of blind or disabled persons whose blindness or disability is not of the degree specified in the foregoing definitions, or permit or require the inclusion of disabled persons under age 18 or aged persons under age 65, the Illinois Department, upon written approval of the Governor, may provide by rule that all aged, blind or disabled persons toward whose aid federal funds are available be eligible for assistance under this Article as is given to those who meet the foregoing definitions of blind person and disabled person or aged person.

In enacting this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the General Assembly specifically intends that financial aid under this Article for persons who have been found ineligible for SSI due to expiration of the period of eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2) shall not be available only until July 1, 2006 but shall remain available on and after July 1, 2006 until the General Assembly expressly provides otherwise.

(Source: P.A. 93-741, eff. 7-15-04.)

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