305 ILCS 5/ Illinois Public Aid Code.

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.3)

Sec. 9-6.3. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 86-1028. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.4)

Sec. 9-6.4. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 85-1209. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-7)

Sec. 9-7. Establishing Services Not Otherwise Available-State Supervision of Services in Local Units Receiving State Funds.

Where the services or facilities authorized by Sections 9-3 or 9-5 are not available or insufficient to meet needs, the Illinois Department or local governmental unit may establish and provide such services and facilities. If the local governmental unit receives State funds for such services or facilities under Sections 9-3 or 9-5, or for any local or joint programs under Section 9-6, the establishment of such services, facilities or programs and the expenditure of funds therefor shall be subject to the approval and supervision of the Illinois Department.

(Source: P.A. 77-1802.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-8)

Sec. 9-8. Extension of Coverage.) If appropriate and sufficient facilities are not available through other agencies, the Illinois Department may extend those services provided in this Article which relate to work adjustment, education, training, and counseling and guidance on problems of child care, family relationships, home and money management, transportation, and health, to one or both of the following:

(1) persons and families who have been recipients of aid within 1 year preceding their request for the services, and who are likely to become recipients of aid again unless needed services are provided;

(2) other persons and families who request the services and whose economic, personal or social situation is such as to make it likely that without counseling, training or other services financial aid could reasonably be expected to be required within 6 months.

The services may be continued for such time as may be necessary to overcome the conditions which may result in dependency upon financial aid but each case shall be reviewed at least quarterly to assure that the services are not continued beyond a reasonable period of time.

Any extension of services under the foregoing provisions shall be limited to a pilot county or counties, or other test area, until the cost and effectiveness of the services provided are determined to be in the public interest.

The Illinois Department may also extend the educational and vocational training programs provided under Section 9-5 or Section 9-7 to persons whose income does not exceed the standard established to determine eligibility for aid as a medically indigent person under Article V, subject to the minimum quarterly review requirement established in this Section for persons designated in subparagraphs (1) and (2).

(Source: P.A. 93-632, eff. 2-1-04.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-9)

Sec. 9-9. The Illinois Department shall make information available in its local offices informing clients about programs concerning substance use disorder and prevention programs.

(Source: P.A. 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-10)

Sec. 9-10. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-528. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-11)

Sec. 9-11. The Illinois Department may make disbursements to any attorney, or advocate working under the supervision of an attorney, who represents a recipient of cash assistance under Article VI in a program administered by the Illinois Department, in an appeal of any claim for federal veterans' benefits before a hearing officer at a Veterans' Administration Regional Office or upon an initial appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals which is decided in favor of the recipient. The amount of the disbursement shall be equal to the disbursement awarded under Section 3-13 of this Code. No disbursement shall be made unless a petition and a copy of the favorable decision is submitted by an attorney or advocate to the Illinois Department within 60 days of the date of the favorable decision. The disbursement shall be made within 30 days after the petition is received. The Illinois Department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-12)

Sec. 9-12. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-412; Repealed by P.A. 91-599, eff. 8-14-99.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-13)

Sec. 9-13. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07. Repealed by P.A. 95-322, eff. 1-1-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-14)

Sec. 9-14. Small business grant program. Subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may establish a small business grant program for public aid recipients who are interested in developing a new start-up business. Grant applicants must submit an initial business plan or proposal to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that clearly articulates the viability of the new start-up business and how the grant money will be used to develop the business. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall use such application materials to determine an applicant's eligibility under the program, the grant amount to be awarded, if applicable, and the number of grants an eligible applicant will receive under the program. If an applicant is determined by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to be eligible for a small business grant, the applicant must submit to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity every year that he or she participates in the program or applies for a new grant an updated business plan or proposal that demonstrates the continued viability or progress of the new start-up business. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this provision, including rules on the minimum and maximum grant amounts awarded under the program, the number of grants an applicant may apply for or receive during a specified period of time, and application requirements.

(Source: P.A. 100-347, eff. 1-1-18.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-15)

Sec. 9-15. Township food pantries. In a county under township organization, a township may provide, from moneys received and collected for public aid to all persons eligible therefor under Article VI of this Code, funds and administer programs for providing in-kind aid in meeting basic maintenance requirements, including, but not limited to, food, paper goods, toiletries, and clothing, to persons who are poor, indigent, homeless, or in need of immediate assistance, in addition to financial aid provided under this Code.

(Source: P.A. 101-309, eff. 1-1-20.)

(305 ILCS 5/Art. IXA heading) ARTICLE IXA. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR RECIPIENTS UNDER ARTICLE IV

(305 ILCS 5/9A-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-1)

Sec. 9A-1. Declaration of Purpose. It is the purpose of this Article to provide recipients of public aid under Article IV the education, training and employment programs that will help them avoid long-term welfare dependence.

(Source: P.A. 86-1184; 86-1381.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-2)

Sec. 9A-2. As used in this Article only, "recipient" means only those persons receiving aid under Article IV.

(Source: P.A. 86-1184; 86-1381.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-2a)

Sec. 9A-2a. Federal poverty level; definition. As used in this Article, "federal poverty level" means the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).

(Source: P.A. 102-491, eff. 8-20-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-3)

Sec. 9A-3. Establishment of Program and Level of Services.

(a) The Illinois Department shall establish and maintain a program to provide recipients with services consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Article. The program offered in different counties of the State may vary depending on the resources available to the State to provide a program under this Article, and no program may be offered in some counties, depending on the resources available. Services may be provided directly by the Illinois Department or through contract. References to the Illinois Department or staff of the Illinois Department shall include contractors when the Illinois Department has entered into contracts for these purposes. The Illinois Department shall provide each recipient who participates with such services available under the program as are necessary to achieve his employability plan as specified in the plan.

(b) The Illinois Department, in operating the program, shall cooperate with public and private education and vocational training or retraining agencies or facilities, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Departments of Employment Security and Commerce and Economic Opportunity or other sponsoring organizations funded under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other public or licensed private employment agencies.

(Source: P.A. 100-477, eff. 9-8-17.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-4)

Sec. 9A-4. Participation.

(a) Except for those exempted under subsection (b) below, and to the extent resources permit, the Illinois Department as a condition of eligibility for public aid, may, as provided by rule, require all recipients to participate in an education, training, and employment program, which shall include accepting suitable employment and refraining from terminating employment or reducing earnings without good cause.

(b) Recipients shall be exempt from the requirement of participation in the education, training, and employment program in the following circumstances:

(1) The recipient is a person over age 60; or

(2) The recipient is a person with a child under age one.

Recipients are entitled to request a reasonable modification to the requirement of participation in the education, training and employment program in order to accommodate a qualified individual with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for a reasonable modification shall be evaluated on a case-by-case functional basis by designated staff based on Department rule. All such requests shall be monitored as part of the agency's quality assurance process or processes to attest to the expediency with which such requests are addressed. Implementation of the changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly is subject to appropriation.

(Source: P.A. 94-629, eff. 1-1-06.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-5) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-5)

Sec. 9A-5. Exempt recipients.

(a) Exempt recipients under Section 9A-4 may volunteer to participate.

(b) Services will be offered to exempt and non-exempt individuals who wish to volunteer to participate only to the extent resources permit.

(c) Exempt and non-exempt individuals who volunteer to participate become program participants upon completion of the initial assessment, development of the employability plan, and assignment to a component. An exempt individual who volunteers to participate may not be sanctioned for not meeting program requirements.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02; 93-598, eff. 8-26-03.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-6)

Sec. 9A-6. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 86-1475. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-7)

Sec. 9A-7. Good cause and pre-sanction process.

(a) The Department shall establish by rule what constitutes good cause for failure to participate in education, training and employment programs, failure to accept suitable employment or terminating employment or reducing earnings.

The Department shall establish, by rule, a pre-sanction process to assist in resolving disputes over proposed sanctions and in determining if good cause exists. Good cause shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) temporary illness for its duration;

(2) court required appearance or temporary incarceration;

(3) (blank);

(4) death in the family;

(5) (blank);

(6) (blank);

(7) (blank);

(8) (blank);

(9) extreme inclement weather;

(10) (blank);

(11) lack of any support service even though the necessary service is not specifically provided under the Department program, to the extent the lack of the needed service presents a significant barrier to participation;

(12) if an individual is engaged in employment or training or both that is consistent with the employment related goals of the program, if such employment and training is later approved by Department staff;

(13) (blank);

(14) failure of Department staff to correctly forward the information to other Department staff;

(15) failure of the participant to cooperate because of attendance at a test or a mandatory class or function at an educational program (including college), when an education or training program is officially approved by the Department;

(16) failure of the participant due to his or her illiteracy;

(17) failure of the participant because it is determined that he or she should be in a different activity;

(18) non-receipt by the participant of a notice advising him or her of a participation requirement. If the non-receipt of mail occurs frequently, the Department shall explore an alternative means of providing notices of participation requests to participants;

(19) (blank);

(20) non-comprehension of English, either written or oral or both;

(21) (blank);

(22) (blank);

(23) child care (or day care for an incapacitated individual living in the same home as a dependent child) is necessary for the participation or employment and such care is not available for a child under age 13;

(24) failure to participate in an activity due to a scheduled job interview, medical appointment for the participant or a household member, or school appointment;

(25) if an individual or family is experiencing homelessness; an individual or family is experiencing homelessness if the individual or family: (i) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, or shares the housing of other persons due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; (ii) is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping ground due to the lack of alternative accommodations; (iii) is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; (iv) resides in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or (v) is living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus, train station, or similar settings;

(26) circumstances beyond the control of the participant which prevent the participant from completing program requirements;

(27) (blank);

(28) if an individual or family receives an eviction notice;

(29) if an individual's or family's utilities are disconnected;

(30) if an individual or family receives an utility disconnection notice; or

(31) if an individual is exiting a publicly funded institution or system of care (such as a health-care facility, a mental health facility, foster care or other youth facility, or correction program or institution) without an option to move to a fixed, adequate night time residence.

(b) (Blank).

(c)(1) The Department shall establish a reconciliation procedure to assist in resolving disputes related to any aspect of participation, including exemptions, good cause, sanctions or proposed sanctions, supportive services, assessments, responsibility and service plans, assignment to activities, suitability of employment, or refusals of offers of employment. Through the reconciliation process the Department shall have a mechanism to identify good cause, ensure that the client is aware of the issue, and enable the client to perform required activities without facing sanction.

(2) A participant may request reconciliation and receive notice in writing of a meeting. At least one face-to-face meeting may be scheduled to resolve misunderstandings or disagreements related to program participation and situations which may lead to a potential sanction. The meeting will address the underlying reason for the dispute and plan a resolution to enable the individual to participate in TANF employment and work activity requirements.

(2.5) If the individual fails to appear at the reconciliation meeting without good cause, the reconciliation is unsuccessful and a sanction shall be imposed.

(3) The reconciliation process shall continue after it is determined that the individual did not have good cause for non-cooperation. Any necessary demonstration of cooperation on the part of the participant will be part of the reconciliation process. Failure to demonstrate cooperation will result in immediate sanction.

(4) For the first instance of non-cooperation, if the client reaches agreement to cooperate, the client shall be allowed 30 days to demonstrate cooperation before any sanction activity may be imposed. In any subsequent instances of non-cooperation, the client shall be provided the opportunity to show good cause or remedy the situation by immediately complying with the requirement.

(5) The Department shall document in the case record the proceedings of the reconciliation and provide the client in writing with a reconciliation agreement.

(6) If reconciliation resolves the dispute, no sanction shall be imposed. If the client fails to comply with the reconciliation agreement, the Department shall then immediately impose the original sanction. If the dispute cannot be resolved during reconciliation, a sanction shall not be imposed until the reconciliation process is complete.

(Source: P.A. 101-103, eff. 7-19-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8)

Sec. 9A-8. Operation of program.

