HB4730eng 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4730 Engrossed LRB093 19722 AMC 45463 b

AN ACT concerning public aid.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Sections 5-2, 6-1.7, and 12-4.4 and by adding Section 9A-15 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-2)

Sec. 5-2. Classes of Persons Eligible. Medical assistance under this Article shall be available to any of the following classes of persons in respect to whom a plan for coverage has been submitted to the Governor by the Illinois Department and approved by him:

1. Recipients of basic maintenance grants under Articles III and IV.

2. Persons otherwise eligible for basic maintenance under Articles III and IV but who fail to qualify thereunder on the basis of need, and who have insufficient income and resources to meet the costs of necessary medical care, including but not limited to the following:

(a) All persons otherwise eligible for basic maintenance under Article III but who fail to qualify under that Article on the basis of need and who meet either of the following requirements:

(i) their income, as determined by the Illinois Department in accordance with any federal requirements, is equal to or less than 70% in fiscal year 2001, equal to or less than 85% in fiscal year 2002 and until a date to be determined by the Department by rule, and equal to or less than 100% beginning on the date determined by the Department by rule, of the nonfarm income official poverty line, as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with Section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, applicable to families of the same size; or

(ii) their income, after the deduction of costs incurred for medical care and for other types of remedial care, is equal to or less than 70% in fiscal year 2001, equal to or less than 85% in fiscal year 2002 and until a date to be determined by the Department by rule, and equal to or less than 100% beginning on the date determined by the Department by rule, of the nonfarm income official poverty line, as defined in item (i) of this subparagraph (a).

(b) All persons who would be determined eligible for such basic maintenance under Article IV by disregarding the maximum earned income permitted by federal law.

3. Persons who would otherwise qualify for Aid to the Medically Indigent under Article VII.

4. Persons not eligible under any of the preceding paragraphs who fall sick, are injured, or die, not having sufficient money, property or other resources to meet the costs of necessary medical care or funeral and burial expenses.

5. (a) Women during pregnancy, after the fact of pregnancy has been determined by medical diagnosis, and during the 60-day period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy, together with their infants and children born after September 30, 1983, whose income and resources are insufficient to meet the costs of necessary medical care to the maximum extent possible under Title XIX of the Federal Social Security Act.

(b) The Illinois Department and the Governor shall provide a plan for coverage of the persons eligible under paragraph 5(a) by April 1, 1990. Such plan shall provide ambulatory prenatal care to pregnant women during a presumptive eligibility period and establish an income eligibility standard that is equal to 133% of the nonfarm income official poverty line, as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with Section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, applicable to families of the same size, provided that costs incurred for medical care are not taken into account in determining such income eligibility.

(c) The Illinois Department may conduct a demonstration in at least one county that will provide medical assistance to pregnant women, together with their infants and children up to one year of age, where the income eligibility standard is set up to 185% of the nonfarm income official poverty line, as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget. The Illinois Department shall seek and obtain necessary authorization provided under federal law to implement such a demonstration. Such demonstration may establish resource standards that are not more restrictive than those established under Article IV of this Code.

6. Persons under the age of 18 who fail to qualify as dependent under Article IV and who have insufficient income and resources to meet the costs of necessary medical care to the maximum extent permitted under Title XIX of the Federal Social Security Act.

7. Persons who are under 21 years of age and would qualify as disabled as defined under the Federal Supplemental Security Income Program, provided medical service for such persons would be eligible for Federal Financial Participation, and provided the Illinois Department determines that:

(a) the person requires a level of care provided by a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate care facility, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches;

(b) it is appropriate to provide such care outside of an institution, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches;

(c) the estimated amount which would be expended for care outside the institution is not greater than the estimated amount which would be expended in an institution.

8. Persons who become ineligible for basic maintenance assistance under Article IV of this Code in programs administered by the Illinois Department due to employment earnings and persons in assistance units comprised of adults and children who become ineligible for basic maintenance assistance under Article VI of this Code due to employment earnings. The plan for coverage for this class of persons shall:

(a) extend the medical assistance coverage for up to 12 months following termination of basic maintenance assistance; and

(b) offer persons who have initially received 6 months of the coverage provided in paragraph (a) above, the option of receiving an additional 6 months of coverage, subject to the following:

(i) such coverage shall be pursuant to provisions of the federal Social Security Act;

(ii) such coverage shall include all services covered while the person was eligible for basic maintenance assistance;

(iii) no premium shall be charged for such coverage; and

(iv) such coverage shall be suspended in the event of a person's failure without good cause to file in a timely fashion reports required for this coverage under the Social Security Act and coverage shall be reinstated upon the filing of such reports if the person remains otherwise eligible.

9. Persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or with AIDS-related conditions with respect to whom there has been a determination that but for home or community-based services such individuals would require the level of care provided in an inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility the cost of which is reimbursed under this Article. Assistance shall be provided to such persons to the maximum extent permitted under Title XIX of the Federal Social Security Act.

10. Participants in the long-term care insurance partnership program established under the Partnership for Long-Term Care Act who meet the qualifications for protection of resources described in Section 25 of that Act.

11. Persons with disabilities who are employed and eligible for Medicaid, pursuant to Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(xv) of the Social Security Act, as provided by the Illinois Department by rule.

12. Subject to federal approval, persons who are eligible for medical assistance coverage under applicable provisions of the federal Social Security Act and the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 or who would have been eligible for such coverage except that they are found to need treatment for a cancer other than breast or cervical cancer. Those eligible persons are defined to include, but not be limited to, the following persons:

(1) persons who have been screened for breast or cervical cancer under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Breast and Cervical Cancer Program established under Title XV of the federal Public Health Services Act in accordance with the requirements of Section 1504 of that Act as administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health; and

(2) persons whose screenings under the above program were funded in whole or in part by funds appropriated to the Illinois Department of Public Health for breast or cervical cancer screening.

"Medical assistance" under this paragraph 12 shall be identical to the benefits provided under the State's approved plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. The Department must request federal approval of the coverage under this paragraph 12 within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly.

The Illinois Department and the Governor shall provide a plan for coverage of the persons eligible under paragraph 7 as soon as possible after July 1, 1984.

The eligibility of any such person for medical assistance under this Article is not affected by the payment of any grant under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act. The Department shall by rule establish the amounts of assets to be disregarded in determining eligibility for medical assistance, which shall at a minimum equal the amounts to be disregarded under the Federal Supplemental Security Income Program. The amount of assets of a single person to be disregarded shall not be less than $2,000, and the amount of assets of a married couple to be disregarded shall not be less than $3,000.

To the extent permitted under federal law, any person found guilty of a second violation of Article VIIIA shall be ineligible for medical assistance under this Article, as provided in Section 8A-8.

The eligibility of any person for medical assistance under this Article shall not be affected by the receipt by the person of donations or benefits from fundraisers held for the person in cases of serious illness, as long as neither the person nor members of the person's family have actual control over the donations or benefits or the disbursement of the donations or benefits.

(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-47, eff. 7-3-01; 92-597, eff. 6-28-02; 93-20, eff. 6-20-03.)

(305 ILCS 5/6-1.7) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.7)

Sec. 6-1.7. A recipient of financial aid under this Article, which money or vendor payment is made by a local governmental unit which administers aid under this Article and is not a County Department, who is required under Section 6-1.4 to register for and accept bona fide offers of employment as provided in Section 11-20 but is not required to participate in a job search, training and work program under Section 9-6, must also register for work with such local governmental unit and must perform work without compensation for a taxing district or private not-for-profit organization as provided in this Section.

A local governmental unit which administers aid under this Article shall maintain a roster of the persons who have registered for work in such local governmental unit, and shall assure that such roster is available for the inspection of the governing authorities of all taxing districts or private not-for-profit organizations, or the duly authorized agents thereof, for the selection of possible workers. Each such local governmental unit shall cause persons, who are selected by a taxing district or private not-for-profit organization to perform work, to be notified at least 24 hours in advance of the time the work is to begin.

Each such local governmental unit shall assure that the following additional requirements are complied with:

(a) The taxing district or private not-for-profit organization may not use a person selected to work under this Section to replace a regular employee.

(b) The work to be performed for the taxing district or private not-for-profit organization must be reasonably related to the skills or interests of the recipient.

(c) The maximum number of hours such work may be performed is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.

(d) The recipient shall be provided or compensated for transportation to and from the work location.

(e) The person selected to work under this Section shall receive credit against his or her monthly benefits under this Article, based on the State or federal minimum wage rate, whichever is higher, for the work performed.

However, a taxing district or private not-for-profit organization using the services of such recipient must pay the recipient at least the State or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, after such recipient has received credit by the Illinois Department equal to the amount of financial aid received under this Article, or the recipient shall be discharged. Moneys made available for public aid purposes under this Article may be expended to purchase worker's compensation insurance or to pay worker's compensation claims.

For the purposes of this Section, "taxing district" means any unit of local government, as defined in Section 1 of Article VII of the Constitution, with the power to tax, and any school district or community college district.

(Source: P.A. 85-114.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-15 new)

Sec. 9A-15. Work activity; applicable minimum wage. The State or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, shall be used to calculate the required number of hours of participation in any earnfare or pay after performance activity under Section 9A-9 or any other Section of this Code in which a recipient of public assistance performs work as a condition of receiving the public assistance and the recipient is not paid wages for the work.

