104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1857
 
Introduced 2/5/2025, by Sen. Graciela Guzmán
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/16-2
    Amends the Survivor Support And Trafficking Prevention Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Extends eligibility for cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who are preparing to file an application for T Nonimmigrant status or other specified nonimmigrant status applications. Removes a provision conditioning such assistance on the availability of funding. Removes a provision excluding from cash assistance and SNAP eligibility foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who are single adults without family members. Removes a provision excluding from SNAP eligibility foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who reside in an institution or other setting that provides the majority of their daily meals. Effective immediately.


LRB104 09583 KTG 19646 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
SB1857LRB104 09583 KTG 19646 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by 
5changing Section 16-2 as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/16-2)
7    Sec. 16-2. Eligibility. A Subject to available funding, a 
8foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious 
9crimes and the individual's derivative family members, but not 
10a single adult without derivative family members, are eligible 
11for cash assistance or SNAP benefits under this Article if the 
12individual:
13        (a) the individual has filed: 
14            (1) has filed or is preparing to file an 
15        application for T Nonimmigrant status with the 
16        appropriate federal agency pursuant to Section 
17        1101(a)(15)(T) of Title 8 of the United States Code, 
18        or is otherwise taking steps to meet the conditions 
19        for federal benefits eligibility under Section 7105 of 
20        Title 22 of the United States Code; 
21            (2) has filed or is preparing to file a formal 
22        application with the appropriate federal agency for 
23        status pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(U) of Title 8 
 
 
SB1857- 2 -LRB104 09583 KTG 19646 b

1        of the United States Code; or 
2            (3) has filed or is preparing to file a formal 
3        application with the appropriate federal agency for 
4        status under Section 1158 of Title 8 of the United 
5        States Code; and 
6        (b) is otherwise eligible for cash assistance or SNAP 
7    benefits, as applicable. 
8    An individual residing in an institution or other setting 
9that provides the majority of the individual's daily meals is 
10not eligible for SNAP benefits. 
11(Source: P.A. 103-588, eff. 6-5-24.)
 
12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
13becoming law.