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[ Engrossed ] | [ House Amendment 001 ] |
92_HB3061 LRB9205526DJpc 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. The grant amounts have 6 fallen far behind the cost of subsistence needs. The 7 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under Article 8 IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code is now a time-limited 9 program with vigorous work activity requirements. 10 Participants in the program need to be able to meet their 11 subsistence needs while they pursue work activities and 12 endeavor to exit the program as quickly as possible. 13 Inability to meet subsistence needs interferes with these 14 work efforts and delays exit from the program, and, among 15 families with difficult problems inhibiting the ability to 16 work, such as disabilities within the family, the inability 17 to meet subsistence needs also threatens their health and 18 well-being; therefore, 19 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 20 represented in the General Assembly: 21 Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by 22 changing Section 12-4.11 as follows: 23 (305 ILCS 5/12-4.11) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.11) 24 Sec. 12-4.11. Grant amounts. The Department, with due 25 regard for and subject to budgetary limitations, shall 26 establish grant amounts for each of the programs, by 27 regulation. The grant amounts may vary by program, size of 28 assistance unit and geographic area. Effective July 1, 2001, 29 the Department shall increase the grant amounts under Article 30 IV of this Code by no less than 15% above the amounts in 31 effect on June 30, 2001. Effective July 1, 2002, the -2- LRB9205526DJpc 1 Department shall increase the grant amounts under Article IV 2 of this Code by no less than 15% above the amounts in effect 3 on June 30, 2002. On January 1, 2004, and on January 1 every 4 2 years thereafter, the Department shall issue a report to 5 the Governor and the General Assembly on the adequacy of 6 grant amounts under Article IV to meet the subsistence needs 7 of the families participating in that program. 8 Aid payments shall not be reduced except: (1) for changes 9 in the cost of items included in the grant amounts, or (2) 10 for changes in the expenses of the recipient, or (3) for 11 changes in the income or resources available to the 12 recipient, or (4) for changes in grants resulting from 13 adoption of a consolidated grant amount. 14 In fixing standards to govern payments or reimbursements 15 for funeral and burial expenses, the Department shall take 16 into account the services essential to a dignified, low-cost 17 funeral and burial, including reasonable amounts that may be 18 necessary for burial space and cemetery charges, and any 19 applicable taxes or other required governmental fees or 20 charges. 21 Nothing contained in this Section or in any other Section 22 of this Code shall be construed to prohibit the Illinois 23 Department (1) from consolidating existing standards on the 24 basis of any standards which are or were in effect on, or 25 subsequent to July 1, 1969, or (2) from employing any 26 consolidated standards in determining need for public aid and 27 the amount of money payment or grant for individual 28 recipients or recipient families. 29 (Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97; 90-326, eff. 8-8-97; 30 90-372, eff. 7-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 91-24, eff. 31 7-1-99.) 32 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on 33 July 1, 2001.