(a) At the time of application or redetermination of eligibility under Article IV, as determined by rule, the Illinois Department shall provide information in writing and orally regarding the education, training and employment program to all applicants and recipients. The information required shall be established by rule and shall include, but need not be limited to:

(1) education (including literacy training), employment and training opportunities available, the criteria for approval of those opportunities, and the right to request changes in the personal responsibility and services plan to include those opportunities;

(1.1) a complete list of all activities that are approvable activities, and the circumstances under which they are approvable, including work activities, substance use disorder or mental health treatment, activities to escape and prevent domestic violence, caring for a medically impaired family member, and any other approvable activities, together with the right to and procedures for amending the responsibility and services plan to include these activities;

(1.2) the rules concerning the lifetime limit on eligibility, including the current status of the applicant or recipient in terms of the months of remaining eligibility, the criteria under which a month will not count towards the lifetime limit, and the criteria under which a recipient may receive benefits beyond the end of the lifetime limit;

(2) supportive services including child care and the rules regarding eligibility for and access to the child care assistance program, transportation, initial expenses of employment, job retention, books and fees, and any other supportive services;

(3) the obligation of the Department to provide supportive services;

(4) the rights and responsibilities of participants, including exemption, sanction, reconciliation, and good cause criteria and procedures, termination for non-cooperation and reinstatement rules and procedures, and appeal and grievance procedures; and

(5) the types and locations of child care services.

(b) The Illinois Department shall notify the recipient in writing of the opportunity to volunteer to participate in the program.

(c) (Blank).

(d) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency, the Department shall conduct an individualized assessment of the participant's employability. No participant may be assigned to any component of the education, training and employment activity prior to such assessment. The plan shall include collection of information on the individual's background, proficiencies, skills deficiencies, education level, work history, employment goals, interests, aptitudes, and employment preferences, as well as factors affecting employability or ability to meet participation requirements (e.g., health, physical or mental limitations, child care, family circumstances, domestic violence, sexual violence, substance use disorders, and special needs of any child of the individual). As part of the plan, individuals and Department staff shall work together to identify any supportive service needs required to enable the client to participate and meet the objectives of his or her employability plan. The assessment may be conducted through various methods such as interviews, testing, counseling, and self-assessment instruments. In the assessment process, the Department shall offer to include standard literacy testing and a determination of English language proficiency and shall provide it for those who accept the offer. Based on the assessment, the individual will be assigned to the appropriate activity. The decision will be based on a determination of the individual's level of preparation for employment as defined by rule.

(e) Recipients determined to be exempt may volunteer to participate pursuant to Section 9A-4 and must be assessed.

(f) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency under Section 4-1, an employability plan for recipients shall be developed in consultation with the participant. The Department shall have final responsibility for approving the employability plan. The employability plan shall:

(1) contain an employment goal of the participant;

(2) describe the services to be provided by the Department, including child care and other support services;

(3) describe the activities, such as component assignment, that will be undertaken by the participant to achieve the employment goal. The Department shall treat participation in high school and high school equivalency programs as a core activity and count participation in high school and high school equivalency programs toward the first 20 hours per week of participation. The Department shall approve participation in high school or high school equivalency programs upon written or oral request of the participant if he or she has not already earned a high school diploma or a State of Illinois High School Diploma. However, participation in high school or high school equivalency programs may be delayed as part of an applicant's or recipient's personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency if it is determined that the benefit from participating in another activity, such as, but not limited to, treatment for a substance use disorder or an English proficiency program, would be greater to the applicant or recipient than participation in high school or a high school equivalency program. The availability of high school and high school equivalency programs may also delay enrollment in those programs. The Department shall treat such activities as a core activity as long as satisfactory progress is made, as determined by the high school or high school equivalency program. Proof of satisfactory progress shall be provided by the participant or the school at the end of each academic term; and

(4) describe any other needs of the family that might be met by the Department.

(g) The employability plan shall take into account:

(1) available program resources;

(2) the participant's support service needs;

(3) the participant's skills level and aptitudes;

(4) local employment opportunities; and

(5) the preferences of the participant.

(h) A reassessment shall be conducted to assess a participant's progress and to review the employability plan on the following occasions:

(1) upon completion of an activity and before assignment to an activity;

(2) upon the request of the participant;

(3) if the individual is not cooperating with the requirements of the program; and

(4) if the individual has failed to make satisfactory progress in an education or training program.

Based on the reassessment, the Department may revise the employability plan of the participant.

(Source: P.A. 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-8.1)

Sec. 9A-8.1. Improvement of information to applicants and recipients. The Illinois Department shall annually review all procedures and written materials that it has in place for purposes of compliance with subsection (a) of Section 9A-8 and Section 11-20.1 requiring the Illinois Department to provide full and timely information to applicants and recipients of aid under Article IV of this Code about their opportunities, rights and responsibilities under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and related programs. As part of this annual review, the Illinois Department shall provide copies of all procedures and materials to the Family Self Sufficiency Advisory Council or any successor advisory body containing a similar number and assortment of advocates, providers, contractors, clients, and citizens. The Family Self Sufficiency Advisory Council or successor advisory body shall review the existing procedures and materials in light of program rules, recent changes in the law or rules, and experience in the field, and it shall suggest changes to the Illinois Department. The Illinois Department shall produce new or revised procedures and materials, or ratify the existing ones, for use beginning each October 1. If the Illinois Department rejects changes suggested by the Family Self Sufficiency Advisory Council, it shall explain the reasons in a written response.

(Source: P.A. 91-331, eff. 7-29-99.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9)

Sec. 9A-9. Program Activities. The Department shall establish education, training and placement activities by rule. Not all of the same activities need be provided in each county in the State. Such activities may include the following:

(a) Education (Below post secondary). In the Education (below post secondary) activity, the individual receives information, referral, counseling services and support services to increase the individual's employment potential. Participants may be referred to testing, counseling and education resources. Educational activities will include basic and remedial education; English proficiency classes; high school or its equivalency or alternative education at the secondary level; and with any educational program, structured study time to enhance successful participation. An individual's participation in an education program such as literacy, basic adult education, high school equivalency, or a remedial program shall be limited to 2 years unless the individual also is working or participating in a work activity approved by the Illinois Department as defined by rule; this requirement does not apply, however, to students enrolled in high school.

(b) Job Skills Training (Vocational). Job Skills Training is designed to increase the individual's ability to obtain and maintain employment. Job Skills Training activities will include vocational skill classes designed to increase a participant's ability to obtain and maintain employment. Job Skills Training may include certificate programs.

(c) Job Readiness. The job readiness activity is designed to enhance the quality of the individual's level of participation in the world of work while learning the necessary essentials to obtain and maintain employment. This activity helps individuals gain the necessary job finding skills to help them find and retain employment that will lead to economic independence.

(d) Job Search. Job Search may be conducted individually or in groups. Job Search includes the provision of counseling, job seeking skills training and information dissemination. Group job search may include training in a group session. Assignment exclusively to job search cannot be in excess of 8 consecutive weeks (or its equivalent) in any period of 12 consecutive months.

(e) Work Experience. Work Experience assignments may be with private employers or not-for-profit or public agencies in the State. The Illinois Department shall provide workers' compensation coverage. Participants who are not members of a 2-parent assistance unit may not be assigned more hours than their cash grant amount plus food stamps divided by the minimum wage. Private employers and not-for-profit and public agencies shall not use Work Experience participants to displace regular employees. Participants in Work Experience may perform work in the public interest (which otherwise meets the requirements of this Section) for a federal office or agency with its consent, and notwithstanding the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1342, or any other provision of law, such agency may accept such services, but participants shall not be considered federal employees for any purpose. A participant shall be reassessed at the end of assignment to Work Experience. The participant may be reassigned to Work Experience or assigned to another activity, based on the reassessment.

(f) On the Job Training. In On the Job Training, a participant is hired by a private or public employer and while engaged in productive work receives training that provides knowledge or skills essential to full and adequate performance of the job.

(g) Work Supplementation. In work supplementation, the Department pays a wage subsidy to an employer who hires a participant. The cash grant which a participant would receive if not employed is diverted and the diverted cash grant is used to pay the wage subsidy.

(h) Post Secondary Education. Post secondary education must be administered by an educational institution accredited under requirements of State law.

(i) Self Initiated Education. Participants who are attending an institution of higher education or a vocational or technical program of their own choosing and who are in good standing, may continue to attend and receive supportive services only if the educational program is approved by the Department, and is in conformity with the participant's personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency and the participant is employed part-time, as defined by the Illinois Department by rule.

(j) Job Development and Placement. Department staff shall develop through contacts with public and private employers unsubsidized job openings for participants. Job interviews will be secured for clients by the marketing of participants for specific job openings. Job ready individuals may be assigned to Job Development and Placement.

(k) Job Retention. The job retention component is designed to assist participants in retaining employment. Initial employment expenses and job retention services are provided. The individual's support service needs are assessed and the individual receives counseling regarding job retention skills.

(l) (Blank).

(l-5) Transitional Jobs. These programs provide temporary wage-paying work combined with case management and other social services designed to address employment barriers. The wage-paying work is treated as regular employment for all purposes under this Code, and the additional activities, as determined by the Transitional Jobs provider, shall be countable work activities. The program must comply with the anti-displacement provisions of this Code governing the Work Experience program.

(m) Pay-after-performance Program. A parent may be required to participate in a pay-after-performance program in which the parent must work a specified number of hours to earn the grant. The program shall comply with provisions of this Code governing work experience programs.

(n) Community Service. Community service includes unpaid work that the client performs in his or her community, such as for a school, church, government agency, or nonprofit organization.

(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-9.5)

Sec. 9A-9.5. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07. Repealed by P.A. 97-48, eff. 6-28-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-10)

Sec. 9A-10. Support Services.

(a) The Illinois Department shall provide or pay for child care and other support services, if otherwise unavailable, to enable recipients to participate in or prepare for education, training and employment programs authorized under this Article. The Illinois Department shall provide and pay for such support services in accordance with procedures, standards and rates established by rule.

(b) Support services may include:

(1) transportation;

(2) child care;

(3) job search allowance;

(4) initial employment expenses;

(5) required books, fees, supplies; and

(6) required physical examinations and medical services.

(c) Participation shall not be required if support services are needed for effective participation but unavailable from the Department or some other reasonably available source. Support services shall be made available to the participant at no cost.

(Source: P.A. 86-1184; 86-1381; 87-860.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-11)

Sec. 9A-11. Child care.

(a) The General Assembly recognizes that families with children need child care in order to work. Child care is expensive and families with low incomes, including those who are transitioning from welfare to work, often struggle to pay the costs of day care. The General Assembly understands the importance of helping low-income working families become and remain self-sufficient. The General Assembly also believes that it is the responsibility of families to share in the costs of child care. It is also the preference of the General Assembly that all working poor families should be treated equally, regardless of their welfare status.

(b) To the extent resources permit, the Illinois Department shall provide child care services to parents or other relatives as defined by rule who are working or participating in employment or Department approved education or training programs. At a minimum, the Illinois Department shall cover the following categories of families:

(1) recipients of TANF under Article IV participating in work and training activities as specified in the personal plan for employment and self-sufficiency;

(2) families transitioning from TANF to work;

(3) families at risk of becoming recipients of TANF;

(4) families with special needs as defined by rule;

(5) working families with very low incomes as defined by rule;

(6) families that are not recipients of TANF and that need child care assistance to participate in education and training activities;

(7) youth in care, as defined in Section 4d of the Children and Family Services Act, who are parents, regardless of income or whether they are working or participating in Department-approved employment or education or training programs. Any family that receives child care assistance in accordance with this paragraph shall receive one additional 12-month child care eligibility period after the parenting youth in care's case with the Department of Children and Family Services is closed, regardless of income or whether the parenting youth in care is working or participating in Department-approved employment or education or training programs;

(8) families receiving Extended Family Support Program services from the Department of Children and Family Services, regardless of income or whether they are working or participating in Department-approved employment or education or training programs; and

(9) families with children under the age of 5 who have an open intact family services case with the Department of Children and Family Services. Any family that receives child care assistance in accordance with this paragraph shall remain eligible for child care assistance 6 months after the child's intact family services case is closed, regardless of whether the child's parents or other relatives as defined by rule are working or participating in Department approved employment or education or training programs. The Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Children and Family Services, shall adopt rules to protect the privacy of families who are the subject of an open intact family services case when such families enroll in child care services. Additional rules shall be adopted to offer children who have an open intact family services case the opportunity to receive an Early Intervention screening and other services that their families may be eligible for as provided by the Department of Human Services.

Beginning October 1, 2023, and every October 1 thereafter, the Department of Children and Family Services shall report to the General Assembly on the number of children who received child care via vouchers paid for by the Department of Children and Family Services during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall include the ages of children who received child care, the type of child care they received, and the number of months they received child care.

