HB0161eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0161 Engrossed LRB097 05588 KTG 45650 b

AN ACT concerning public aid.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 12-4.4a as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.4a new)

Sec. 12-4.4a. LINK cards; cardholder photo; drug screening.

(a) In this Section:

"Cardholder" means the person to whom or for whose benefit the Department issues an electronic benefits transfer card for the purpose of obtaining SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) or cash.

"Caregiver" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in Section 12-21 of the Criminal Code of 1961.

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

"LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card issued by the Department for the purpose of enabling the cardholder to obtain SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) or cash.

"SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program).

(b) Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Secretary of Human Services shall seek a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to allow the State to include on the face of every LINK card issued to a recipient of SNAP benefits or cash assistance under this Code a photo of the cardholder.

(c) Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department shall provide the Illinois General Assembly with a good faith estimate of the cost, pursuant to a potential waiver under subsection (b), of (i) replacing every still-valid LINK card with a card that contains on its face a photo of the cardholder; (ii) "phasing-in" new photo identification cards issued under the current contract with the current LINK card vendor; and (iii) implementing photo identification cards pursuant to federal waiver in subsection (b) through new request for proposals (RFP) once the contract with the current LINK card vendor expires.

(d) Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department shall suggest a process to the Illinois General Assembly that allows the caregiver of a recipient of SNAP benefits or cash assistance under this Code to use the recipient's LINK card on the recipient's behalf pursuant to the subsection (b) waiver.

(e) If the subsection (b) waiver is received it shall be up to the Illinois General Assembly through legislation to determine whether it wishes to implement the waiver based upon the findings in subsection (c) and subsection (d).