100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB3211

 

Introduced , by Rep. Litesa E. Wallace

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/12-4.13b new

    Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to identify and flag all college students who are potentially eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Provides that the factors to be used to determine potential SNAP eligibility shall be prescribed by the Department of Human Services by rule, but at a minimum the Department shall consider income information reported on a college student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Requires ISAC to develop a notice available electronically to institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum, college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline. Requires Illinois institutions of higher education that participate in the Monetary Award Program to provide the notice in writing to all students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and are identified by ISAC as potentially SNAP eligible and, if possible, to designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Contains provisions concerning: SNAP Employment and Training program requirements; protocols to identify and verify all potential exemptions to an eligibility rule described in a specified federal regulation and to identify and verify a student's participation in educational programs; and other matters. Requires the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement specified provisions on or before October 1, 2017. Effective immediately.


LRB100 10886 KTG 21121 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3211LRB100 10886 KTG 21121 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
5adding Section 12-4.13b as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.13b new)
7    Sec. 12-4.13b. College student eligibility for
8supplemental nutrition assistance benefits.
9    (a)(1) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
10shall identify and flag all college students who are
11potentially eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition
12Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The factors to be used to
13determine potential SNAP eligibility shall be prescribed by the
14Department of Human Services by rule, but at a minimum the
15Department shall consider income information reported on a
16college student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
17ISAC shall develop a notice available electronically to
18institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum,
19college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for
20Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois
21Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline.
22    (2) Illinois institutions of higher education that
23participate in the Monetary Award Program shall provide the

 

 

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1notice described in paragraph (1) in writing to all students
2who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and are identified
3by ISAC as potentially SNAP eligible and, if possible, shall
4designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to
5assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public
6benefits if eligible.
7    (3) The Illinois Community College Board shall adopt any
8rules necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection
9(a) on or before October 1, 2017.
10    (b) For the purposes of Section 273.5(b)(11)(ii) of Title 7
11of the Code of Federal Regulations, an educational program
12offered at a community college under the Carl D. Perkins Career
13and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Public Law
14109-270) that could be a component of a SNAP Employment and
15Training (E&T) program, as identified by the Department of
16Human Services, shall be considered an employment and training
17program under Section 273.7 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal
18Regulations, unless prohibited by federal law.
19    (c) The Department of Human Services, in consultation with
20representatives of the Office of the Chancellor of the City
21Colleges of Chicago, the Illinois Community College Board,
22ISAC, the Illinois Workforce Investment Board, and advocates
23for students and SNAP recipients, shall establish a protocol to
24identify and verify all potential exemptions to the eligibility
25rule described in Section 273.5(a) of Title 7 of the Code of
26Federal Regulations, and to identify and verify a student's

 

 

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1participation in educational programs, including, but not
2limited to, self-initiated placements, that would exempt a
3student from the eligibility rule described in Section 273.5(a)
4of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations. To the extent
5possible, this consultation shall take place through existing
6workgroups convened by the Department of Human Services.
7    (d) If the United States Department of Agriculture requires
8federal approval of the exemption designation established
9pursuant to subsection (b) and the protocol established
10pursuant to subsection (c), the Department of Human Services
11shall seek and obtain that approval before publishing the
12guidance or regulation required by subsection (f).
13    (e)(1) This Section does not require the Department of
14Human Services to offer a particular component, support
15services, or workers' compensation to a college student found
16eligible for an exemption pursuant to this Section.
17    (2) This Section does not restrict or require the use of
18federal funds for the financing of SNAP E&T programs.
19    (3) This Section does not require an institution of higher
20education to verify eligibility for SNAP.
21    (f) The Department of Human Services shall adopt any rules
22necessary to implement the provisions of subsections (b), (c),
23(d), and (e) on or before October 1, 2017.
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25becoming law.