House Sponsors: LINDNER-STEPHENS-FLOWERS-CROTTY-DAVIS,MONIQUE, SCULLY, KLINGLER, BELLOCK, GASH AND SCHOENBERG. Senate Sponsors: SULLIVAN-DEL VALLE-OBAMA Short description: PUB AID-FAMILY VIOLENCE OPTION Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Defines domestic violence according to the terms of the federal Social Security Act. Provides that the State of Illinois adopts the Family Violence Option of the Social Security Act. Provides for the establishment and enforcement of standards and procedures to identify applicants and recipients of assistance who are past or present victims of domestic violence or at risk of further domestic violence, while maintaining their confidentiality. Provides that program requirements may be waived for those persons if the requirements would make it more difficult for those persons to avoid domestic violence. Establishes criteria for finding evidence of domestic violence. Provides that all State departments and agencies that serve applicants and recipients of assistance shall develop policies to make it easier for those persons to escape domestic violence. Provides that the Department of Human Services, or any successor department responsible for operation of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF), shall be responsible for coordination of those activities. Repeals existing provisions dealing with domestic violence assessment and self-sufficiency plans. Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Provides that in waiving program requirements because of the risk of domestic violence, the Department of Human Services shall determine a specific relationship between the domestic violence suffered by the client and the need to waive a requirement because domestic violence makes it more difficult or impossible for the client to meet the requirement. Deletes language requiring all State agencies that serve applicants and recipients of assistance to develop policies to make it easier for those persons to avoid domestic violence. Provides that the Department of Human Services, or any successor agency resonsible for the operation of the TANF program, shall be responsible for coordinat- ing policies and procedures to comply with the Code's requirements regarding prevention of domestic violence, in consultation with State and local domestic violence experts. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 01-01-09 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status