SB3462 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 38788 KTG 68925 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3462

Introduced 2/8/2024, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1305/10-80 new
20 ILCS 1305/10-85 new

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Illinois Guaranteed Income Law. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Establishes the Guaranteed Income Implementation Board within the Department of Human Services to: (i) evaluate the efficacy of guaranteed income in improving outcomes for Illinois residents; (ii) propose statewide policies to create and implement one or more permanent guaranteed income programs; and (iii) provide oversight related to the implementation of any guaranteed income program enacted by the General Assembly. Sets forth the composition of the Board and provides that all appointments to the Board must be completed by August 31, 2024. Requires the Board to meet at the call of the co-chairs no less than 6 times a year with the first meeting to be held no later than 30 days after all Board members have been appointed. Provides that the Board must perform certain tasks including reviewing the landscape of cash supports available to low-income residents of Illinois and identifying populations without significant access to cash supports. Contains provisions concerning Board reporting requirements, Board recommendations and subcommittees, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall dissolve on December 31, 2027. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer, subject to appropriation, a Guaranteed Income for Illinois Program that provides a monthly cash benefit of $1,000 to Illinois residents, regardless of immigration status, who: (1) provides care for a child or other specified dependent; (2) recently gave birth or adopted a child; or (3) is enrolled in an educational or vocational program. Contains provisions on qualifying life events that effect eligibility determinations, renewal applications for benefits, and Department rules. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Illinois Guaranteed Income Law.

Section 3. Findings and declaration of policy. The General Assembly finds, determines, and declares the following:

(1) All people deserve to live with dignity and have their basic needs met.

(2) Elimination of deep poverty in the State of Illinois is attainable and long overdue. While maximizing the potential of existing economic security programs is crucial, these programs alone are inadequate, given the number of Illinoisans living in deep poverty. To build upon our existing safety net, direct cash assistance programs, such as a guaranteed income, are needed to improve the well-being and economic stability of families.

(3) Guaranteed income refers to periodic, unconditional cash payments directly to individuals. A guaranteed income is not universal and is meant to prioritize cash based on need.

(4) The City of Chicago, City of Evanston, and Cook County have successfully conducted guaranteed income pilots. These programs have demonstrated the power of cash in improving outcomes for households in need, and provided valuable insights into the potential benefits of a guaranteed income.

(5) Guaranteed income programs both in Illinois and across the country have been effective in improving outcomes including, but not limited to, those related to physical and mental health, nutrition, employment, housing stability, financial stability, and many others, while also reducing involvement in the child welfare and criminal legal systems.

(6) Guaranteed income programs have shown a remarkable capacity to support caregivers in our communities, including caregivers for children, elderly parents, the disabled, and those supporting formerly incarcerated individuals, acknowledging the often overlooked but vital role these caregivers play in the well-being of our society.

(7) Guaranteed income not only supports people struggling to meet their basic needs but also provides crucial stability for every Illinoisan when confronted with unexpected, challenging, and increasing frequent financial costs, ensuring economic resilience for all.

(8) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision, as conveyed in his last book, "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?", should guide our approach to addressing poverty. His famous declaration that "the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income" should serve as a source of inspiration for our actions.

(9) Recent mothers and new parents face numerous hardships. During the most critical time in a baby's life, the State should provide its full support, recognizing the importance of nurturing the next generation and fostering a strong foundation for Illinois families.

(10) Caregivers come from every community, whether rural or urban, migrant or resident, and their dedication and sacrifices deserve our utmost respect and acknowledgment, as they play a central role in creating thriving and interconnected communities.

(11) The State of Illinois remains committed to exploring innovative and effective ways to address poverty.

Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by adding Sections 10-80 and 10-85 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/10-80 new)

Sec. 10-80. Guaranteed Income Implementation Board.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Board" means the Guaranteed Income Implementation Board.

"Guaranteed income" means periodic, unconditional cash payments directly to individuals. A guaranteed income is not universal and is meant to prioritize cash based on need.

"SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

"TANF" means the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program established under Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(b) The Guaranteed Income Implementation Board is established within the Department of Human Services to:

(1) evaluate the efficacy of guaranteed income - unconditional periodic direct cash payments - in improving outcomes for Illinois residents;

(2) propose statewide policies to create and implement one or more permanent guaranteed income programs; and

(3) provide oversight related to the implementation of any guaranteed income program enacted by the General Assembly.

(c) Members. The Board must consist of the following members:

(1) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who must serve as co-chair;

(2) one member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate President, who must serve as co-chair;

(3) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member of the Senate, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(5) one member appointed by the Governor;

(6) the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary's designee;

(7) the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, or the Director's designee;

(8) two members of the community who have received, or are currently receiving, cash through a guaranteed income pilot or demonstration program in Illinois, including, but not limited to, the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot, the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, the Evanston Guaranteed Income Pilot, the Chicago Future Fund, or any other privately funded guaranteed income pilot, demonstration, or program for Illinois residents;

(9) two members whose professional experience includes advocacy related to guaranteed income or other direct cash supports;

(10) two members whose professional experience includes administering guaranteed income pilots or other direct cash supports; and

(11) two members from community-based organizations who advocate on behalf of and alongside communities that often lack access to cash supports.

