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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
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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.
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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.)