The Department shall specify by rule the conditions of eligibility, the application process, and the types, amounts, and duration of services. Eligibility for child care benefits and the amount of child care provided may vary based on family size, income, and other factors as specified by rule.

The Department shall update the Child Care Assistance Program Eligibility Calculator posted on its website to include a question on whether a family is applying for child care assistance for the first time or is applying for a redetermination of eligibility.

A family's eligibility for child care services shall be redetermined no sooner than 12 months following the initial determination or most recent redetermination. During the 12-month periods, the family shall remain eligible for child care services regardless of (i) a change in family income, unless family income exceeds 85% of State median income, or (ii) a temporary change in the ongoing status of the parents or other relatives, as defined by rule, as working or attending a job training or educational program.

In determining income eligibility for child care benefits, the Department annually, at the beginning of each fiscal year, shall establish, by rule, one income threshold for each family size, in relation to percentage of State median income for a family of that size, that makes families with incomes below the specified threshold eligible for assistance and families with incomes above the specified threshold ineligible for assistance. Through and including fiscal year 2007, the specified threshold must be no less than 50% of the then-current State median income for each family size. Beginning in fiscal year 2008, the specified threshold must be no less than 185% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule to the contrary, beginning in fiscal year 2019, the specified threshold for working families with very low incomes as defined by rule must be no less than 185% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule to the contrary, beginning in State fiscal year 2022, the specified income threshold shall be no less than 200% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size.

In determining eligibility for assistance, the Department shall not give preference to any category of recipients or give preference to individuals based on their receipt of benefits under this Code.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed as conferring entitlement status to eligible families.

The Illinois Department is authorized to lower income eligibility ceilings, raise parent co-payments, create waiting lists, or take such other actions during a fiscal year as are necessary to ensure that child care benefits paid under this Article do not exceed the amounts appropriated for those child care benefits. These changes may be accomplished by emergency rule under Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, except that the limitation on the number of emergency rules that may be adopted in a 24-month period shall not apply.

The Illinois Department may contract with other State agencies or child care organizations for the administration of child care services.

(c) Payment shall be made for child care that otherwise meets the requirements of this Section and applicable standards of State and local law and regulation, including any requirements the Illinois Department promulgates by rule in addition to the licensure requirements promulgated by the Department of Children and Family Services and Fire Prevention and Safety requirements promulgated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and is provided in any of the following:

(1) a child care center which is licensed or exempt from licensure pursuant to Section 2.09 of the Child Care Act of 1969;

(2) a licensed child care home or home exempt from licensing;

(3) a licensed group child care home;

(4) other types of child care, including child care provided by relatives or persons living in the same home as the child, as determined by the Illinois Department by rule.

(c-5) Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, child and day care home providers, including licensed and license exempt, participating in the Department's child care assistance program shall be considered to be public employees and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be their employer as of January 1, 2006 (the effective date of Public Act 94-320), but not before. The State shall engage in collective bargaining with an exclusive representative of child and day care home providers participating in the child care assistance program concerning their terms and conditions of employment that are within the State's control. Nothing in this subsection shall be understood to limit the right of families receiving services defined in this Section to select child and day care home providers or supervise them within the limits of this Section. The State shall not be considered to be the employer of child and day care home providers for any purposes not specifically provided in Public Act 94-320, including, but not limited to, purposes of vicarious liability in tort and purposes of statutory retirement or health insurance benefits. Child and day care home providers shall not be covered by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971.

In according child and day care home providers and their selected representative rights under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, the State intends that the State action exemption to application of federal and State antitrust laws be fully available to the extent that their activities are authorized by Public Act 94-320.

(d) The Illinois Department shall establish, by rule, a co-payment scale that provides for cost sharing by families that receive child care services, including parents whose only income is from assistance under this Code. The co-payment shall be based on family income and family size and may be based on other factors as appropriate. Co-payments may be waived for families whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty level.

(d-5) The Illinois Department, in consultation with its Child Care and Development Advisory Council, shall develop a plan to revise the child care assistance program's co-payment scale. The plan shall be completed no later than February 1, 2008, and shall include:

(1) findings as to the percentage of income that the average American family spends on child care and the relative amounts that low-income families and the average American family spend on other necessities of life;

(2) recommendations for revising the child care co-payment scale to assure that families receiving child care services from the Department are paying no more than they can reasonably afford;

(3) recommendations for revising the child care co-payment scale to provide at-risk children with complete access to Preschool for All and Head Start; and

(4) recommendations for changes in child care program policies that affect the affordability of child care.

(e) (Blank).

(f) The Illinois Department shall, by rule, set rates to be paid for the various types of child care. Child care may be provided through one of the following methods:

(1) arranging the child care through eligible providers by use of purchase of service contracts or vouchers;

(2) arranging with other agencies and community volunteer groups for non-reimbursed child care;

(3) (blank); or

(4) adopting such other arrangements as the Department determines appropriate.

(f-1) Within 30 days after June 4, 2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-587), the Department of Human Services shall establish rates for child care providers that are no less than the rates in effect on January 1, 2018 increased by 4.26%.

(f-5) (Blank).

(g) Families eligible for assistance under this Section shall be given the following options:

(1) receiving a child care certificate issued by the Department or a subcontractor of the Department that may be used by the parents as payment for child care and development services only; or

(2) if space is available, enrolling the child with a child care provider that has a purchase of service contract with the Department or a subcontractor of the Department for the provision of child care and development services. The Department may identify particular priority populations for whom they may request special consideration by a provider with purchase of service contracts, provided that the providers shall be permitted to maintain a balance of clients in terms of household incomes and families and children with special needs, as defined by rule.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-657, eff. 3-23-21; 102-491, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-926, eff. 5-27-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-11.5)

Sec. 9A-11.5. Investigate child care providers.

(a) Any child care provider receiving funds from the child care assistance program under this Code who is not required to be licensed under the Child Care Act of 1969 shall, as a condition of eligibility to participate in the child care assistance program under this Code, authorize in writing on a form prescribed by the Department of Children and Family Services, periodic investigations of the Central Register, as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, to ascertain if the child care provider has been determined to be a perpetrator in an indicated report of child abuse or neglect. The Department of Children and Family Services shall conduct an investigation of the Central Register at the request of the Department.

(b) Any child care provider, other than a relative of the child, receiving funds from the child care assistance program under this Code who is not required to be licensed under the Child Care Act of 1969 shall, as a condition of eligibility to participate in the child care assistance program under this Code, authorize in writing a State and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint-based criminal history record check to determine if the child care provider has ever been convicted of a crime with respect to which the conviction has not been overturned and the criminal records have not been sealed or expunged. Upon this authorization, the Department shall request and receive information and assistance from any federal or State governmental agency as part of the authorized criminal history record check. The Illinois State Police shall provide information concerning any conviction that has not been overturned and with respect to which the criminal records have not been sealed or expunged, whether the conviction occurred before or on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, of a child care provider upon the request of the Department when the request is made in the form and manner required by the Illinois State Police. The Illinois State Police shall charge a fee not to exceed the cost of processing the criminal history record check. The fee is to be deposited into the State Police Services Fund. Any information concerning convictions that have not been overturned and with respect to which the criminal records have not been sealed or expunged obtained by the Department is confidential and may not be transmitted (i) outside the Department except as required in this Section or (ii) to anyone within the Department except as needed for the purposes of determining participation in the child care assistance program. A copy of the criminal history record check obtained from the Illinois State Police shall be provided to the unlicensed child care provider.

(c) The Department shall by rule set standards for determining when to disqualify an unlicensed child care provider for payment because (i) there is an indicated finding against the provider based on the results of the Central Register search or (ii) there is a disqualifying criminal charge pending against the provider or the provider has a disqualifying criminal conviction that has not been overturned and with respect to which the criminal records have not been expunged or sealed based on the results of the fingerprint-based Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record check. In determining whether to disqualify an unlicensed child care provider for payment under this subsection, the Department shall consider the nature and gravity of any offense or offenses; the time that has passed since the offense or offenses or the completion of the criminal sentence or both; and the relationship of the offense or offenses to the responsibilities of the child care provider.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-12)

Sec. 9A-12. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89-641, eff. 8-9-96. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-13)

Sec. 9A-13. Work activity; anti-displacement provisions.

(a) As used in this Section "work activity" means any workfare, earnfare, pay-after-performance, work-off-the-grant, work experience, or other activity under Section 9A-9 or any other Section of this Code in which a recipient of public assistance performs work for any employer as a condition of receiving the public assistance, and the employer does not pay wages for the work; or as any grant diversion, wage supplementation, or similar program in which the public assistance grant is provided to the employer as a subsidy for the wages of any recipient in its workforce.

(b) An employer may not utilize a work activity participant if such utilization would result in:

(1) the displacement or partial displacement of current employees, including but not limited to a reduction in hours of non-overtime or overtime work, wages, or employment benefits; or

(2) the filling of a position that would otherwise be a promotional opportunity for current employees; or

(3) the filling of a position created by or causing termination, layoff, a hiring freeze, or a reduction in the workforce; or

(4) the placement of a participant in any established unfilled vacancy; or

(5) the performance of work by a participant if there is a strike, lockout, or other labor dispute in which the employer is engaged.

(c) An employer who wishes to utilize work activity participants shall, at least 15 days prior to utilizing such participants, notify the labor organization of the name, work location, and the duties to be performed by the participant.

(d) The Department of Human Services shall establish a grievance procedure for employees and labor organizations to utilize in the event of any alleged violation of this Section. Notwithstanding the above, a labor organization may utilize the established grievance or arbitration procedure in its collective bargaining agreement to contest violations of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-14)

Sec. 9A-14. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 91-624, eff. 1-1-00. Repealed by P.A. 95-322, eff. 1-1-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-15)

Sec. 9A-15. College education assistance; pilot program.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish a pilot program to provide recipients of assistance under Article IV with additional assistance in obtaining a post-secondary education degree to the extent permitted by the federal law governing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. This assistance may include, but is not limited to, moneys for the payment of tuition, but the Department may not use any moneys appropriated for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) under Article IV to pay for tuition under the pilot program. In addition to criteria, standards, and procedures related to post-secondary education required by rules applicable to the TANF program, the Department shall provide that the time that a pilot program participant spends in post-secondary classes shall apply toward the time that the recipient is required to spend in education, placement, and training activities under this Article.

The Department shall define the pilot program by rule, including a determination of its duration and scope, the nature of the assistance to be provided, and the criteria, standards, and procedures for participation.

(b) The Department shall enter into an interagency agreement with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the administration of the pilot program.

(c) The Department shall evaluate the pilot program and report its findings and recommendations after 2 years of its operation to the Governor and the General Assembly, including proposed rules to modify or extend the pilot program beyond the scope and schedule upon which it was originally established.

(Source: P.A. 94-371, eff. 1-1-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/9A-16)

Sec. 9A-16. Work activity; applicable minimum wage. The State or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, shall be used to calculate the required number of hours of participation in any earnfare or pay-after-performance activity under Section 9A-9 or any other Section of this Code in which a recipient of public assistance performs work as a condition of receiving the public assistance and the recipient is not paid wages for the work.

(Source: P.A. 94-533, eff. 8-10-05; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/Art. X heading) ARTICLE X: DETERMINATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF SUPPORT RESPONSIBILITY OF RELATIVES

(305 ILCS 5/10-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-1)

Sec. 10-1. Declaration of public policy; persons eligible for child support enforcement services; fees for non-applicants and non-recipients. It is the intent of this Code that the financial aid and social welfare services herein provided supplement rather than supplant the primary and continuing obligation of the family unit for self-support to the fullest extent permitted by the resources available to it. This primary and continuing obligation applies whether the family unit of parents and children or of husband and wife remains intact and resides in a common household or whether the unit has been broken by absence of one or more members of the unit. The obligation of the family unit is particularly applicable when a member is in necessitous circumstances and lacks the means of a livelihood compatible with health and well-being.

It is the purpose of this Article to provide for locating an absent parent or spouse, for determining his financial circumstances, and for enforcing his legal obligation of support, if he is able to furnish support, in whole or in part. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall give priority to establishing, enforcing, and collecting the current support obligation, and then to past due support owed to the family unit, except with respect to collections effected through the intercept programs provided for in this Article. The establishment or enforcement actions provided in this Article do not require a previous court order for custody/allocation of parental responsibilities.

