97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB2003

 

Introduced 2/10/2011, by Sen. Linda Holmes

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/12-4.4a new

    Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that every electronic benefits transfer ("LINK") card issued on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of enabling the cardholder to obtain SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) benefits or cash must include on the card's face a photograph of the cardholder. Provides that within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Department shall replace every still-valid card issued before that date with a card that includes on its face a photograph of the cardholder.


LRB097 10224 KTG 50420 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2003LRB097 10224 KTG 50420 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5adding Section 12-4.4a as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.4a new)
7    Sec. 12-4.4a. SNAP benefits; electronic benefits transfer
8card.
9    (a) In this Section:
10    "Cardholder" means the person to whom or for whose benefit
11the Department issues an electronic benefits transfer card for
12the purpose of obtaining SNAP benefits or cash.
13    "Caregiver identification card" means a caregiver photo
14identification card issued by the Department of Human Services
15for the purpose of enabling a holder of the card to use a LINK
16card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash on behalf of a person
17entitled to benefits funded under the federal SNAP program.
18    "Caregiver" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in
19Section 12-21 of the Criminal Code of 1961.
20    "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
21    "Facility provider" means an individual representing a
22facility that provides residential services to persons who are
23developmentally disabled.

 

 

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1    "Guardian" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in
2Section 10 of the Health Care Surrogate Act.
3    "LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card
4issued by the Department for the purpose of enabling the
5cardholder to obtain SNAP benefits or cash.
6    "SNAP" or "SNAP program" means the federal Supplemental
7Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp
8Program).
9    (b) Every LINK card issued on or after the effective date
10of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly must
11include on the card's face a photograph of the cardholder.
12    (c) Within 6 months after the effective date of this
13amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department
14shall replace every still-valid LINK card issued before that
15date with a card that includes on its face a photograph of the
16cardholder.
17    (d) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act
18of the 97th General Assembly, the Department of Human Services
19shall issue a caregiver identification card to the facility
20provider, guardian, or caregiver of a person entitled to
21benefits funded under the federal SNAP program. Every caregiver
22identification card must include on its face a current photo of
23the facility provider, guardian, or caregiver of the person
24entitled to benefits, the name of the person entitled to
25benefits, and a statement that clearly identifies the card
26holder as having the legal capacity to use the named person's

 

 

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1LINK card. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory
2Act of the 97th General Assembly, a facility provider,
3guardian, or caregiver must present a valid caregiver
4identification card when using a LINK card to obtain SNAP
5benefits or cash on behalf of a person entitled to benefits
6funded under the federal SNAP program.