Public Act 096-0022
 
HB0399 Enrolled LRB096 04882 DRJ 14948 b

    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
changing Section 3-1 as follows:
 
    (305 ILCS 5/3-1)  (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1)
    Sec. 3-1. Eligibility Requirements. Financial aid in
meeting basic maintenance requirements for a livelihood
compatible with health and well-being shall be given under this
Article to or in behalf of aged, blind, or disabled persons who
meet the eligibility conditions of Sections 3-1.1 through
3-1.7. Financial aid under this Article shall be available only
for persons who are receiving Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) or who have been found ineligible for SSI (i) on the
basis of income or (ii) due to expiration of the period of
eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8 U.S.C.
1612(a)(2). Financial aid based on item (ii) of this paragraph
shall be available until July 1, 2009.
    "Aged person" means a person who has attained age 65, as
demonstrated by such evidence of age as the Illinois Department
may by rule prescribe.
    "Blind person" means a person who has no vision or whose
vision with corrective glasses is so defective as to prevent
the performance of ordinary duties or tasks for which eyesight
is essential. The Illinois Department shall define blindness in
terms of ophthalmic measurements or ocular conditions. For
purposes of this Act, an Illinois Disabled Person
Identification Card issued pursuant to The Illinois
Identification Card Act, indicating that the person thereon
named has a Type 3 disability shall be evidence that such
person is a blind person within the meaning of this Section;
however, such a card shall not qualify such person for aid as a
blind person under this Act, and eligibility for aid as a blind
person shall be determined as provided in this Act.
    "Disabled person" means a person age 18 or over who has a
physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss which is of a
permanent nature and which substantially impairs his ability to
perform labor or services or to engage in useful occupations
for which he is qualified, as determined by rule and regulation
of the Illinois Department. For purposes of this Act, an
Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card issued pursuant
to The Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that the
person thereon named has a Type 1 or 2, Class 2 disability
shall be evidence that such person is a disabled person under
this Section; however, such a card shall not qualify such
person for aid as a disabled person under this Act, and
eligibility for aid as a disabled person shall be determined as
provided in this Act. If federal law or regulation permit or
require the inclusion of blind or disabled persons whose
blindness or disability is not of the degree specified in the
foregoing definitions, or permit or require the inclusion of
disabled persons under age 18 or aged persons under age 65, the
Illinois Department, upon written approval of the Governor, may
provide by rule that all aged, blind or disabled persons toward
whose aid federal funds are available be eligible for
assistance under this Article as is given to those who meet the
foregoing definitions of blind person and disabled person or
aged person.
(Source: P.A. 93-741, eff. 7-15-04; 94-918, eff. 6-26-06.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 6/30/2009