The child support enforcement services provided hereunder shall be furnished dependents of an absent parent or spouse who are applicants for or recipients of financial aid under this Code. It is not, however, a condition of eligibility for financial aid that there be no responsible relatives who are reasonably able to provide support. Nor, except as provided in Sections 4-1.7 and 10-8, shall the existence of such relatives or their payment of support contributions disqualify a needy person for financial aid.

By accepting financial aid under this Code, a spouse or a parent or other person having physical or legal custody of a child shall be deemed to have made assignment to the Illinois Department for aid under Articles III, IV, V, and VII or to a local governmental unit for aid under Article VI of any and all rights, title, and interest in any support obligation, including statutory interest thereon, up to the amount of financial aid provided. The rights to support assigned to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Illinois Department of Public Aid) or local governmental unit shall constitute an obligation owed the State or local governmental unit by the person who is responsible for providing the support, and shall be collectible under all applicable processes.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall also furnish the child support enforcement services established under this Article in behalf of persons who are not applicants for or recipients of financial aid under this Code in accordance with the requirements of Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act. The Department may establish a schedule of reasonable fees, to be paid for the services provided and may deduct a collection fee, not to exceed 10% of the amount collected, from such collection. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall cause to be published and distributed publications reasonably calculated to inform the public that individuals who are not recipients of or applicants for public aid under this Code are eligible for the child support enforcement services under this Article X. Such publications shall set forth an explanation, in plain language, that the child support enforcement services program is independent of any public aid program under the Code and that the receiving of child support enforcement services in no way implies that the person receiving such services is receiving public aid.

(Source: P.A. 102-541, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-2)

Sec. 10-2. Extent of liability. A husband is liable for the support of his wife and a wife for the support of her husband. Unless the child is otherwise emancipated, the parents are severally liable for the support of any child under age 18, and for any child aged 18 who is attending high school, until that child graduates from high school, or attains the age of 19, whichever is earlier. The term "child" includes a child born out of wedlock, or legally adopted child.

The liability for the support of a child provided for in this Article does not require a previous court order for custody and is in conjunction with the guidelines set forth in Section 505 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, as provided for in Section 10-10 of this Article. The obligation to support contained in this Article is concurrent to any other appropriate State law.

This Article does not create, enlarge, abrogate, or diminish parental rights or duties under other laws of this State, including the common law.

An action to establish or enforce a support obligation, under this or any other Act providing for the support of a child, may be brought subsequent to an adjudication dismissing that action based on any of the following reasons: (1) no duty of support exists under this Article because this Article requires a previous court order for custody/allocation of parental responsibilities (as no such requirement exists under this Act); (2) there is no common law duty of support (as a common law duty of support is recognized as a valid basis for child support); or (3) there is no duty of support under the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015 because a judgment of paternity results in a de facto custody/allocation of parental responsibilities order (as this ignores the cumulative nature of the Act and the plain language of the statute permitting an explicit reservation of the issue. The Illinois Parentage Act of 2015 will be clarified regarding a de facto custody/allocation of parental responsibilities order as it relates to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act).

In addition to the primary obligation of support imposed upon responsible relatives, such relatives, if individually or together in any combination they have sufficient income or other resources to support a needy person, in whole or in part, shall be liable for any financial aid extended under this Code to a person for whose support they are responsible, including amounts expended for funeral and burial costs.

(Source: P.A. 102-541, eff. 8-20-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-3)

Sec. 10-3. Standard and Regulations for Determining Ability to Support. The Illinois Department shall establish a standard by which shall be measured the ability of responsible relatives to provide support, and shall implement the standard by rules governing its application. The standard and the rules shall take into account the buying and consumption patterns of self-supporting persons of modest income, present or future contingencies having direct bearing on maintenance of the relative's self-support status and fulfillment of his obligations to his immediate family, and any unusual or exceptional circumstances including estrangement or other personal or social factors, that have a bearing on family relationships and the relative's ability to meet his support obligations. The standard shall be recomputed periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living and other pertinent factors.

In addition to the standard, the Illinois Department may establish guidelines to be used exclusively to measure the ability of responsible relatives to provide support on behalf of applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this Act and other persons who are given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article as provided in Section 10-1. In such case, the Illinois Department shall base the guidelines upon the applicable provisions of Sections 504, 505 and 505.2 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, as amended, and shall implement such guidelines by rules governing their application.

The term "administrative enforcement unit", when used in this Article, means local governmental units or the Child and Spouse Support Unit established under Section 10-3.1 when exercising the powers designated in this Article. The administrative enforcement unit shall apply the standard or guidelines, rules and procedures provided for by this Section and Sections 10-4 through 10-8 in determining the ability of responsible relatives to provide support for applicants for or recipients of financial aid under this Code, except that the administrative enforcement unit may apply such standard or guidelines, rules and procedures at its discretion with respect to those applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article IV and other persons who are given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article as provided by Section 10-1.

(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-3.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-3.1)

Sec. 10-3.1. Child and Spouse Support Unit. The Illinois Department shall establish within its administrative staff a Child and Spouse Support Unit to search for and locate absent parents and spouses liable for the support of persons resident in this State and to exercise the support enforcement powers and responsibilities assigned the Department by this Article. The unit shall cooperate with all law enforcement officials in this State and with the authorities of other States in locating persons responsible for the support of persons resident in other States and shall invite the cooperation of these authorities in the performance of its duties.

In addition to other duties assigned the Child and Spouse Support Unit by this Article, the Unit may refer to the Attorney General or units of local government with the approval of the Attorney General, any actions under Sections 10-10 and 10-15 for judicial enforcement of the support liability. The Child and Spouse Support Unit shall act for the Department in referring to the Attorney General support matters requiring judicial enforcement under other laws. If requested by the Attorney General to so act, as provided in Section 12-16, attorneys of the Unit may assist the Attorney General or themselves institute actions on behalf of the Illinois Department under the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act; under the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 or under the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015; under the Non-Support of Spouse and Children Act; under the Non-Support Punishment Act; or under any other law, State or Federal, providing for support of a spouse or dependent child.

The Illinois Department shall also have the authority to enter into agreements with local governmental units or individuals, with the approval of the Attorney General, for the collection of moneys owing because of the failure of a parent to make child support payments for any child receiving services under this Article. Such agreements may be on a contingent fee basis, but such contingent fee shall not exceed 25% of the total amount collected.

An attorney who provides representation pursuant to this Section shall represent the Illinois Department exclusively. Regardless of the designation of the plaintiff in an action brought pursuant to this Section, an attorney-client relationship does not exist for purposes of that action between that attorney and (i) an applicant for or recipient of child support enforcement services or (ii) any other party to the action other than the Illinois Department. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to modify any power or duty (including a duty to maintain confidentiality) of the Child and Spouse Support Unit or the Illinois Department otherwise provided by law.

The Illinois Department may also enter into agreements with local governmental units for the Child and Spouse Support Unit to exercise the investigative and enforcement powers designated in this Article, including the issuance of administrative orders under Section 10-11, in locating responsible relatives and obtaining support for persons applying for or receiving aid under Article VI. Payments for defrayment of administrative costs and support payments obtained shall be deposited into the DHS Recoveries Trust Fund. Support payments shall be paid over to the General Assistance Fund of the local governmental unit at such time or times as the agreement may specify.

With respect to those cases in which it has support enforcement powers and responsibilities under this Article, the Illinois Department may provide by rule for periodic or other review of each administrative and court order for support to determine whether a modification of the order should be sought. The Illinois Department shall provide for and conduct such review in accordance with any applicable federal law and regulation.

As part of its process for review of orders for support, the Illinois Department, through written notice, may require the responsible relative to disclose his or her Social Security Number and past and present information concerning the relative's address, employment, gross wages, deductions from gross wages, net wages, bonuses, commissions, number of dependent exemptions claimed, individual and dependent health insurance coverage, and any other information necessary to determine the relative's ability to provide support in a case receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X.

The Illinois Department may send a written request for the same information to the relative's employer. The employer shall respond to the request for information within 15 days after the date the employer receives the request. If the employer willfully fails to fully respond within the 15-day period, the employer shall pay a penalty of $100 for each day that the response is not provided to the Illinois Department after the 15-day period has expired. The penalty may be collected in a civil action which may be brought against the employer in favor of the Illinois Department.

A written request for information sent to an employer pursuant to this Section shall consist of (i) a citation of this Section as the statutory authority for the request and for the employer's obligation to provide the requested information, (ii) a returnable form setting forth the employer's name and address and listing the name of the employee with respect to whom information is requested, and (iii) a citation of this Section as the statutory authority authorizing the employer to withhold a fee of up to $20 from the wages or income to be paid to each responsible relative for providing the information to the Illinois Department within the 15-day period. If the employer is withholding support payments from the responsible relative's income pursuant to an order for withholding, the employer may withhold the fee provided for in this Section only after withholding support as required under the order. Any amounts withheld from the responsible relative's income for payment of support and the fee provided for in this Section shall not be in excess of the amounts permitted under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act.

In a case receiving child support enforcement services, the Illinois Department may request and obtain information from a particular employer under this Section no more than once in any 12-month period, unless the information is necessary to conduct a review of a court or administrative order for support at the request of the person receiving child support enforcement services.

The Illinois Department shall establish and maintain an administrative unit to receive and transmit to the Child and Spouse Support Unit information supplied by persons applying for or receiving child support enforcement services under Section 10-1. In addition, the Illinois Department shall address and respond to any alleged deficiencies that persons receiving or applying for services from the Child and Spouse Support Unit may identify concerning the Child and Spouse Support Unit's provision of child support enforcement services. Within 60 days after an action or failure to act by the Child and Spouse Support Unit that affects his or her case, a recipient of or applicant for child support enforcement services under Article X of this Code may request an explanation of the Unit's handling of the case. At the requestor's option, the explanation may be provided either orally in an interview, in writing, or both. If the Illinois Department fails to respond to the request for an explanation or fails to respond in a manner satisfactory to the applicant or recipient within 30 days from the date of the request for an explanation, the applicant or recipient may request a conference for further review of the matter by the Office of the Administrator of the Child and Spouse Support Unit. A request for a conference may be submitted at any time within 60 days after the explanation has been provided by the Child and Spouse Support Unit or within 60 days after the time for providing the explanation has expired.

The applicant or recipient may request a conference concerning any decision denying or terminating child support enforcement services under Article X of this Code, and the applicant or recipient may also request a conference concerning the Unit's failure to provide services or the provision of services in an amount or manner that is considered inadequate. For purposes of this Section, the Child and Spouse Support Unit includes all local governmental units or individuals with whom the Illinois Department has contracted under Section 10-3.1.

Upon receipt of a timely request for a conference, the Office of the Administrator shall review the case. The applicant or recipient requesting the conference shall be entitled, at his or her option, to appear in person or to participate in the conference by telephone. The applicant or recipient requesting the conference shall be entitled to be represented and to be afforded a reasonable opportunity to review the Illinois Department's file before or at the conference. At the conference, the applicant or recipient requesting the conference shall be afforded an opportunity to present all relevant matters in support of his or her claim. Conferences shall be without cost to the applicant or recipient requesting the conference and shall be conducted by a representative of the Child or Spouse Support Unit who did not participate in the action or inaction being reviewed.

The Office of the Administrator shall conduct a conference and inform all interested parties, in writing, of the results of the conference within 60 days from the date of filing of the request for a conference.

In addition to its other powers and responsibilities established by this Article, the Child and Spouse Support Unit shall conduct an annual assessment of each institution's program for institution based paternity establishment under Section 12 of the Vital Records Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-3.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-3.2)

Sec. 10-3.2. Parent Locator Service. The Illinois Department through its Child and Spouse Support Unit shall enter into agreements with the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his designee under which the services of the federal Parent Locator Service established by the Social Security Act are made available to this State and the Illinois Department for the purpose of locating an absent parent or child when the child has been abducted or otherwise improperly removed or retained from the physical custody of a parent or other person entitled to custody of the child, or in connection with the making or enforcing of a child custody determination in custody proceedings instituted under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act or the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, or otherwise in accordance with law. The Illinois Department shall provide general information to the public about the availability and use of the Parent Locator Service in relation to child abduction and custody determination proceedings, shall promptly respond to inquiries made by those parties specified by federal regulations upon receipt of information as to the location of an absent parent or child from the federal Parent Locator Service and shall maintain accurate records as to the number of such inquiries received and processed by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-3.3)

Sec. 10-3.3. Locating support obligor and others; penalties.

