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90_HB0447enr
305 ILCS 5/9A-9 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9
Amends the Public Aid Code. Adds community service as a
component of the education, training, and employment program
for AFDC recipients. Provides that a recipient whose
youngest child is age 13 or older may be required to perform
at least 20 hours of community service per week. Requires
priority for community service placements in public schools.
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1 AN ACT to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code by changing
2 Sections 6-1.2 and 9A-9.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
6 changing Sections 6-1.2 and 9A-9 as follows:
7 (305 ILCS 5/6-1.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.2)
8 Sec. 6-1.2. Need. Income available to the person, when
9 added to contributions in money, substance, or services from
10 other sources, including contributions from legally
11 responsible relatives, must be insufficient to equal the
12 grant amount established by Department regulation (or by
13 local governmental unit in units which do not receive State
14 funds) for such a person.
15 In determining income to be taken into account:
16 (1) The first $75 of earned income in income
17 assistance units comprised exclusively of one adult
18 person shall be disregarded, and for not more than 3
19 months in any 12 consecutive months that portion of
20 earned income beyond the first $75 that is the difference
21 between the standard of assistance and the grant amount,
22 shall be disregarded.
23 (2) For income assistance units not comprised
24 exclusively of one adult person, when authorized by rules
25 and regulations of the Illinois Department, a portion of
26 earned income, not to exceed the first $25 a month plus
27 50% of the next $75, may be disregarded for the purpose
28 of stimulating and aiding rehabilitative effort and
29 self-support activity.
30 "Earned income" means money earned in self-employment or
31 wages, salary, or commission for personal services performed
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1 as an employee. The eligibility of any applicant for or
2 recipient of public aid under this Article is not affected by
3 the payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and
4 Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical
5 Assistance Act" or any refund or payment of the federal
6 Earned Income Tax Credit.
7 If federal laws or regulations applicable to persons
8 receiving assistance under Articles III or IV of this Code
9 permit or require the exemption of earned income in excess of
10 the foregoing limitation on earned income exemptions or
11 permit or require the exemption of certain other income and
12 resources, the Illinois Department, may, by rule, authorize
13 comparable exemptions in determining need under this Section.
14 (Source: P.A. 87-435.)
15 (305 ILCS 5/9A-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9)
16 Sec. 9A-9. Program Components. The Department shall
17 establish education, training and placement components by
18 rule. Not all of the same components need be provided in
19 each county in the State. Such components may include the
20 following:
21 (a) Education (Below post secondary). Participants who
22 are determined ready to participate but in need of education
23 are referred to the education component. In this component,
24 the individual receives information, referral, counseling
25 services and support services to increase the individual's
26 employment potential. Participants may be referred to
27 testing, counseling and education resources. Educational
28 activities will include basic and remedial education; English
29 proficiency classes; high school or its equivalency (e.g.,
30 GED) or alternative education at the secondary level; and
31 with any educational program, structured study time to
32 enhance successful participation.
33 (b) Job Skills Training (Vocational). Job Skills
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1 Training is designed to increase the individual's ability to
2 obtain and maintain employment. Job Skills Training
3 activities will include vocational skill classes designed to
4 increase a participant's ability to obtain and maintain
5 employment. Job Skills Training may include certificate
6 programs.
7 (c) Job Readiness. The job readiness component is
8 designed to enhance the quality of the individual's level of
9 participation in the world of work while learning the
10 necessary essentials to obtain and maintain employment. This
11 component helps individuals gain the necessary job finding
12 skills to help them find and retain employment that will lead
13 to economic independence.
14 (d) Job Search. Job Search may be conducted
15 individually or in groups. Job Search includes the provision
16 of counseling, job seeking skills training and information
17 dissemination. Group job search may include training in a
18 group session. Assignment to job search cannot be in excess
19 of 8 weeks (or its equivalent) in any period of 12
20 consecutive months.
21 (e) Work Experience. Near job ready participants who
22 have not found employment and who need orientation to work,
23 work experience or training, in order to prevent
24 deterioration of or to enhance existing skills are referred
25 to the Work Experience component. Work Experience assignments
26 are with not-for-profit and public agencies in the State.
27 Not-for-profit and public agencies shall not use Work
28 Experience participants to displace regular employees. Work
29 Experience programs shall be limited to those which serve a
30 useful public purpose in fields such as health, social
31 service, environmental protection, education, urban and rural
32 development and redevelopment, welfare, recreation, public
33 facilities, public safety, and child care. Participants in
34 Work Experience may perform work in the public interest
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1 (which otherwise meets the requirements of this Section) for
2 a federal office or agency with its consent, and
3 notwithstanding the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1342, or any
4 other provision of law, such agency may accept such services,
5 but participants shall not be considered federal employees
6 for any purpose. A participant shall be reassessed at the end
7 of assignment to Work Experience. The participant may be
8 reassigned to Work Experience or assigned to another
9 component, based on the reassessment. A participant shall
10 not be assigned to Work Experience for more than a total of 6
11 months in any 12 consecutive month period. This 6 month
12 limitation does not apply to parents in families eligible for
13 assistance under Article IV due to unemployment of the
14 principal wage earner.
15 (f) On the Job Training. In On the Job Training, a
16 participant is hired by a private or public employer and
17 while engaged in productive work receives training that
18 provides knowledge or skills essential to full and adequate
19 performance of the job.
20 (g) Work Supplementation. In work supplementation, the
21 Department pays a wage subsidy to an employer who hires a
22 participant. The cash grant which a participant would receive
23 if not employed is diverted and the diverted cash grant is
24 used to pay the wage subsidy.
25 (h) Post Secondary Education. Individuals may be
26 referred to post secondary education programs. Post secondary
27 education must be administered by an educational institution
28 accredited under requirements of State law.
29 (i) Self Initiated Education. Participants who are
30 attending an institution of higher education or a vocational
31 or technical program at the time they enter the Project
32 Chance program and who are in good standing, may continue to
33 attend if the educational program is approved by the
34 Department.
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1 (j) Job Development and Placement. Department staff
2 shall develop through contacts with public and private
3 employers unsubsidized job openings for participants. Job
4 interviews will be secured for clients by the marketing of
5 participants for specific job openings. Job ready individuals
6 may be assigned to Job Development and Placement.
7 (k) Job Retention. The job retention component is
8 designed to assist participants in retaining employment.
9 Initial employment expenses are provided. The individual's
10 support service needs are assessed and the individual
11 receives counseling regarding job retention skills.
12 Counseling may continue up to 3 months after employment.
13 (l) Community Service. A participant whose youngest
14 child is 13 years of age or older may be required to perform
15 at least 20 hours of community service per week as a
16 condition of eligibility for aid under Article IV. The
17 Illinois Department shall give priority to community service
18 placements in public schools, where participants can serve as
19 hall and lunchroom monitors, assist teachers, and perform
20 other appropriate services.
21 (Source: P.A. 87-860; 88-124.)