HR0021 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0021 LRB102 03819 MST 13833 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Suspension of expenditures for indigent burial funds contained in the Department of Human Services budget was announced on April 3, 2015, retroactive to January 15 of that year; and

WHEREAS, Governor Rauner's administration's proposed FY 2016 budget eliminated funding for the program in its entirety; and

WHEREAS, Articles III, IV, V, and VI of the Illinois Public Aid Code directs the State to pay "such reasonable amounts as may be necessary to meet costs of the funeral, burial space, and cemetery charges"; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Humans Services (DHS) website proclaims the funeral and burial benefits program "pays for the funeral and burial expenses when a person's resources and all other sources of payment are less than the DHS standard payment rates"; and

WHEREAS, The website further states these funds are available for individuals who at the time of their death are participating in or who are qualified for All Kids Assist, Parent/All Kids Assist, All Kids Moms & Babies, Family Assist, and AABD Medical or were receiving TANF or an AABD cash grant; and

WHEREAS, This program provided burial and funeral assistance to 8,649 Illinoisans of all ages in FY 2014, whose estates were insufficient to cover necessary expenses and for whom no responsible relative existed; and

WHEREAS, Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect at their death, regardless of their income; and

WHEREAS, Implementation of such an edict without a workable alternative plan in place may reduce the State's expenditures but is not a solution the citizens of the State of Illinois find acceptable; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we request the immediate reinstatement of the program and release of such funds; and be it further

RESOLVED, That providers of medical services to residents qualifying for benefits authorized under the Illinois Public Aid Code are urged to be notified of this reinstatement; and be it further

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