(a) Upon request by the Child and Spouse Support Unit, employers, labor unions, cellular telephone companies, and telephone companies shall provide location information concerning putative fathers and noncustodial parents for the purpose of establishing a child's paternity or establishing, enforcing, or modifying a child support obligation. In this Section, "location information" means information about (i) the physical whereabouts, including, but not limited to, the home address, home telephone number, cellular telephone number, and e-mail address of a putative father or noncustodial parent, (ii) the putative father or noncustodial parent's employer, or (iii) the salary, wages, and other compensation paid and the health insurance coverage provided to the putative father or noncustodial parent by the employer of the putative father or noncustodial parent or by a labor union of which the putative father or noncustodial parent is a member. As used in this Section, "cellular telephone company" includes a cellular telephone or wireless carrier or provider, but does not include a pre-paid wireless carrier or provider. As used in this Section, "physical whereabouts" does not include real time or historical location tracking information.

An employer, labor union, cellular telephone company, or telephone company shall respond to the request of the Child and Spouse Support Unit within 15 days after receiving the request. Any employer, labor union, cellular telephone company, or telephone company that willfully fails to fully respond within the 15-day period shall be subject to a penalty of $100 for each day that the response is not provided to the Illinois Department after the 15-day period has expired. The penalty may be collected in a civil action, which may be brought against the employer, labor union, cellular telephone company, or telephone company in favor of the Illinois Department.

(b) Upon being served with an administrative subpoena as authorized under this Code, a utility company or cable television company must provide location information to the Child and Spouse Support Unit for the purpose of establishing a child's paternity or establishing, enforcing, or modifying a child support obligation.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other State or local law to the contrary, an employer, labor union, cellular telephone company, telephone company, utility company, or cable television company shall not be liable to any person for disclosure of location information under the requirements of this Section, except for willful and wanton misconduct.

(Source: P.A. 100-487, eff. 6-1-18.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-3.4)

Sec. 10-3.4. Obtaining location information.

(a) The Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with the Illinois State Police and the Secretary of State to obtain location information on persons for the purpose of establishing paternity, and establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support obligations.

(b) Upon request, the Illinois Department shall provide information obtained pursuant to this Section to federal agencies and other states' agencies conducting child support enforcement activities under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-4)

Sec. 10-4. Notification of Support Obligation. The administrative enforcement unit within the authorized area of its operation shall notify each responsible relative of an applicant or recipient, or responsible relatives of other persons given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article, of his legal obligation to support and shall request such information concerning his financial status as may be necessary to determine whether he is financially able to provide such support, in whole or in part. In cases involving a child born out of wedlock, the notification shall include a statement that the responsible relative has been named as the biological father of the child identified in the notification.

In the case of applicants, the notification shall be sent as soon as practical after the filing of the application. In the case of recipients, the notice shall be sent at such time as may be established by rule of the Illinois Department.

The notice shall be accompanied by the forms or questionnaires provided in Section 10-5. It shall inform the relative that he may be liable for reimbursement of any support furnished from public aid funds prior to determination of the relative's financial circumstances, as well as for future support. In the alternative, when support is sought on behalf of applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this Code and other persons who are given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article as provided in Section 10-1, the notice shall inform the relative that the relative may be required to pay support for a period before the date an administrative support order is entered, as well as future support.

Neither the mailing nor receipt of such notice shall be deemed a jurisdictional requirement for the subsequent exercise of the investigative procedures undertaken by an administrative enforcement unit or the entry of any order or determination of paternity or support or reimbursement by the administrative enforcement unit; except that notice shall be served by certified mail addressed to the responsible relative at his or her last known address, return receipt requested, or by a person who is licensed or registered as a private detective under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 or by a registered employee of a private detective agency certified under that Act, or in counties with a population of less than 2,000,000 by any method provided by law for service of summons, in cases where a determination of paternity or support by default is sought on behalf of applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this Act and other persons who are given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article as provided in Section 10-1.

(Source: P.A. 94-92, eff. 6-30-05; 95-613, eff. 9-11-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-5) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-5)

Sec. 10-5. Declarations by Responsible Relatives-Penalty. Information requested of responsible relatives shall be submitted on forms or questionnaires prescribed by the Illinois Department or local governmental units, as the case may be, and shall contain a written declaration to be signed by the relative in substantially the following form:

"I declare under penalties of perjury that I have examined this form (or questionnaire) and all accompanying statements or documents pertaining to my income, resources, or any other matter having bearing upon my status and ability to provide support, and to the best of my knowledge and belief the information supplied is true, correct, and complete".

A person who makes and subscribes a form or questionnaire which contains, as hereinabove provided, a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury, knowing it to be false, incorrect or incomplete, in respect to any material statement or representation bearing upon his status as a responsible relative, or upon his income, resources, or other matter concerning his ability to provide support, shall be subject to the penalties for perjury provided for in Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-6)

Sec. 10-6. Investigation and Determination. The administrative enforcement unit shall review the forms or questionnaires returned by each responsible relative and supplement the information provided therein, where required, by such additional consultations with the responsible relative and such other investigations as may be necessary, including genetic testing if paternity is an issue and, applying the standard or guidelines and regulations established by the Illinois Department, shall determine whether and the extent to which, the responsible relative individually or together in any combination, are reasonably able to provide support. If the child was born out of wedlock and the case is subject to the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity or the administrative determination of paternity under rules established under Section 10-17.7, the Child and Spouse Support Unit of the Illinois Department shall determine the child support obligation under subsection (b) of Section 10-7 upon establishing the child's paternity. If the child's paternity was established by judicial or administrative process in any other state, the Illinois Department may use administrative processes contained in this Article X to establish a child support order.

In aid of its investigative authority, the Child and Spouse Support Unit of the Illinois Department may use the subpoena power as set forth in this Article.

The Illinois Department, by rule, may authorize the administrative enforcement units to conduct periodic or other reinvestigations and redeterminations of the financial ability of responsible relatives. Any redeterminations shall have the effect of altering, amending, or modifying previous determinations and administrative orders entered pursuant to Sections 10-7 and 10-11. However, any redetermination which establishes liability for support or reimbursement, or which modifies the support or reimbursement liability specified in a prior order, shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10-12 and the administrative and judicial review procedures herein provided for original orders.

(Source: P.A. 89-641, eff. 8-9-96; 90-18, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-7)

Sec. 10-7. Notice of support due.

(a) When an administrative enforcement unit has determined that a responsible relative is financially able to contribute to the support of an applicant or recipient, the responsible relative shall be notified by mailing him a copy of the determination by United States registered or certified mail, advising him of his legal obligation to make support payments for such period or periods of time, definite in duration or indefinite, as the circumstances require. The notice shall direct payment as provided in Section 10-8. Where applicable, the determination and notice may include a demand for reimbursement for emergency aid granted an applicant or recipient during the period between the application and determination of the relative's obligation for support and for aid granted during any subsequent period the responsible relative was financially able to provide support but failed or refused to do so.

(b) In the alternative, when support is sought on behalf of applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this Act and other persons who are given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article as provided in Section 10-1, the administrative enforcement unit shall not be required to send the notice and may enter an administrative order immediately under the provisions of Section 10-11. The order shall be based upon the determination made under the provisions of Section 10-6 or, in instances of default, upon the needs of the persons for whom support is sought. In addition to requiring payment of future support, the administrative order may require payment of support for a period before the date the order is entered. The amount of support to be paid for the prior period shall be determined under the guidelines established by the Illinois Department pursuant to Section 10-3. The order shall direct payment as provided in Section 10-10.

(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-8)

Sec. 10-8. Support Payments - Partial Support - Full Support. The notice to responsible relatives issued pursuant to Section 10-7 shall direct payment (a) to the Illinois Department in cases of applicants and recipients under Articles III, IV, V and VII, (b) except as provided in Section 10-3.1, to the local governmental unit in the case of applicants and recipients under Article VI, and (c) to the Illinois Department in cases of non-applicants and non-recipients given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article, as provided by Section 10-1. However, if the support payments by responsible relatives are sufficient to meet needs of a recipient in full, including current and anticipated medical needs, and the Illinois Department or the local governmental unit, as the case may be, has reasonable grounds to believe that such needs will continue to be provided in full by the responsible relatives, the relatives may be directed to make subsequent support payments to the needy person or to some person or agency in his behalf and the recipient shall be removed from the rolls. In such instance the recipient also shall be notified by registered or certified mail of the action taken. If a recipient removed from the rolls requests the Illinois Department to continue to collect the support payments in his behalf, the Department, at its option, may do so and pay amounts so collected to the person. The Department may provide for deducting any costs incurred by it in making the collection from the amount of any recovery made and pay only the net amount to the person.

Payments under this Section to the Illinois Department pursuant to the Child Support Enforcement Program established by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act shall be paid into the Child Support Enforcement Trust Fund. All payments under this Section to the Illinois Department of Human Services shall be deposited in the DHS Recoveries Trust Fund. Disbursements from these funds shall be as provided in Sections 12-9.1 and 12-10.2 of this Code. Payments received by a local governmental unit shall be deposited in that unit's General Assistance Fund.

To the extent the provisions of this Section are inconsistent with the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit under Sections 10-10.4 and 10-26 of this Code, the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit shall apply.

(Source: P.A. 91-24, eff. 7-1-99; 91-212, eff. 7-20-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-8.1)

Sec. 10-8.1. Temporary order for child support. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, pending the outcome of an administrative determination of parentage, the Illinois Department shall issue a temporary order for child support, upon motion by a party and a showing of clear and convincing evidence of paternity. In determining the amount of the temporary child support award, the Illinois Department shall use the guidelines and standards set forth in subsection (a) of Section 505 and in Section 505.2 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

Any new or existing support order entered by the Illinois Department under this Section shall be deemed to be a series of judgments against the person obligated to pay support thereunder, each such judgment to be in the amount of each payment or installment of support and each judgment to be deemed entered as of the date the corresponding payment or installment becomes due under the terms of the support order. Each such judgment shall have the full force, effect, and attributes of any other judgment of this State, including the ability to be enforced. Any such judgment is subject to modification or termination only in accordance with Section 510 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Notwithstanding any other State or local law to the contrary, a lien arises by operation of law against the real and personal property of the noncustodial parent for each installment of overdue support owed by the noncustodial parent.

All orders for support entered or modified in a case in which a party is receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X shall include a provision requiring the non-custodial parent to notify the Illinois Department, within 7 days, (i) of the name, address, and telephone number of any new employer of the non-custodial parent, (ii) whether the non-custodial parent has access to health insurance coverage through the employer or other group coverage, and, if so, the policy name and number and the names of persons covered under the policy, and (iii) of any new residential or mailing address or telephone number of the non-custodial parent.

In any subsequent action to enforce a support order, upon sufficient showing that diligent effort has been made to ascertain the location of the non-custodial parent, service of process or provision of notice necessary in that action may be made at the last known address of the non-custodial parent, in any manner expressly provided by the Code of Civil Procedure or this Act, which service shall be sufficient for purposes of due process.

An order for support shall include a date on which the current support obligation terminates. The termination date shall be no earlier than the date on which the child covered by the order will attain the age of 18. However, if the child will not graduate from high school until after attaining the age of 18, then the termination date shall be no earlier than the earlier of the date on which the child's high school graduation will occur or the date on which the child will attain the age of 19. The order for support shall state that the termination date does not apply to any arrearage that may remain unpaid on that date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Illinois Department from modifying the order or terminating the order in the event the child is otherwise emancipated.

