Full Text of HB4730

LRB104 17647 KTG 31078 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4730

Introduced , by Rep. Dagmara Avelar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/12-4.13f new

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, establish a Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program to provide FRESH benefits to households subject to termination of the household's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or a reduction in the household's monthly SNAP benefit allotment, if the termination or reduction in SNAP benefits occurred as a result of one or more members of the household failing to meet SNAP work requirements. Provides that, for eligible households whose SNAP benefits were reduced or terminated, FRESH benefits shall be provided as a one-time lump sum payment distributed via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. Requires the Department to make FRESH program applications available online and at local Family and Community Resource Centers immediately upon the first of the month following the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an application for FRESH benefits shall not be deemed an application for any other public aid provided under the Code. Requires the Department to provide within a specified time frame FRESH benefits to households' that experience a reduction or termination of SNAP benefits prior to or after the first month following the effective date of the amendatory Act, if certain application submission deadlines are met. Requires the Department to publish monthly data reports on the FRESH program and to include such data in the Department's annual report to the General Assembly. Prohibits the Department and local governmental units from considering a household's receipt of FRESH benefits when determining the household's eligibility for other assistance provided under the Code. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

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 adding Section 12-4.13f as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.13f new)

Sec. 12-4.13f. Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section, "SNAP benefits" refers to both SNAP benefits provided under Chapter 51 of Title VII of the United States Code, and SNAP benefits provided under Article XVI of this Code.

(b) Eligibility. Subject to available funding, the Department of Human Services shall establish a Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program to provide FRESH benefits to households subject to termination of the household's SNAP benefits, or a reduction in the household's monthly SNAP benefit allotment, if the termination or reduction in SNAP benefits occurred as a result of one or more members of the household failing to meet SNAP work requirements.

(c) Payment amount.

(1) For households eligible for FRESH benefits based on the reduction of SNAP benefits as set forth in subsection (b), FRESH benefits shall be provided as a one-time lump sum payment in an amount equal to 3 times the difference of:

(A) the amount of the household's monthly SNAP allotment for the month prior to the removal of one or more household members from the SNAP benefit unit, minus

(B) the reduced amount of the household's monthly SNAP allotment in the month following the removal of one or more household members from the SNAP benefit unit.

(2) For households eligible for FRESH benefits based on the termination of SNAP benefits as set forth in subsection (b), FRESH benefits shall be provided as a one-time lump sum payment in an amount equal to 3 times the amount of the household's monthly SNAP allotment in the month prior to the termination of SNAP benefits.

(d) Application.

(1) To receive FRESH benefits, households must submit an application. The Department of Human Services shall make applications for FRESH benefits available to the public both online and in-person at local Family and Community Resource Centers immediately upon the first of the month following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. The Department shall utilize all relevant information or electronic data sources available to the Department for purposes of assessing eligibility for FRESH benefits. The Department shall make reasonable efforts to limit the information that must be provided by households in the application for FRESH benefits. An application for FRESH benefits shall not be deemed an application for any other public benefits a person may be eligible for under Section 11-4 of Article XI of this Code.

(2) Where the reduction or termination of SNAP benefits as set forth in subsection (b) occurred prior to the first of the month following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Department shall provide FRESH benefits within 10 calendar days following the household's application for FRESH benefits, if such application is made within 180 days from the date the application for FRESH benefits is made available to the public as set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(3) Where the reduction or termination of SNAP benefits as set forth in subsection (b) occurred on or after the first of the month following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Department shall provide FRESH benefits within 10 calendar days following the household's application for FRESH benefits, if such application is made within 60 days from the first of the month following the reduction or termination of SNAP benefits.

(e) FRESH benefits under this Section shall be provided to eligible households in the form of cash benefits distributed via disbursement to an Electronic Benefits Transfer card.

(f) Data reporting. The Department shall publish monthly data on the number of households who have applied for FRESH benefits, the number of households who have been approved for FRESH benefits, and the amount of FRESH benefits issued to those households. The Department shall further provide this data as part of its annual report to the General Assembly. The report shall exclude any personally identifiable information.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, and to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, for purposes of determining eligibility and the amount of other assistance under this Code, the Department of Human Services and local governmental units administering assistance under this Code, shall exclude from consideration any FRESH benefits provided under this Section.

(h) Program termination. The provisions of this Section are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028.

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