Public Act 093-0741
 		





HB5889 Enrolled
LRB093 16771 DRJ 46877 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 Sections 3-1 and 3-5 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, 2006.

    "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. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95.)

 



    (305 ILCS 5/3-5)  (from Ch. 23, par. 3-5)



    Sec. 3-5. Amount of aid. The amount and nature of financial 
aid granted
to or in behalf of aged, blind, or disabled persons 
shall be determined
in accordance with the standards, grant 
amounts, rules and regulations of
the Illinois Department.  Due 
regard shall be given to the requirements
and conditions 
existing in each case, and to the amount of property
owned and 
the income, money contributions, and other support, and

resources received or obtainable by the person, from whatever 
source.
However, the amount and nature of any financial aid is 
not affected by
the payment of any grant under the "Senior 
Citizens and Disabled Persons
Property Tax Relief and 
Pharmaceutical Assistance Act" or any distributions
or items of 
income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of

subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.  
The aid shall
be sufficient, when added to all other income, 
money contributions and
support, to provide the person with a 
grant in the amount established by
Department regulation for 
such a person, based upon standards providing a
livelihood 
compatible with health and well-being. Financial aid under this 
Article granted to persons who have been found ineligible for 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to expiration of the 
period of eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8 
U.S.C. 1612(a)(2) shall not exceed $500 per month.


(Source: P.A. 91-676, eff. 12-23-99.)


 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.