[ Search ] [ PDF text ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
| [ Engrossed ] |
92_HB1031
LRB9204966DJgc
1 AN ACT in relation to public aid.
2 WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that there has been
3 no general adjustment in the grant amounts under Article IV
4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code to reflect changes in the
5 cost of subsistence needs since 1989; and
6 WHEREAS, The grant amounts have fallen far behind the
7 cost of subsistence needs, especially the costs of private
8 market housing, which have far outpaced the general increases
9 in the cost of living; and
10 WHEREAS, The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
11 program under Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code is
12 now a time-limited program with vigorous work activity
13 requirements; and
14 WHEREAS, Many recipients are employed, and all of the
15 unemployed recipients must pursue employment or activities
16 directed at increasing their employability; and
17 WHEREAS, Stable housing is a crucial ingredient in the
18 success of these efforts and the earliest possible exit from
19 the program; and
20 WHEREAS, Inability to meet housing costs interferes with
21 these work efforts and delays exit from the program, and,
22 among families with difficult problem delaying their exit
23 from the program, such as disabilities within the family, the
24 inability to meet housing costs threatens their health and
25 well-being; and
26 WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that a crucial
27 support for the welfare-to-work effort is a housing allowance
28 for families participating in the Temporary Assistance for
29 Needy Families program who do not receive a government
30 housing subsidy or reside in public housing; therefore,
-2- LRB9204966DJgc
1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
2 represented in the General Assembly:
3 Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
4 changing Section 12-4.11 as follows:
5 (305 ILCS 5/12-4.11) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.11)
6 Sec. 12-4.11. Grant amounts. The Department, with due
7 regard for and subject to budgetary limitations, shall
8 establish grant amounts for each of the programs, by
9 regulation. The grant amounts may vary by program, size of
10 assistance unit and geographic area. Effective July 1, 2001,
11 the Department shall establish a housing allowance to include
12 in the grant amounts under Article IV of this Code. The
13 housing allowance shall be provided in the grant amounts for
14 families in each month as to which they do not reside in
15 public housing or receive a governmental housing subsidy.
16 Effective July 1, 2001, the housing allowance shall be equal
17 to 15% of the grant amounts effective on June 30, 2001.
18 Effective July 1, 2002, the Department shall increase the
19 housing allowance by a further 15% of the grant amounts
20 effective on June 30, 2001.
21 Aid payments shall not be reduced except: (1) for changes
22 in the cost of items included in the grant amounts, or (2)
23 for changes in the expenses of the recipient, or (3) for
24 changes in the income or resources available to the
25 recipient, or (4) for changes in grants resulting from
26 adoption of a consolidated grant amount.
27 In fixing standards to govern payments or reimbursements
28 for funeral and burial expenses, the Department shall take
29 into account the services essential to a dignified, low-cost
30 funeral and burial, including reasonable amounts that may be
31 necessary for burial space and cemetery charges, and any
32 applicable taxes or other required governmental fees or
-3- LRB9204966DJgc
1 charges.
2 Nothing contained in this Section or in any other Section
3 of this Code shall be construed to prohibit the Illinois
4 Department (1) from consolidating existing standards on the
5 basis of any standards which are or were in effect on, or
6 subsequent to July 1, 1969, or (2) from employing any
7 consolidated standards in determining need for public aid and
8 the amount of money payment or grant for individual
9 recipients or recipient families.
10 (Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97; 90-326, eff. 8-8-97;
11 90-372, eff. 7-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 91-24, eff.
12 7-1-99.)
13 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on
14 July 1, 2001.