97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB3613

 

Introduced 2/10/2012, by Sen. Kyle McCarter

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/12-4.45 new

    Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Creates the Workforce Preparation Task Force to study and report on ways that promote the economic self-sufficiency of individuals who receive benefits under the State's General Assistance program, with the underlying intention to reduce the overall number of individuals receiving benefits under the program through increased levels of sustainable employment skills. Requires the Task Force to outline in its final report to the General Assembly and the Governor a 5-year plan that utilizes existing State resources and programs to reduce the overall number of general assistance recipients by one-third through enrollment in and successful completion of appropriate educational or job-training programs that can directly lead to sustainable employment opportunities in the job market. Provides that the Task Force shall meet on a periodic basis to examine and compile data regarding educational and job-training programs and resources as well as levels of benefits that recipients receive from the State's General Assistance program. Requires the Department of Human Services to maintain a database of information that tracks the overall trends of the 5-year plan and to provide quarterly updates to the public in both electronic and written formats. Contains provisions concerning Task Force membership and reporting requirements. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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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 12-4.45 as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.45 new)
7    Sec. 12-4.45. Workforce Preparation Task Force.
8    (a) The Workforce Preparation Task Force is created.
9Membership in the Task Force shall include, but shall not be
10limited to, the following members:
11        (1) One member appointed by the President of the
12    Senate.
13        (2) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
14    Senate.
15        (3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
16    Representatives.
17        (4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
18    House of Representatives.
19        (5) One member appointed by the Governor.
20        (6) One member appointed by the Illinois Community
21    College Board.
22        (7) One member appointed by the Illinois State Board of
23    Education.

 

 

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1        (8) The Director of the Department of Employment
2    Security or his or her designee.
3        (9) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services
4    or his or her designee.
5    Members shall serve without compensation.
6    (b) The Task Force shall study and report to the General
7Assembly and the Governor on ways that promote the economic
8self-sufficiency of individuals who receive benefits under the
9State's General Assistance program, with the underlying
10intention to reduce the overall number of individuals receiving
11benefits under the program through increased levels of
12sustainable employment skills.
13    In its final report, the Task Force shall outline a 5-year
14plan that utilizes existing State resources and programs to
15reduce the overall number of general assistance recipients by
16one-third through enrollment in and successful completion of
17appropriate educational or job-training programs that can
18directly lead to sustainable employment opportunities in the
19job market. Appropriate educational or job-training programs
20include, but are not limited to, the following: GED
21certificates, Associate's degrees from a community or business
22college, and vocational or apprenticeship certificates from
23accredited organizations.
24    The Task Force shall specifically address the needs of the
25following groups of individuals in the development of its
265-year plan: at-risk high school students or drop-outs,

 

 

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1individuals who do not enroll in a traditional 2-year or 4-year
2post-secondary academic program, and teenage mothers. The Task
3Force shall develop appropriate timeframes for completion of
4educational or job-training programs and link the
5discontinuation of a recipient's benefits upon such completion
6and transition into the job market.
7    (c) The Task Force shall meet on a periodic basis to
8examine and compile data regarding educational and
9job-training programs and resources as well as levels of
10benefits that recipients receive from the State's General
11Assistance program.
12    (d) The Department of Human Services shall provide
13administrative support to the Task Force and shall maintain a
14database of information that tracks the overall trends of the
155-year plan and provide quarterly updates to the public in both
16electronic and written formats.
17    (e) The Task Force shall document its findings and
18recommendations in a 5-year plan to the General Assembly and
19the Governor by January 1, 2013.
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.