Rep. William Delgado
Filed: 5/13/2005
 
 

 




 

 		












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AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 519




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    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 519 on page 1, line 
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5, by changing "Section 9A-15" to "Sections 9A-15 and 12-4.7e"; 
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and

 
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on page 6, after line 11, by inserting the following:
 
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    "(305 ILCS 5/12-4.7e  new)
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    Sec. 12-4.7e. Task force on applications and access to 
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income supports and medical assistance.
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    (a) The General Assembly has created a number of programs 
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that provide benefits and services to low-income people and 
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families designed to encourage, support, and sustain their 
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efforts to improve their economic status through employment. 
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The General Assembly finds that, because of disparate federal 
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requirements, complex program rules, agency staffing 
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challenges, and other administrative infrastructure issues, 
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many eligible people may not access these programs in a timely 
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way.
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    (b) Therefore, the Departments of Human Services and 
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Healthcare and Family Services shall jointly convene, or 
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otherwise identify members of existing advisory bodies to 
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jointly convene, a task force no later than October 1, 2005, to 
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advise the departments in conducting a thorough review and 
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analysis of policies and procedures concerning applications 
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and determinations of eligibility for cash assistance, food 
 


 






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stamps, and medical assistance provided under this Code and the 
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Children's Health Insurance Program Act.  The task force shall 
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meet quarterly.
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    (c) At a minimum, the review and analysis shall encompass 
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the following:
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        (1) Barriers encountered by applicants.
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        (2) Requirements for face-to-face interviews.
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        (3) Where applications may be made.
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        (4) Where open cases are maintained.
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        (5) Methodologies for counting income.
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        (6) Requirements for documenting or otherwise 
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    verifying eligibility criteria.
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        (7) Establishing the earliest possible date of 
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    application.
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        (8) Coordinating redeterminations of eligibility 
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    including the frequency of redeterminations.
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        (9) Acceptable methods for submitting information and 
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    required documentation whether in person, or by phone, 
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    facsimile, or electronic transmission.
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    (d) Based on the review and analysis, the departments and 
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the task force shall jointly develop recommendations for 
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appropriate changes in law, rules, policy, or process that will 
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simplify, make uniform, or otherwise ease the processes by 
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which potentially eligible persons may apply for and be found 
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eligible for benefits.  The recommendations shall include 
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proposed timelines and priorities for implementation.  In 
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making the recommendations, the departments and the task force 
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shall take into account and balance the following factors:
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        (1) The need to comply with federal law and regulations 
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    to maximize federal financial participation.
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        (2) The need to minimize administrative tasks for 
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    applicants, recipients, employees, medical providers, and 
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    authorized agents of the departments while maintaining 
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    program integrity.
 


 






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        (3) The costs and potential savings associated with 
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    proposed changes.
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        (4) The preservation of existing benefit levels for the 
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    substantial majority of recipients.
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        (5) The appropriateness and feasibility of obtaining 
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    waivers of federal law and regulations to maximize the 
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    goals of simplification and uniformity without loss of 
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    federal financial participation.
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    (e) The departments shall work in good faith to implement 
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the recommendations to the extent they are appropriate and 
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feasible given available resources and time.
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    (f) The departments shall jointly prepare a written report 
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of the work, recommendations, and any administrative changes 
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developed under this Section.  The task force shall have the 
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opportunity to review and comment on a draft of the report.  The 
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report shall be submitted to the Governor and the General 
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Assembly on or before January 1, 2007.".