(d) Appointments to the Board must be complete by August 31, 2024. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.

(e) The Board must meet at the call of the co-chairs no less than 6 times a year with the first meeting to be held no later than 30 days after all members of the Board have been appointed.

(f) The Board must complete all of the following tasks:

(1) Evaluate the efficacy of guaranteed income in improving outcomes for Illinois residents, including, but not limited to, outcomes related to public health, nutrition, housing, education, employment, interaction with the criminal legal system, interaction with the child welfare system, public safety, economic indicators, and economic stability.

(2) Review the landscape of cash supports available to low-income residents of Illinois, identify populations without significant access to cash supports, and delineate the current state of cash supports available in Illinois including, but not limited to, one-time payment programs, restricted basic assistance programs, and other income-based programming such as SNAP, TANF, and other State-administered assistance programs.

(3) Evaluate the effectiveness of outreach activities for cash supports in Illinois.

(4) Submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor by December 31, 2026 that evaluates the efficacy of guaranteed income in improving outcomes for Illinois residents as described in paragraph (1). The report shall also include all of the following:

(A) Recommendations for one or more permanent guaranteed income programs including, eligibility guidelines, program rules, the amount of cash provided through the program, and the length of time assistance should be provided.

(B) An analysis of the costs and benefits of each program recommended in the report.

(C) An analysis of potential sources of funding for each program.

(D) Recommendations to minimize administrative burdens and eliminate barriers to access for program applicants.

(E) Input from community partners, including recipients of guaranteed income pilots or Illinois residents who would be eligible to receive guaranteed income payments through each program recommended in the report.

(F) An analysis and set of recommendations to the General Assembly to improve or otherwise expand upon the State's current cash-based programming as described in paragraph (2).

(g) In addition to the mandatory tasks included in subsection (f), the Board may engage in any other activity that will advance the creation and implementation of permanent guaranteed income programs in the State.

(h) Deadline; dissolution. The Board must complete all mandatory activities as set forth in subsection (f) and all additional activities under subsection (g) by December 31, 2026.

(i) Committees. The Board may establish subcommittees to address specific aspects of its duties. Subcommittees may collaborate with individuals with relevant expertise who are not members of the Board to assist the subcommittee in carrying out its duties.

(j) The Department of Human Services shall provide staff and administrative support to the Board.

(k) All Board meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act.

(l) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to contravene any federal or State law or regulation. Unless specifically referenced in this Section, nothing in this Section shall affect or alter the existing statutory powers of any State agency or be construed as a reassignment or reorganization of any State agency.

(m) The Board is dissolved, and this Section is repealed, on December 31, 2027.

(20 ILCS 1305/10-85 new)

Sec. 10-85. Guaranteed Income for Illinois Program.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer a Guaranteed Income for Illinois Program to provide guaranteed monthly income to qualifying Illinois residents as described in subsection (b). Eligible residents shall receive a monthly cash benefit of $1,000 for each month of participation. Notwithstanding the requirements described in subsection (c), participation in the program shall be limited by available funding and a lottery selection process.

(b) An Illinois resident, regardless of immigration status, is eligible to receive monthly cash benefits under the program if the resident:

(1) provides care for a child, elderly dependent, dependent with a disability, or formerly incarcerated individual participating in a reentry program;

(2) recently gave birth to or adopted a child; or

(3) is enrolled in an educational or vocational program to increase personal income and achieve financial stability.

(c) Qualifying residents may apply on a rolling basis as prescribed by the Department. Residents approved to participate in the program shall be prioritized such that those residents determined to be experiencing a qualifying life event shall be considered high-priority. For the purposes of this Section, "qualifying life event" means any of the following events or experiences:

(1) facing homelessness or poverty;

(2) seeking shelter or transitioning to housing after a period of homelessness;

(3) becoming a parent within the last 3 years; and

(4) supporting a formerly incarcerated family member who was released within one year prior to the date of application for benefits.

(d) Program participants may apply for a renewal of their monthly cash benefits after receiving their first 12 monthly payments. To apply for a renewal, program participants must submit, as prescribed by the Department, information that reaffirms their status as an eligible individual or that the qualifying life event is still active. Participants shall be phased out of the program if their renewal application reports:

(1) a substantial change in income;

(2) that the participant is no longer caring for a qualifying dependent as described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b);

(3) that the participant is no longer participating in an educational or vocational program as described in paragraph (3) of subsection (b);

(4) that the participant is a new parent as described in paragraph (2) of subsection (b) and has already received 3 benefit renewals; or

(5) any other substantial change in circumstances.

(e) The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.