HB0261 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 04702 MLM 14708 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB0261

Introduced , by Rep. Michelle Mussman

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 45/1-17 new

Amends the Education for Homeless Children Act. Provides that if a child loses permanent housing and becomes a homeless person, within the meaning of the Act, and the parent or guardian of the child finds temporary housing or shelter that still renders the child homeless within the meaning of the Act and if the school district of the child's school of origin is thereby required to pay the transportation costs of the child to and from his or her school of origin and the school district can save money by providing housing assistance to the parent or guardian of the child such that it would allow the child to attend his or her school of origin instead of providing transportation to and from the child's school of origin, then the school district may, at its discretion, provide rental or mortgage assistance. Sets forth provisions concerning the amount of assistance, providing the assistance indirectly through a homeless assistance agency, providing assistance to those at risk of homelessness, the length of assistance provided, and the school district funds from which the assistance may be drawn. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Education for Homeless Children Act is amended by adding Section 1-17 as follows:

(105 ILCS 45/1-17 new)

Sec. 1-17. Housing assistance.

(a) If a child loses permanent housing and becomes a homeless person within the meaning of Section 1-5 of this Act and the parent or guardian of the child finds temporary housing or shelter that still renders the child homeless within the meaning of Section 1-5 of this Act and if the school district of the child's school of origin is thereby required to pay the transportation costs of the child to and from his or her school of origin under Section 1-15 of this Act and the school district can save money by providing housing assistance to the parent or guardian of the child such that it would allow the child to attend his or her school of origin instead of providing transportation to and from the child's school of origin, then, notwithstanding Section 1-15 of this Act, the school district may, at its discretion:

(1) provide rental assistance in such amount as will allow the student and his or her parent or guardian to remain in the attendance area of the school of origin;

(2) provide rental assistance in such amount as will allow the student and his or her parent or guardian to remain in the school district;

(3) provide mortgage assistance in such amount as will allow the student and his or her parent or guardian to remain in the attendance area of the school of origin; or

(4) provide mortgage assistance in such amount as will allow the student and his or her parent or guardian to remain in the school district. Alternatively, at the discretion of the school district, the school district may provide such assistance indirectly through a homeless assistance agency that is part of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act's Continuum of Care for the area in which the school district is located.

(b) If a child is at risk of homelessness and the parent or guardian of that child can show, through an eviction notice, foreclosure notice, or other evidence, impending homelessness, and if evidence shows, with a strong degree of confidence to the satisfaction of the school district, that the temporary housing or shelter where the child and parent or guardian will be located is outside the attendance area of the child's school of origin, then the school district may, at its discretion, provide rental or mortgage assistance similar to that outlined in subsection (a) of this Section.

(c) The school district may, at its discretion, continue rental or mortgage assistance to the parent or guardian as provided in this Section for up to one year or until the end of the then current school year. At the end of that year or school year, the school district shall determine or consult with the homeless assistance agency, if any, that has been providing the direct assistance to determine the parent's or guardian's likelihood of obtaining permanent housing and may, at the school district's discretion and if it can again be shown that it will save money, provide an additional year or school year of assistance to the parent or guardian under this Section.

(d) The funds to pay for assistance under this Section may be drawn from the school district's transportation fund, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, or another fund that the school district deems appropriate.

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