HB0161 EngrossedLRB097 05588 KTG 45650 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5adding Section 12-4.4a as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.4a new)
7    Sec. 12-4.4a. LINK cards; cardholder photo; drug
8screening.
9    (a) In this Section:
10    "Cardholder" means the person to whom or for whose benefit
11the Department issues an electronic benefits transfer card for
12the purpose of obtaining SNAP benefits (formerly known as food
13stamps) or cash.
14    "Caregiver" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in
15Section 12-21 of the Criminal Code of 1961.
16    "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
17    "LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card
18issued by the Department for the purpose of enabling the
19cardholder to obtain SNAP benefits (formerly known as food
20stamps) or cash.
21    "SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
22Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program).
23    (b) Within 6 months after the effective date of this

 

 

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1amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Secretary of
2Human Services shall seek a waiver from the United States
3Department of Agriculture to allow the State to include on the
4face of every LINK card issued to a recipient of SNAP benefits
5or cash assistance under this Code a photo of the cardholder.
6    (c) Within 6 months after the effective date of this
7amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department
8shall provide the Illinois General Assembly with a good faith
9estimate of the cost, pursuant to a potential waiver under
10subsection (b), of (i) replacing every still-valid LINK card
11with a card that contains on its face a photo of the
12cardholder; (ii) "phasing-in" new photo identification cards
13issued under the current contract with the current LINK card
14vendor; and (iii) implementing photo identification cards
15pursuant to federal waiver in subsection (b) through new
16request for proposals (RFP) once the contract with the current
17LINK card vendor expires.
18    (d) Within 6 months after the effective date of this
19amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department
20shall suggest a process to the Illinois General Assembly that
21allows the caregiver of a recipient of SNAP benefits or cash
22assistance under this Code to use the recipient's LINK card on
23the recipient's behalf pursuant to the subsection (b) waiver.
24    (e) If the subsection (b) waiver is received it shall be up
25to the Illinois General Assembly through legislation to
26determine whether it wishes to implement the waiver based upon

 

 

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1the findings in subsection (c) and subsection (d).