HB5889 Engrossed LRB093 16771 DRJ 46877 b

1     AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5 changing Sections 3-1 and 3-5 as follows:
 
6     (305 ILCS 5/3-1)  (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1)
7     Sec. 3-1. Eligibility Requirements. Financial aid in
8 meeting basic maintenance requirements for a livelihood
9 compatible with health and well-being shall be given under this
10 Article to or in behalf of aged, blind, or disabled persons who
11 meet the eligibility conditions of Sections 3-1.1 through
12 3-1.7. Financial aid under this Article shall be available only
13 for persons who are receiving Supplemental Security Income
14 (SSI) or who have been found ineligible for SSI (i) on the
15 basis of income or (ii) due to expiration of the period of
16 eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8 U.S.C.
17 1612(a)(2). Financial aid based on item (ii) of this paragraph
18 shall be available until July 1, 2006.
19     "Aged person" means a person who has attained age 65, as
20 demonstrated by such evidence of age as the Illinois Department
21 may by rule prescribe.
22     "Blind person" means a person who has no vision or whose
23 vision with corrective glasses is so defective as to prevent
24 the performance of ordinary duties or tasks for which eyesight
25 is essential. The Illinois Department shall define blindness in
26 terms of ophthalmic measurements or ocular conditions. For
27 purposes of this Act, an Illinois Disabled Person
28 Identification Card issued pursuant to The Illinois
29 Identification Card Act, indicating that the person thereon
30 named has a Type 3 disability shall be evidence that such
31 person is a blind person within the meaning of this Section;
32 however, such a card shall not qualify such person for aid as a

 

 

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1 blind person under this Act, and eligibility for aid as a blind
2 person shall be determined as provided in this Act.
3     "Disabled person" means a person age 18 or over who has a
4 physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss which is of a
5 permanent nature and which substantially impairs his ability to
6 perform labor or services or to engage in useful occupations
7 for which he is qualified, as determined by rule and regulation
8 of the Illinois Department. For purposes of this Act, an
9 Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card issued pursuant
10 to The Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that the
11 person thereon named has a Type 1 or 2, Class 2 disability
12 shall be evidence that such person is a disabled person under
13 this Section; however, such a card shall not qualify such
14 person for aid as a disabled person under this Act, and
15 eligibility for aid as a disabled person shall be determined as
16 provided in this Act. If federal law or regulation permit or
17 require the inclusion of blind or disabled persons whose
18 blindness or disability is not of the degree specified in the
19 foregoing definitions, or permit or require the inclusion of
20 disabled persons under age 18 or aged persons under age 65, the
21 Illinois Department, upon written approval of the Governor, may
22 provide by rule that all aged, blind or disabled persons toward
23 whose aid federal funds are available be eligible for
24 assistance under this Article as is given to those who meet the
25 foregoing definitions of blind person and disabled person or
26 aged person.
27 (Source: P.A. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95.)
 
28     (305 ILCS 5/3-5)  (from Ch. 23, par. 3-5)
29     Sec. 3-5. Amount of aid. The amount and nature of financial
30 aid granted to or in behalf of aged, blind, or disabled persons
31 shall be determined in accordance with the standards, grant
32 amounts, rules and regulations of the Illinois Department. Due
33 regard shall be given to the requirements and conditions
34 existing in each case, and to the amount of property owned and
35 the income, money contributions, and other support, and

 

 

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1 resources received or obtainable by the person, from whatever
2 source. However, the amount and nature of any financial aid is
3 not affected by the payment of any grant under the "Senior
4 Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and
5 Pharmaceutical Assistance Act" or any distributions or items of
6 income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of
7 subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.
8 The aid shall be sufficient, when added to all other income,
9 money contributions and support, to provide the person with a
10 grant in the amount established by Department regulation for
11 such a person, based upon standards providing a livelihood
12 compatible with health and well-being. Financial aid under this
13 Article granted to persons who have been found ineligible for
14 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to expiration of the
15 period of eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8
16 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2) shall not exceed $500 per month.
17 (Source: P.A. 91-676, eff. 12-23-99.)
 
18     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19 becoming law.