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.4)

Sec. 12-4.4. Administration of federally-aided programs. Direct County Departments of Public Aid in the administration of the federally funded food stamp program, programs to aid refugees and Articles III, IV, and V of this Code.

The Illinois Department of Human Services shall operate a Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSE&T) program in compliance with federal law. The FSE&T program will have an Earnfare component. The Earnfare component shall be available in selected geographic areas based on criteria established by the Illinois Department of Human Services by rule. Participants in Earnfare will, to the extent resources allow, earn their assistance. Participation in the Earnfare program is voluntary, except when ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. Eligibility for Earnfare may be limited to only 6 months out of any 12 consecutive month period. Clients are not entitled to be placed in an Earnfare slot. Earnfare slots shall be made available only as resources permit. Earnfare shall be available to persons receiving food stamps who meet eligibility criteria established by the Illinois Department of Human Services by rule. The Illinois Department may, by rule, extend the Earnfare Program to clients who do not receive food stamps. Receipt of food stamps is not an eligibility requirement of Earnfare when a court of competent jurisdiction orders an individual to participate in the Earnfare Program. To the extent resources permit, the Earnfare program will allow participants to engage in work-related activities to earn monthly financial assistance payments and to improve participants' employability in order for them to succeed in obtaining employment. The Illinois Department of Human Services may enter into contracts with other public agencies including State agencies, with local governmental units, and with not-for-profit community based organizations to carry out the elements of the Program that the Department of Human Services deems appropriate.

The Earnfare Program shall contain the following elements:

(1) To the extent resources allow and slots exist, the Illinois Department of Human Services shall refer recipients of food stamp assistance who meet eligibility criteria, as established by rule. Receipt of food stamps is not an eligibility requirement of Earnfare when a court of competent jurisdiction orders an individual to participate in the Earnfare Program.

(2) Persons participating in Earnfare shall engage in employment assigned activities equal to the amount of the food stamp benefits divided by the State or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, and subsequently shall earn minimum wage assistance for each additional hour of performance in Earnfare activity. Earnfare participants shall be offered the opportunity to earn up to $154. The Department of Human Services may establish a higher amount by rule provided resources permit. If a court of competent jurisdiction orders an individual to participate in the Earnfare program, hours engaged in employment assigned activities shall first be applied for a $50 payment made to the custodial parent as a support obligation. If the individual receives food stamps, the individual shall engage in employment assigned activities equal to the amount of the food stamp benefits divided by the State or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, and subsequently shall earn State or federal minimum wage assistance, whichever is higher, for each additional hour of performance in Earnfare activity.

(3) To the extent appropriate slots are available, the Illinois Department of Human Services shall assign Earnfare participants to Earnfare activities based on an assessment of the person's age, literacy, education, educational achievement, job training, work experience, and recent institutionalization, whenever these factors are known to the Department of Human Services or to the contractor and are relevant to the individual's success in carrying out the assigned activities and in ultimately obtaining employment.

(4) The Department of Human Services shall consider the participant's preferences and personal employment goals in making assignments to the extent administratively possible and to the extent that resources allow.

(5) The Department of Human Services may enter into cooperative agreements with local governmental units (which may, in turn, enter into agreements with not-for-profit community based organizations): with other public, including State, agencies; directly with not-for-profit community based organizations, and with private employers to create Earnfare activities for program participants.

(6) To the extent resources permit, the Department of Human Services shall provide the Earnfare participants with the costs of transportation in looking for work and in getting to and from the assigned Earnfare job site and initial expenses of employment.

(7) All income and asset limitations of the Federal Food Stamp Program will govern continued Earnfare participation, except that court ordered participants shall participate for 6 months unless the court orders otherwise.

(8) Earnfare participants shall not displace or substitute for regular, full time or part time employees, regardless of whether or not the employee is currently working, on a leave of absence or in a position or similar position where a layoff has taken place or the employer has terminated the employment of any regular employee or otherwise reduced its workforce with the effect of filling the vacancy so created with a participant subsidized under this program, or is or has been involved in a labor dispute between a labor organization and the sponsor.

(9) Persons who fail to cooperate with the FSE&T program shall become ineligible for food stamp assistance according to Food Stamp regulations, and for Earnfare participation. Failure to participate in Earnfare for all of the hours assigned is not a failure to cooperate unless so established by the employer pursuant to Department of Human Services rules, except that the changes to Sec. 5-2 in Section 5 take effect on January 1, 2005. If a person who is ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction to participate in the Earnfare Program fails to cooperate with the Program, the person shall be referred to the court for failure to comply with the court order.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

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