If there is an unpaid arrearage or delinquency (as those terms are defined in the Income Withholding for Support Act) equal to at least one month's support obligation on the termination date stated in the order for support or, if there is no termination date stated in the order, on the date the child attains the age of majority or is otherwise emancipated, then the periodic amount required to be paid for current support of that child immediately prior to that date shall automatically continue to be an obligation, not as current support but as periodic payment toward satisfaction of the unpaid arrearage or delinquency. That periodic payment shall be in addition to any periodic payment previously required for satisfaction of the arrearage or delinquency. The total periodic amount to be paid toward satisfaction of the arrearage or delinquency may be enforced and collected by any method provided by law for the enforcement and collection of child support, including but not limited to income withholding under the Income Withholding for Support Act. Each order for support entered or modified on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly must contain a statement notifying the parties of the requirements of this paragraph. Failure to include the statement in the order for support does not affect the validity of the order or the operation of the provisions of this paragraph with regard to the order. This paragraph shall not be construed to prevent or affect the establishment or modification of an order for the support of a minor child or the establishment or modification of an order for the support of a non-minor child or educational expenses under Section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-186, eff. 7-22-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-9)

Sec. 10-9. Alternative Actions to Enforce Support. If a responsible relative fails or refuses to furnish support, or contributes less than the amount indicated by the determination, the administrative enforcement unit shall take action to enforce support in accordance with Section 10-10 or Section 10-11.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-9.5)

Sec. 10-9.5. Access to records. In any hearing, case, appeal, or other matter arising out of the provisions concerning the determination and enforcement of the support responsibility of relatives, an obligor or obligee, or their legal representatives, shall be entitled to review any case records in the possession of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the State Disbursement Unit, or a circuit clerk with regard to that obligor or obligee that are able to prove any matter relevant to the hearing, case, appeal, or other matter if access to the record or portion of the record is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 654.

(Source: P.A. 95-685, eff. 10-23-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-10)

Sec. 10-10. Court enforcement; applicability also to persons who are not applicants or recipients. Except where the Illinois Department, by agreement, acts for the local governmental unit, as provided in Section 10-3.1, local governmental units shall refer to the State's Attorney or to the proper legal representative of the governmental unit, for judicial enforcement as herein provided, instances of non-support or insufficient support when the dependents are applicants or recipients under Article VI. The Child and Spouse Support Unit established by Section 10-3.1 may institute in behalf of the Illinois Department any actions under this Section for judicial enforcement of the support liability when the dependents are (a) applicants or recipients under Articles III, IV, V or VII; (b) applicants or recipients in a local governmental unit when the Illinois Department, by agreement, acts for the unit; or (c) non-applicants or non-recipients who are receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X, as provided in Section 10-1. Where the Child and Spouse Support Unit has exercised its option and discretion not to apply the provisions of Sections 10-3 through 10-8, the failure by the Unit to apply such provisions shall not be a bar to bringing an action under this Section.

Action shall be brought in the circuit court to obtain support, or for the recovery of aid granted during the period such support was not provided, or both for the obtainment of support and the recovery of the aid provided. Actions for the recovery of aid may be taken separately or they may be consolidated with actions to obtain support. Such actions may be brought in the name of the person or persons requiring support, or may be brought in the name of the Illinois Department or the local governmental unit, as the case requires, in behalf of such persons.

The court may enter such orders for the payment of moneys for the support of the person as may be just and equitable and may direct payment thereof for such period or periods of time as the circumstances require, including support for a period before the date the order for support is entered. The order may be entered against any or all of the defendant responsible relatives and may be based upon the proportionate ability of each to contribute to the person's support.

The Court shall determine the amount of child support (including child support for a period before the date the order for child support is entered) by using the guidelines and standards set forth in subsection (a) of Section 505 and in Section 505.2 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. For purposes of determining the amount of child support to be paid for a period before the date the order for child support is entered, there is a rebuttable presumption that the responsible relative's net income for that period was the same as his or her net income at the time the order is entered.

If (i) the responsible relative was properly served with a request for discovery of financial information relating to the responsible relative's ability to provide child support, (ii) the responsible relative failed to comply with the request, despite having been ordered to do so by the court, and (iii) the responsible relative is not present at the hearing to determine support despite having received proper notice, then any relevant financial information concerning the responsible relative's ability to provide child support that was obtained pursuant to subpoena and proper notice shall be admitted into evidence without the need to establish any further foundation for its admission.

An order entered under this Section shall include a provision requiring the obligor to report to the obligee and to the clerk of court within 10 days each time the obligor obtains new employment, and each time the obligor's employment is terminated for any reason. The report shall be in writing and shall, in the case of new employment, include the name and address of the new employer. Failure to report new employment or the termination of current employment, if coupled with nonpayment of support for a period in excess of 60 days, is indirect criminal contempt. For any obligor arrested for failure to report new employment bond shall be set in the amount of the child support that should have been paid during the period of unreported employment. An order entered under this Section shall also include a provision requiring the obligor and obligee parents to advise each other of a change in residence within 5 days of the change except when the court finds that the physical, mental, or emotional health of a party or that of a minor child, or both, would be seriously endangered by disclosure of the party's address.

The Court shall determine the amount of maintenance using the standards set forth in Section 504 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

Any new or existing support order entered by the court under this Section shall be deemed to be a series of judgments against the person obligated to pay support thereunder, each such judgment to be in the amount of each payment or installment of support and each such judgment to be deemed entered as of the date the corresponding payment or installment becomes due under the terms of the support order. Each such judgment shall have the full force, effect and attributes of any other judgment of this State, including the ability to be enforced. Any such judgment is subject to modification or termination only in accordance with Section 510 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Notwithstanding any other State or local law to the contrary, a lien arises by operation of law against the real and personal property of the noncustodial parent for each installment of overdue support owed by the noncustodial parent.

When an order is entered for the support of a minor, the court may provide therein for reasonable visitation of the minor by the person or persons who provided support pursuant to the order. Whoever willfully refuses to comply with such visitation order or willfully interferes with its enforcement may be declared in contempt of court and punished therefor.

Except where the local governmental unit has entered into an agreement with the Illinois Department for the Child and Spouse Support Unit to act for it, as provided in Section 10-3.1, support orders entered by the court in cases involving applicants or recipients under Article VI shall provide that payments thereunder be made directly to the local governmental unit. Orders for the support of all other applicants or recipients shall provide that payments thereunder be made directly to the Illinois Department. In accordance with federal law and regulations, the Illinois Department may continue to collect current maintenance payments or child support payments, or both, after those persons cease to receive public assistance and until termination of services under Article X. The Illinois Department shall pay the net amount collected to those persons after deducting any costs incurred in making the collection or any collection fee from the amount of any recovery made. In both cases the order shall permit the local governmental unit or the Illinois Department, as the case may be, to direct the responsible relative or relatives to make support payments directly to the needy person, or to some person or agency in his behalf, upon removal of the person from the public aid rolls or upon termination of services under Article X.

If the notice of support due issued pursuant to Section 10-7 directs that support payments be made directly to the needy person, or to some person or agency in his behalf, and the recipient is removed from the public aid rolls, court action may be taken against the responsible relative hereunder if he fails to furnish support in accordance with the terms of such notice.

Actions may also be brought under this Section in behalf of any person who is in need of support from responsible relatives, as defined in Section 2-11 of Article II who is not an applicant for or recipient of financial aid under this Code. In such instances, the State's Attorney of the county in which such person resides shall bring action against the responsible relatives hereunder. If the Illinois Department, as authorized by Section 10-1, extends the child support enforcement services provided by this Article to spouses and dependent children who are not applicants or recipients under this Code, the Child and Spouse Support Unit established by Section 10-3.1 shall bring action against the responsible relatives hereunder and any support orders entered by the court in such cases shall provide that payments thereunder be made directly to the Illinois Department.

Whenever it is determined in a proceeding to establish or enforce a child support or maintenance obligation that the person owing a duty of support is unemployed, the court may order the person to seek employment and report periodically to the court with a diary, listing or other memorandum of his or her efforts in accordance with such order. Additionally, the court may order the unemployed person to report to the Department of Employment Security for job search services or to make application with the local Job Training Partnership Act provider for participation in job search, training or work programs and where the duty of support is owed to a child receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X, the court may order the unemployed person to report to the Illinois Department for participation in job search, training or work programs established under Section 9-6 and Article IXA of this Code.

Whenever it is determined that a person owes past-due support for a child receiving assistance under this Code, the court shall order at the request of the Illinois Department:

(1) that the person pay the past-due support in accordance with a plan approved by the court; or

(2) if the person owing past-due support is unemployed, is subject to such a plan, and is not incapacitated, that the person participate in such job search, training, or work programs established under Section 9-6 and Article IXA of this Code as the court deems appropriate.

A determination under this Section shall not be administratively reviewable by the procedures specified in Sections 10-12, and 10-13 to 10-13.10. Any determination under these Sections, if made the basis of court action under this Section, shall not affect the de novo judicial determination required under this Section.

If a person who is found guilty of contempt for failure to comply with an order to pay support is a person who conducts a business or who is self-employed, the court in addition to other penalties provided by law may order that the person do one or more of the following: (i) provide to the court monthly financial statements showing income and expenses from the business or the self-employment; (ii) seek employment and report periodically to the court with a diary, listing, or other memorandum of his or her employment search efforts; or (iii) report to the Department of Employment Security for job search services to find employment that will be subject to withholding of child support.

A one-time charge of 20% is imposable upon the amount of past-due child support owed on July 1, 1988 which has accrued under a support order entered by the court. The charge shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-21 of this Code and shall be enforced by the court upon petition.

All orders for support, when entered or modified, shall include a provision requiring the non-custodial parent to notify the court and, in cases in which a party is receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X, the Illinois Department, within 7 days, (i) of the name, address, and telephone number of any new employer of the non-custodial parent, (ii) whether the non-custodial parent has access to health insurance coverage through the employer or other group coverage and, if so, the policy name and number and the names of persons covered under the policy, and (iii) of any new residential or mailing address or telephone number of the non-custodial parent. In any subsequent action to enforce a support order, upon a sufficient showing that a diligent effort has been made to ascertain the location of the non-custodial parent, service of process or provision of notice necessary in the case may be made at the last known address of the non-custodial parent in any manner expressly provided by the Code of Civil Procedure or this Code, which service shall be sufficient for purposes of due process.

An order for support shall include a date on which the current support obligation terminates. The termination date shall be no earlier than the date on which the child covered by the order will attain the age of 18. However, if the child will not graduate from high school until after attaining the age of 18, then the termination date shall be no earlier than the earlier of the date on which the child's high school graduation will occur or the date on which the child will attain the age of 19. The order for support shall state that the termination date does not apply to any arrearage that may remain unpaid on that date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the court from modifying the order or terminating the order in the event the child is otherwise emancipated.

If there is an unpaid arrearage or delinquency (as those terms are defined in the Income Withholding for Support Act) equal to at least one month's support obligation on the termination date stated in the order for support or, if there is no termination date stated in the order, on the date the child attains the age of majority or is otherwise emancipated, then the periodic amount required to be paid for current support of that child immediately prior to that date shall automatically continue to be an obligation, not as current support but as periodic payment toward satisfaction of the unpaid arrearage or delinquency. That periodic payment shall be in addition to any periodic payment previously required for satisfaction of the arrearage or delinquency. The total periodic amount to be paid toward satisfaction of the arrearage or delinquency may be enforced and collected by any method provided by law for the enforcement and collection of child support, including but not limited to income withholding under the Income Withholding for Support Act. Each order for support entered or modified on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly must contain a statement notifying the parties of the requirements of this paragraph. Failure to include the statement in the order for support does not affect the validity of the order or the operation of the provisions of this paragraph with regard to the order. This paragraph shall not be construed to prevent or affect the establishment or modification of an order for the support of a minor child or the establishment or modification of an order for the support of a non-minor child or educational expenses under Section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

Payments under this Section to the Illinois Department pursuant to the Child Support Enforcement Program established by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act shall be paid into the Child Support Enforcement Trust Fund. All payments under this Section to the Illinois Department of Human Services shall be deposited in the DHS Recoveries Trust Fund. Disbursements from these funds shall be as provided in Sections 12-9.1 and 12-10.2 of this Code. Payments received by a local governmental unit shall be deposited in that unit's General Assistance Fund.

To the extent the provisions of this Section are inconsistent with the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit under Sections 10-10.4 and 10-26 of this Code, the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit shall apply.

