093_SB1025

 
                                     LRB093 10929 DRJ 11481 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to public aid.

 2        WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that there  has  been
 3    only  a  single  5%  general  adjustment in the grant amounts
 4    under Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code,  which  was
 5    effective  July  1,  2002,  to reflect changes in the cost of
 6    subsistence needs since 1989; and

 7        WHEREAS, The grant amounts have  fallen  far  behind  the
 8    cost  of  subsistence  needs, especially the costs of private
 9    market housing, which have far outpaced the general increases
10    in the cost of living; and

11        WHEREAS, The  Temporary  Assistance  for  Needy  Families
12    program  under  Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code is
13    now  a  time-limited  program  with  vigorous  work  activity
14    requirements; and

15        WHEREAS, Many recipients are employed,  and  all  of  the
16    unemployed  recipients  must  pursue employment or activities
17    directed at increasing their employability; and

18        WHEREAS, Stable housing is a crucial  ingredient  in  the
19    success  of these efforts and the earliest possible exit from
20    the program; and

21        WHEREAS, Inability to meet housing costs interferes  with
22    these  work  efforts  and  delays exit from the program, and,
23    among families with difficult  problem  delaying  their  exit
24    from the program, such as disabilities within the family, the
25    inability  to  meet  housing costs threatens their health and
26    well-being; and

27        WHEREAS,  The  General  Assembly  finds  that  a  crucial
28    support for the welfare-to-work effort is a housing allowance
29    for families participating in the  Temporary  Assistance  for
30    Needy  Families  program  who  do  not  receive  a government
31    housing subsidy or reside in public housing; therefore,
 
                            -2-      LRB093 10929 DRJ 11481 b


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

 3        Section  5.  The  Illinois  Public Aid Code is amended by
 4    changing Section 12-4.11 as follows:

 5        (305 ILCS 5/12-4.11) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.11)
 6        Sec. 12-4.11.  Grant amounts.   The Department, with  due
 7    regard  for  and  subject  to  budgetary  limitations,  shall
 8    establish   grant  amounts  for  each  of  the  programs,  by
 9    regulation.  The grant amounts may vary by program,  size  of
10    assistance unit and geographic area.
11        Effective  July 1, 2003, the Department of Human Services
12    shall establish a housing allowance to include in  the  grant
13    amounts  under Article IV of this Code. The housing allowance
14    shall be provided in the grant amounts for families  in  each
15    month  as  to  which  they do not reside in public housing or
16    receive a governmental housing  subsidy.  Effective  July  1,
17    2003,  the  housing  allowance  shall  be equal to 15% of the
18    grant amounts effective on June 30, 2003. Effective  July  1,
19    2004,  the Department shall increase the housing allowance by
20    a further 15% of the grant  amounts  effective  on  June  30,
21    2004.
22        Aid payments shall not be reduced except: (1) for changes
23    in  the  cost  of items included in the grant amounts, or (2)
24    for changes in the expenses of  the  recipient,  or  (3)  for
25    changes   in   the  income  or  resources  available  to  the
26    recipient, or  (4)  for  changes  in  grants  resulting  from
27    adoption of a consolidated grant amount.
28        In  fixing standards to govern payments or reimbursements
29    for  funeral  and  burial  expenses,  the  Department   shall
30    establish  a minimum allowable amount of not less than $1,000
 
                            -3-      LRB093 10929 DRJ 11481 b
 1    for Department payment of funeral services and not less  than
 2    $500  for Department payment of burial or cremation services.
 3    In establishing the minimum allowable amount, the  Department
 4    shall   take   into  account  the  services  essential  to  a
 5    dignified, low-cost (i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation,
 6    including reasonable amounts that may be necessary for burial
 7    space and cemetery charges, and any applicable taxes or other
 8    required governmental fees  or  charges.  If  no  person  has
 9    agreed  to  pay  the  total  cost of the (i) funeral and (ii)
10    burial or cremation charges, the  Department  shall  pay  the
11    vendor the actual costs of the (i) funeral and (ii) burial or
12    cremation,  or  the minimum allowable amount for each service
13    as established by the Department, whichever is less, provided
14    that the  Department  reduces  its  payments  by  the  amount
15    available  from  the following sources: the decedent's assets
16    and available resources and the anticipated  amounts  of  any
17    death  benefits  available  to  the  decedent's  estate,  and
18    amounts  paid  and  arranged  to  be  paid  by the decedent's
19    legally responsible relatives. A legally responsible relative
20    is expected to pay (i) funeral and (ii) burial  or  cremation
21    expenses unless financially unable to do so.
22        Nothing contained in this Section or in any other Section
23    of  this  Code  shall  be  construed to prohibit the Illinois
24    Department (1) from consolidating existing standards  on  the
25    basis  of  any  standards  which are or were in effect on, or
26    subsequent to  July  1,  1969,  or  (2)  from  employing  any
27    consolidated standards in determining need for public aid and
28    the   amount   of  money  payment  or  grant  for  individual
29    recipients or recipient families.
30    (Source: P.A. 91-24, eff. 7-1-99; 92-419, eff. 1-1-02.)

31        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act  takes  effect  on
32    July 1, 2003.