State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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[ House Amendment 002 ]

90_HB3625

      305 ILCS 5/9A-8           from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8
          Amends the  Illinois  Public  Aid  Code.   In  provisions
      regarding  the  Department  of  Human  Services' training and
      employment  program,   provides   that   the   individualized
      assessment  of  the participant's employability shall include
      an assessment of his or  her  English  language  proficiency,
      removing  the condition that this assessment be done only for
      those who display a potential need for literacy  or  language
      services.
                                                     LRB9010255SMbd
                                               LRB9010255SMbd
 1        AN  ACT to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code by changing
 2    Section 9A-8.
 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 Section 9A-8 as follows:
 7        (305 ILCS 5/9A-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8)
 8        Sec. 9A-8.  Operation of Program.
 9        (a)  At the time of  application  or  redetermination  of
10    eligibility  under  Article  IV,  as  determined by rule, the
11    Illinois Department shall provide information in writing  and
12    orally  regarding  the  education,  training  and  employment
13    program  to  all  applicants and recipients.  The information
14    required shall be established by rule, including:
15             (1)  education,     employment     and      training
16        opportunities available;
17             (2)  supportive services including child care;
18             (3)  the  obligation  of  the  Department to provide
19        supportive services;
20             (4)  the    rights    and    responsibilities     of
21        participants, including exemption and good cause criteria
22        and procedures; and
23             (5)  the types and locations of child care services.
24        (b)  The  Illinois  Department shall notify the recipient
25    in writing of the opportunity to volunteer to participate  in
26    the program.
27        (c)  (Blank).
28        (d)  As   part   of   the  personal  plan  for  achieving
29    employment and self-sufficiency, the Department shall conduct
30    an   individualized   assessment   of    the    participant's
31    employability.   Except  as to participation in the Get-A-Job
                            -2-                LRB9010255SMbd
 1    Program, no participant may be assigned to any  component  of
 2    the education, training and employment activity prior to such
 3    assessment, provided that a participant may be assigned up to
 4    4  weeks  of  Job  Search prior to such assessment.  The plan
 5    shall include collection of information on  the  individual's
 6    background,  proficiencies,  skills  deficiencies,  education
 7    level,  work history, employment goals, interests, aptitudes,
 8    and employment preferences,  as  well  as  factors  affecting
 9    employability  or  ability to meet participation requirements
10    (e.g., health, physical or mental  limitations,  child  care,
11    family circumstances, domestic violence, substance abuse, and
12    special  needs  of any child of the individual).   As part of
13    the  plan,  individuals  and  Department  staff  shall   work
14    together to identify any supportive service needs required to
15    enable  the  client to participate and meet the objectives of
16    his  or  her  employability  plan.  The  assessment  may   be
17    conducted   through   various  methods  such  as  interviews,
18    testing, counseling, and  self-assessment  instruments.   The
19    assessment  process  shall  include standard literacy testing
20    and a determination of English language proficiency for those
21    who  display  a  potential  need  for  literacy  or  language
22    services.  For those individuals  subject  to  a  job  search
23    demonstration,  there  may  be  an abbreviated assessment, as
24    defined by rule. Based on the assessment, the individual will
25    be assigned to the appropriate activity.  The  decision  will
26    be  based  on  a  determination  of the individual's level of
27    preparation for employment as defined by rule.
28        (e)  Recipients determined to be exempt may volunteer  to
29    participate pursuant to Section 9A-4 and must be assessed.
30        (f)  As   part   of   the  personal  plan  for  achieving
31    employment  and  self-sufficiency  under  Section   4-1,   an
32    employability  plan  for  recipients  shall  be  developed in
33    consultation with the participant.  The Department shall have
34    final responsibility for approving  the  employability  plan.
                            -3-                LRB9010255SMbd
 1    The employability plan shall:
 2             (1)  contain an employment goal of the participant;
 3             (2)  describe  the  services  to  be provided by the
 4        Department,  including  child  care  and  other   support
 5        services;
 6             (3)  describe  the  activities,  such  as  component
 7        assignment, that will be undertaken by the participant to
 8        achieve the employment goal; and
 9             (4)  describe  any  other  needs  of the family that
10        might be met by the Department.
11        (g)  The employability plan shall take into account:
12             (1)  available program resources;
13             (2)  the participant's support service needs;
14             (3)  the participant's skills level and aptitudes;
15             (4)  local employment opportunities; and
16             (5)  the preferences of the participant.
17        (h)  A  reassessment  shall  be  conducted  to  assess  a
18    participant's progress and to review the  employability  plan
19    on the following occasions:
20             (1)  upon  completion  of  an  activity  and  before
21        assignment to an activity;
22             (2)  upon the request of the participant;
23             (3)  if  the  individual is not cooperating with the
24        requirements of the program; and
25             (4)  if  the   individual   has   failed   to   make
26        satisfactory   progress   in  an  education  or  training
27        program.
28        Based on the reassessment, the Department may revise  the
29    employability plan of the participant.
30    (Source: P.A. 89-6, eff. 3-6-95; 89-289, eff. 1-1-96; 89-626,
31    eff. 8-9-96; 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

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