(Source: P.A. 97-186, eff. 7-22-11; 97-1029, eff. 1-1-13.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-10.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-10.1)

Sec. 10-10.1. Public Aid Collection Fee. In all cases instituted by the Illinois Department on behalf of a child or spouse, other than one receiving a grant of financial aid under Article IV, on whose behalf an application has been made and approved for child support enforcement services as provided by Section 10-1, the court shall impose a collection fee on the individual who owes a child or spouse support obligation in an amount equal to 10% of the amount so owed as long as such collection is required by federal law, which fee shall be in addition to the support obligation. The imposition of such fee shall be in accordance with provisions of Title IV, Part D, of the Social Security Act and regulations duly promulgated thereunder. The fee shall be payable to the clerk of the circuit court for transmittal to the Illinois Department and shall continue until child support enforcement services are terminated by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-10.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-10.2)

Sec. 10-10.2. Notice to Clerk of Circuit Court of Payment Received by the Illinois Department for Recording. For those cases in which support is payable to the clerk of the circuit court for transmittal to the Illinois Department by order of court, and the Illinois Department collects support by assignment, offset, withholding, deduction or other process permitted by law, the Illinois Department shall notify the clerk of the date and amount of such collection. Upon notification, the clerk shall record the collection on the payment record for the case.

(Source: P.A. 82-1057.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-10.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-10.3)

Sec. 10-10.3. For those cases in which child support is payable to the clerk of the circuit court for transmittal to the Illinois Department by order of court, the clerk shall transmit all such payments, within 4 working days of receipt, to insure that funds are available for immediate distribution by the Department to the person or entity entitled thereto in accordance with standards of the Child Support Enforcement Program established under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. The clerk shall notify the Department of the date of receipt and amount thereof at the time of transmittal. Where the clerk has entered into an agreement of cooperation with the Department to record the terms of child support orders and payments made thereunder directly into the Department's automated data processing system, the clerk shall account for, transmit and otherwise distribute child support payments in accordance with such agreement in lieu of the requirements contained herein.

To the extent the provisions of this Section are inconsistent with the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit under Sections 10-10.4 and 10-26 of this Code, the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit shall apply.

(Source: P.A. 91-212, eff. 7-20-99.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-10.4)

Sec. 10-10.4. Payment of Support to State Disbursement Unit.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Order for support", "obligor", "obligee", and "payor" mean those terms as defined in the Income Withholding for Support Act, except that "order for support" shall not mean orders providing for spousal maintenance under which there is no child support obligation.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, each court or administrative order for support entered or modified on or after October 1, 1999 shall require that support payments be made to the State Disbursement Unit established under Section 10-26 if:

(1) a party to the order is receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X; or

(2) no party to the order is receiving child support enforcement services, but the support payments are made through income withholding.

(c) Support payments shall be made to the State Disbursement Unit if:

(1) the order for support was entered before October 1, 1999, and a party to the order is receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X; or

(2) no party to the order is receiving child support enforcement services, and the support payments are being made through income withholding.

(c-5) If no party to the order is receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X, and the support payments are not being made through income withholding, then support payments shall be made as directed in the order for support.

(c-10) At any time, and notwithstanding the existence of an order directing payments to be made elsewhere, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide notice to the obligor and, where applicable, to the obligor's payor:

(1) to make support payments to the State Disbursement Unit if:

(A) a party to the order for support is receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X; or

(B) no party to the order for support is receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X, but the support payments are made through income withholding; or

(2) to make support payments to the State Disbursement Unit of another state upon request of another state's Title IV-D child support enforcement agency, in accordance with the requirements of Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act and regulations promulgated under that Part D.

(c-15) Within 15 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, the clerk of the circuit court shall provide written notice to the obligor to make payments directly to the clerk of the circuit court if no party to the order is receiving child support enforcement services under this Article X, the support payments are not made through income withholding, and the order for support requires support payments to be made directly to the clerk of the circuit court.

(c-20) If the State Disbursement Unit receives a support payment that was not appropriately made to the Unit under this Section, the Unit shall immediately return the payment to the sender, including, if possible, instructions detailing where to send the support payments.

(d) The notices under subsections (c-10) and (c-15) may be sent by ordinary mail, certified mail, return receipt requested, facsimile transmission, or other electronic process, or may be served upon the obligor or payor using any method provided by law for service of a summons. A copy of the notice shall be provided to the obligee and, when the order for support was entered by the court, to the clerk of the court.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-10.5)

Sec. 10-10.5. Information to State Case Registry.

(a) In this Section:

"Order for support", "obligor", "obligee", and "business day" are defined as set forth in the Income Withholding for Support Act.

"State Case Registry" means the State Case Registry established under Section 10-27 of this Code.

(b) Each order for support entered or modified by the circuit court under Section 10-10 shall require that the obligor and obligee (i) file with the clerk of the circuit court the information required by this Section (and any other information required under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act or by the federal Department of Health and Human Services) at the time of entry or modification of the order for support and (ii) file updated information with the clerk within 5 business days of any change. Failure of the obligor or obligee to file or update the required information shall be punishable as in cases of contempt. The failure shall not prevent the court from entering or modifying the order for support, however.

(c) The obligor shall file the following information: the obligor's name, date of birth, social security number, and mailing address.

If either the obligor or the obligee receives child support enforcement services from the Illinois Department under Article X of this Code, the obligor shall also file the following information: the obligor's telephone number, driver's license number, and residential address (if different from the obligor's mailing address), and the name, address, and telephone number of the obligor's employer or employers.

(d) The obligee shall file the following information:

(1) The names of the obligee and the child or children covered by the order for support.

(2) The dates of birth of the obligee and the child or children covered by the order for support.

(3) The social security numbers of the obligee and the child or children covered by the order for support.

(4) The obligee's mailing address.

(e) In cases in which the obligee receives child support enforcement services from the Illinois Department under Article X of this Code, the order for support shall (i) require that the obligee file the information required under subsection (d) with the Illinois Department for inclusion in the State Case Registry, rather than file the information with the clerk, and (ii) require that the obligee include the following additional information:

(1) The obligee's telephone and driver's license numbers.

(2) The obligee's residential address, if different from the obligee's mailing address.

(3) The name, address, and telephone number of the obligee's employer or employers.

The order for support shall also require that the obligee update the information filed with the Illinois Department within 5 business days of any change.

(f) The clerk shall provide the information filed under this Section, together with the court docket number and county in which the order for support was entered, to the State Case Registry within 5 business days after receipt of the information.

(g) In a case in which a party is receiving child support enforcement services under Article X of this Code, the clerk shall provide the following additional information to the State Case Registry within 5 business days after entry or modification of an order for support or request from the Illinois Department:

(1) The amount of monthly or other periodic support owed under the order for support and other amounts, including arrearage, interest, or late payment penalties and fees, due or overdue under the order.

(2) Any such amounts that have been received by the clerk, and the distribution of those amounts by the clerk.

(h) Information filed by the obligor and obligee under this Section that is not specifically required to be included in the body of an order for support under other laws is not a public record and shall be treated as confidential and subject to disclosure only in accordance with the provisions of this Section, Section 10-27 of this Code, and Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-212, eff. 7-20-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-463, eff. 8-22-01; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-11)

Sec. 10-11. Administrative Orders. In lieu of actions for court enforcement of support under Section 10-10, the Child and Spouse Support Unit of the Illinois Department, in accordance with the rules of the Illinois Department, may issue an administrative order requiring the responsible relative to comply with the terms of the determination and notice of support due, determined and issued under Sections 10-6 and 10-7. The Unit may also enter an administrative order under subsection (b) of Section 10-7. The administrative order shall be served upon the responsible relative by United States registered or certified mail. In cases in which the responsible relative appeared at the office of the Child and Spouse Support Unit in response to the notice of support obligation issued under Section 10-4, however, or in cases of default in which the notice was served on the responsible relative by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any method provided by law for service of summons, the administrative determination of paternity or administrative support order may be sent to the responsible relative by ordinary mail addressed to the responsible relative's last known address.

If a responsible relative or a person receiving child support enforcement services under this Article fails to petition the Illinois Department for release from or modification of the administrative order, as provided in Section 10-12 or Section 10-12.1, the order shall become final and there shall be no further administrative or judicial remedy. Likewise a decision by the Illinois Department as a result of an administrative hearing, as provided in Sections 10-13 to 10-13.10, shall become final and enforceable if not judicially reviewed under the Administrative Review Law, as provided in Section 10-14.

Any new or existing support order entered by the Illinois Department under this Section shall be deemed to be a series of judgments against the person obligated to pay support thereunder, each such judgment to be in the amount of each payment or installment of support and each such judgment to be deemed entered as of the date the corresponding payment or installment becomes due under the terms of the support order. Each such judgment shall have the full force, effect and attributes of any other judgment of this State, including the ability to be enforced. Any such judgment is subject to modification or termination only in accordance with Section 510 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Notwithstanding any other State or local law to the contrary, a lien arises by operation of law against the real and personal property of the noncustodial parent for each installment of overdue support owed by the noncustodial parent.

An order for support shall include a date on which the current support obligation terminates. The termination date shall be no earlier than the date on which the child covered by the order will attain the age of majority or is otherwise emancipated. The order for support shall state that the termination date does not apply to any arrearage that may remain unpaid on that date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent modification of the order by the Department.

If there is an unpaid arrearage or delinquency (as those terms are defined in the Income Withholding for Support Act) equal to at least one month's support obligation on the termination date stated in the order for support or, if there is no termination date stated in the order, on the date the child attains the age of majority or is otherwise emancipated, then the periodic amount required to be paid for current support of that child immediately prior to that date shall automatically continue to be an obligation, not as current support but as periodic payment toward satisfaction of the unpaid arrearage or delinquency. That periodic payment shall be in addition to any periodic payment previously required for satisfaction of the arrearage or delinquency. The total periodic amount to be paid toward satisfaction of the arrearage or delinquency may be enforced and collected by any method provided by law for the enforcement and collection of child support, including but not limited to income withholding under the Income Withholding for Support Act. Each order for support entered or modified on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly must contain a statement notifying the parties of the requirements of this paragraph. Failure to include the statement in the order for support does not affect the validity of the order or the operation of the provisions of this paragraph with regard to the order. This paragraph shall not be construed to prevent or affect the establishment or modification of an order for the support of a minor child or the establishment or modification of an order for the support of a non-minor child or educational expenses under Section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

An order for support shall include a date on which the support obligation terminates. The termination date shall be no earlier than the date on which the child covered by the order will attain the age of 18. However, if the child will not graduate from high school until after attaining the age of 18, then the termination date shall be no earlier than the earlier of the date that the child's graduation will occur or the date on which the child will attain the age of 19. The order for support shall state that the termination date does not apply to any arrearage that may remain unpaid on that date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Illinois Department from modifying the order or terminating the order in the event the child is otherwise emancipated.

(Source: P.A. 97-186, eff. 7-22-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-11.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-11.1)

Sec. 10-11.1. (a) Whenever it is determined in a proceeding under Sections 10-6, 10-7, 10-11 or 10-17.1 that the responsible relative is unemployed, and support is sought on behalf of applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this Code or other persons who are given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article as provided in Section 10-1, the administrative enforcement unit may order the responsible relative to report to the Illinois Department for participation in job search, training or work programs established under Section 9-6 and Article IXA of this Code or to the Illinois Department of Employment Security for job search services or to make application with the local Job Training Partnership Act provider for participation in job search, training or work programs.

(b) Whenever it is determined that a responsible relative owes past-due support for a child under an administrative support order entered under subsection (b) of Section 10-7 or under Section 10-11 or 10-17.1 and the child is receiving assistance under this Code, the administrative enforcement unit shall order the following:

(1) that the responsible relative pay the past-due support in accordance with a plan approved by the administrative enforcement unit; or

(2) if the responsible relative owing past-due support is unemployed, is subject to such a plan, and is not incapacitated, that the responsible relative participate in job search, training, or work programs established under Section 9-6 and Article IXA of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-11.2)

Sec. 10-11.2. Administrative support order information for State Case Registry.

(a) In this Section, "business day" is defined as set forth in the Income Withholding for Support Act.

(b) Each administrative support order entered or modified under Section 10-8.1 or Section 10-11 shall require the following:

(1) That the non-custodial parent file with the Illinois Department the information required by subsection (c) of this Section (and any other information required under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act or by the federal Department of Health and Human Services) within 5 business days after entry or modification of the administrative support order, and that the parent file updated information with the Illinois Department within 5 business days of any change.

(2) That the custodial parent file with the Illinois Department the information required by subsection (d) of this Section (and any other information required under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act or by the federal Department of Health and Human Services) within 5 business days after entry or modification of the administrative support order (unless the custodial parent already filed the information during the child support case intake process), and that the parent file updated information with the Illinois Department within 5 business days of any change.

(c) The non-custodial parent shall file the following information:

(1) The name and date of birth of the non-custodial parent.

