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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Suspension of expenditures for indigent burial
3funds contained in the Department of Human Services budget was
4announced on April 3, 2015, retroactive to January 15 of that
5year; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Governor Rauner's administration's proposed FY
72016 budget eliminated funding for the program in its
8entirety; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Articles III, IV, V, and VI of the Illinois
10Public Aid Code directs the State to pay "such reasonable
11amounts as may be necessary to meet costs of the funeral,
12burial space, and cemetery charges"; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Department of Humans Services (DHS) website
14proclaims the funeral and burial benefits program "pays for
15the funeral and burial expenses when a person's resources and
16all other sources of payment are less than the DHS standard
17payment rates"; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The website further states these funds are
19available for individuals who at the time of their death are
20participating in or who are qualified for All Kids Assist,
21Parent/All Kids Assist, All Kids Moms & Babies, Family Assist,

 

 

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1and AABD Medical or were receiving TANF or an AABD cash grant;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, This program provided burial and funeral
4assistance to 8,649 Illinoisans of all ages in FY 2014, whose
5estates were insufficient to cover necessary expenses and for
6whom no responsible relative existed; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Every person deserves to be treated with dignity
8and respect at their death, regardless of their income; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Implementation of such an edict without a
10workable alternative plan in place may reduce the State's
11expenditures but is not a solution the citizens of the State of
12Illinois find acceptable; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
14HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15we request the immediate reinstatement of the program and
16release of such funds; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That providers of medical services to residents
18qualifying for benefits authorized under the Illinois Public
19Aid Code are urged to be notified of this reinstatement; and be
20it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we urge media outlets statewide to be
2alerted and asked to report the restatement with instructions
3for how families in need of assistance can apply.