102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5157

 

Introduced 1/27/2022, by Rep. Joe Sosnowski

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 605/605-1095 new

    Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer the Illinois In-Person Learning for All Benefit Program to provide reimbursement to parents and guardians to cover the costs of allowable expenses related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Provides that under the Program, an eligible parent or guardian may receive, per child, the lesser of $10,000 or the resident school district's per capita tuition rate. Provides that a parent or guardian may permanently enroll his or her child in a different educational setting and receive reimbursement. Provides Program eligibility requirements. Provides that the Department may use funds appropriated from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide benefits under the Program. Provides for the adoption of rules. Defines terms. Effective immediately.


LRB102 26025 RJF 35455 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5157LRB102 26025 RJF 35455 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic
5Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois
6is amended by adding Section 605-1095 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 605/605-1095 new)
8    Sec. 605-1095. In-Person Learning for All Benefit Program.
9    (a) The Department, in conjunction with the Department of
10Human Services and the State Board of Education, shall
11establish and administer the Illinois In-Person Learning for
12All Benefit Program to provide reimbursement to parents and
13guardians to cover the costs of allowable expenses if the
14public school attended by a child of a parent or guardian has
15closed or transitioned to remote learning for any amount of
16time beginning with the 2021-2022 school year and in any
17subsequent school year due to the COVID-19 public health
18emergency.
19    (b) Parents and guardians may apply to the Program for any
20education interrupted by a school closure or transition to
21remote learning for any number of school days in which the
22parent or guardian must use personal funds to cover the costs
23of any allowable expense. Under the Program, an eligible

 

 

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1parent or guardian may receive, per child, the lesser of
2$10,000 or the resident school district's per capita tuition
3rate. A parent or guardian may permanently enroll his or her
4child in a different educational setting and receive
5reimbursement under this Section.
6    (c) In applying for benefits under the Program, the parent
7or guardian must submit: (i) proof of student enrollment in a
8public elementary or secondary school in this State; (ii)
9proof that the child's public school either closed or
10transitioned to remote learning for any number of days; (iii)
11proof of expenditures made by the parent or guardian for any
12allowable expenses; and (iv) proof of income eligibility. In
13order to be eligible for the Program, the child's family must
14also have a household income at or below 350% of the Federal
15Poverty Level.
16    (d) The Department may use funds appropriated from the
17federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide benefits
18under the Program.
19    (e) The Department, in conjunction with the Department of
20Human Services and the State Board of Education, shall adopt
21rules necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.
22    (f) For purposes of this Section:
23    "Allowable expenses" includes school tuition, including
24nonpublic school tuition, childcare, daycare, after-school
25care, and before-school care fees, online tutoring, learning
26materials and curricula programs, and school-related

 

 

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1transportation costs.
2    "Program" means the Illinois In-Person Learning for All
3Benefit Program created under this Section.
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
5becoming law.