(2) The non-custodial parent's social security number, driver's license number, and telephone number.

(3) The mailing address (and the residential address, if different from the mailing address) of the non-custodial parent.

(4) The name, address, and telephone number of the non-custodial parent's employer or employers.

(d) The custodial parent shall file the following information:

(1) The names and dates of birth of the custodial parent and the child or children covered by the administrative support order.

(2) The social security numbers of the custodial parent and the child or children covered by the administrative support order.

(3) The custodial parent's driver's license number and telephone number.

(4) The custodial parent's mailing address (and residential address, if different from the mailing address).

(5) The name, address, and telephone number of the custodial parent's employer or employers.

(e) The information filed with the Illinois Department under this Section shall be included in the State Case Registry established under Section 10-27 of this Code.

(f) Information filed by the non-custodial parent and custodial parent under this Section that is not specifically required to be included in the body of an administrative support order under other laws or under rules of the Illinois Department shall be treated as confidential and subject to disclosure only in accordance with the provisions of this Section, Section 10-27 of this Code, and Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-212, eff. 7-20-99; 92-463, eff. 8-22-01.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-12) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-12)

Sec. 10-12. Petition by responsible relative for release from or modification of administrative support order or administrative determination of paternity.

(a) Any responsible relative aggrieved by an administrative order entered under Section 10-11 or 10-11.1 or an administrative determination of paternity entered under Section 10-17.7 who has been duly notified of such order or determination may, within 30 days from the date of mailing of such order or determination, petition the Illinois Department for a release from or modification of the order or determination. The day immediately subsequent to the mailing of the order or determination shall be considered as the first day, and the day such petition is received by the Illinois Department shall be considered as the last day in computing the 30 day appeal period.

The Illinois Department shall, upon receipt of a petition within the 30 day appeal period, provide for a hearing to be held thereon.

(b) Notwithstanding the 30-day appeal period set forth in subsection (a), a man against whom a default administrative determination of paternity has been entered may have the determination vacated if, within 30 days after being served with the determination, he appears in person at the office to which he was given notice to appear for an interview and files a written request for relief from the determination. The Illinois Department shall then proceed with the establishment of paternity. A man may obtain relief under this subsection from an administrative determination of paternity only once in any proceeding to establish paternity.

(Source: P.A. 90-790, eff. 8-14-98.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-12.1)

Sec. 10-12.1. Petition by person receiving child support enforcement services for release from or modification of administrative support order or administrative determination of paternity. Any person receiving child support enforcement services under this Article who is aggrieved by an administrative order entered under Section 10-11 or 10-11.1 or an administrative determination of paternity entered under Section 10-17.7 who has been duly notified of the order or determination may, within 30 days after the date of mailing of the order or determination, petition the Illinois Department for release from or modification of the order or determination. The day immediately subsequent to the mailing of the order or determination shall be considered as the first day and the day the petition is received by the Illinois Department shall be considered as the last day in computing the 30-day appeal period. Upon receiving a petition within the 30-day appeal period, the Illinois Department shall provide for a hearing to be held on the petition.

(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13)

Sec. 10-13. Hearing on Petition. The Illinois Department, or any officer or employee thereof designated in writing by the Illinois Department, shall conduct hearings and investigations in connection with petitions filed pursuant to Section 10-12 or Section 10-12.1. Responsible relatives and persons receiving child support enforcement services under this Article shall be entitled to appear in person, to be represented by counsel at the hearing and to present all relevant matter in support of their petitions. The provisions of Sections 10-13.1 through 10-13.10 shall govern the hearing.

The hearing shall be de novo and the Illinois Department's determination of liability or non-liability shall be independent of the determination of the administrative enforcement unit.

(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.1)

Sec. 10-13.1. Examination of records.

The Illinois Department, or any properly designated officer or employee thereof, may examine any books, papers, records or memoranda bearing upon the determination of ability to support and the order for support and upon any matter pertinent to the relative's petition and may compel the attendance and testimony of any person or persons, including the petitioning responsible relative, having knowledge of matters germane to the determination order, or the petition.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.2)

Sec. 10-13.2. Hearings not subject to technical rules of evidence or procedure.

In the conduct of any hearing or investigation, neither the Illinois Department nor a person duly authorized to conduct such hearing or investigation, shall be bound by the technical rules of evidence, common law or statutory, or by technical or formal rules of procedure, but shall conduct the hearing or make the investigation in such manner as seems best calculated to conform to substantial justice and the spirit of this Code. No informality in any proceedings, or in the manner of taking testimony, shall invalidate any order or decision made by the Illinois Department pursuant to such hearing or investigation.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.3)

Sec. 10-13.3. Authority to administer oaths.

The Illinois Department, or any person duly authorized to conduct such hearing or investigation, shall have power to administer oaths. Every person who, having taken an oath or made affirmation before the Illinois Department, or any duly authorized officer or employee thereof, shall wilfully swear or affirm falsely, shall be guilty of perjury, and upon conviction shall be punished accordingly.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.4)

Sec. 10-13.4. Proof of records.) The books, papers, records and memoranda of the Illinois Department or of the administrative enforcement unit, or parts thereof, may be proved in any hearing, investigation, or legal proceeding by a photostatic or other copy thereof under the certificate of the Director of the Illinois Department. Such certified copy shall, without further proof, be admitted into evidence in the hearing before the Illinois Department or in any other legal proceeding.

(Source: P.A. 79-474.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.5) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.5)

Sec. 10-13.5. Proof of necessitous circumstances.

Proof in any hearing before the Illinois Department that a person is an applicant for or recipient of assistance shall be prima facie proof that he is a "person who is in necessitous circumstances by reason of infirmity, unemployment, or other cause depriving him of the means of a livelihood compatible with health and well-being", within the meaning of this Code.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.6) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.6)

Sec. 10-13.6. Subpoenas.

(a) The Illinois Department, or any officer or employee thereof designated in writing by the Illinois Department, shall at its or his own instance, or on the written request of any other party to the proceeding, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of and the giving of testimony by witnesses, and subpoenas duces tecum requiring the production of books, papers, records or memoranda. The subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum may be served by any person of full age. Any subpoena may be served in the same manner as a subpoena issued out of a circuit court, and may also be served by United States registered or certified mail, addressed to the person concerned at his last known address, and proof of such mailing shall be sufficient for the purposes of the Article.

(b) Subpoenas duces tecum issued in other states shall be afforded full faith and credit in this State. Every such subpoena shall have the full force, effect, and attributes of a subpoena issued in this State, including the ability to be enforced.

(Source: P.A. 90-790, eff. 8-14-98.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.7) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.7)

Sec. 10-13.7. Witness fees.

The fees of witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the same as the fees of witnesses before the Circuit Court of this State; such fees to be paid when the witness is excused from further attendance. When the witness is subpoenaed at the instance of the Illinois Department or any employee thereof, the fees shall be paid in the same manner as other expenses of the Illinois Department. If the witness is subpoenaed at the instance of any other party to the proceeding, the Illinois Department may require that the cost of service of the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum and the fee of the witness be borne by the party at whose instance the witness is summoned. In such case, the Illinois Department may require a deposit to cover the cost of such service and witness fees.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.8) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.8)

Sec. 10-13.8. Compelling attendance of witness and production of records. The circuit court, of the county wherein the investigation or administrative hearing is held, upon the application of the Illinois Department or any duly authorized officer or employee thereof, or upon the application of any other party to the proceeding, may, in its discretion, compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, records or memorandum and the giving of testimony before the Illinois Department or any duly authorized officer or employee thereof conducting an investigation or holding a hearing authorized by this Act, by an attachment for contempt, or otherwise, in the same manner as production of evidence may be compelled before the court.

(Source: P.A. 83-334.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.9) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.9)

Sec. 10-13.9. Penalty for non-compliance with subpoena.

Any person who is served with a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, issued by the Illinois Department or any duly authorized officer or employee thereof, to appear and testify or to produce books and papers, in the course of an investigation or hearing authorized by law, and who refuses or neglects to appear, or to testify, or to produce books and papers relevant to such investigation or hearing, as commanded in such subpoena, shall, be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 77-2344.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-13.10) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-13.10)

Sec. 10-13.10. Depositions.

The Illinois Department or any duly authorized officer or employee thereof, or any other party in an investigation or hearing before the Illinois Department, may cause the depositions of witnesses within or without the State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in courts of this State, and to that end compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, records or memoranda.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-14) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-14)

Sec. 10-14. Review of Illinois department decision on petition for hearing. Any responsible relative or person receiving child support enforcement services under this Article affected by a final administrative decision of the Illinois Department in a hearing, conducted pursuant to Sections 10-13 through 10-13.10 in which such relative or person receiving services was a party, may have the decision reviewed only under and in accordance with the Administrative Review Law, as amended. The provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, shall apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of such final administrative decisions of the Illinois Department. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Appeals from all final orders and judgments entered by a court upon review of the Illinois Department's order in any case may be taken by either party to the proceeding and shall be governed by the rules applicable to appeals in civil cases.

The remedy herein provided for appeal shall be exclusive, and no court shall have jurisdiction to review the subject matter of any order made by the Illinois Department except as herein provided.

(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-14.1)

Sec. 10-14.1. Relief from administrative orders. Notwithstanding the 30-day appeal period provided in Sections 10-12 and 10-12.1 and the limitation on review of final administrative decisions contained in Section 10-14, a responsible relative or a person receiving child support enforcement services under this Article who is aggrieved by an administrative order entered under Section 10-11 or 10-11.1 or an administrative determination of paternity entered under Section 10-17.7 and who did not petition within the 30-day appeal period may petition the Illinois Department for relief from the administrative order or determination on the same grounds as are provided for relief from judgments under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The petition must be filed not later than 2 years after the entry of the order or determination by the Illinois Department. The day immediately subsequent to the mailing of the order or determination shall be considered as the first day and the day the petition is received by the Illinois Department shall be considered as the last day in computing the 2-year period. Any period during which the person seeking relief is under a legal disability or duress or during which the grounds for relief are fraudulently concealed shall be excluded in computing the period of 2 years.

Upon receiving a petition within the 2-year period, the Illinois Department shall provide for a hearing to be held on the petition.

(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-15) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-15)

Sec. 10-15. Enforcement of administrative order; costs and fees. If a responsible relative refuses, neglects, or fails to comply with a final administrative support or reimbursement order of the Illinois Department entered by the Child and Spouse Support Unit pursuant to Sections 10-11 or 10-11.1 or registered pursuant to Section 10-17.1, the Child and Spouse Support Unit may file suit against the responsible relative or relatives to secure compliance with the administrative order.

Suits shall be instituted in the name of the People of the State of Illinois on the relation of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services of the State of Illinois and the spouse or dependent children for whom the support order has been issued.

The court shall order the payment of the support obligation, or orders for reimbursement of moneys for support provided, directly to the Illinois Department but the order shall permit the Illinois Department to direct the responsible relative or relatives to make payments of support directly to the spouse or dependent children, or to some person or agency in his or their behalf, as provided in Section 10-8 or 10-10, as applicable.

Whenever it is determined in a proceeding to enforce an administrative order that the responsible relative is unemployed, and support is sought on behalf of applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this Code or other persons who are given access to the child support enforcement services of this Article as provided in Section 10-1, the court may order the responsible relative to seek employment and report periodically to the court with a diary, listing or other memorandum of his or her efforts in accordance with such order. In addition, the court may order the unemployed responsible relative to report to the Illinois Department for participation in job search, training or work programs established under Section 9-6 of this Code or to the Illinois Department of Employment Security for job search services or to make application with the local Job Training Partnership Act provider for participation in job search, training or work programs.

Charges imposed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-21 shall be enforced by the Court in a suit filed under this Section.

To the extent the provisions of this Section are inconsistent with the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit under Sections 10-10.4 and 10-26 of this Code, the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit shall apply.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-15.1)

Sec. 10-15.1. Judicial registration of administrative support orders and administrative paternity orders.

(a) A final administrative support order or a final administrative paternity order, excluding a voluntary acknowledgement or denial of paternity that is governed by other provisions of this Code, the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, and the Vital Records Act, established by the Illinois Department under this Article X may be registered in the appropriate circuit court of this State by the Department or by a party to the order by filing:

(1) Two copies, including one certified copy of the order to be registered, any modification of the administrative support order, any voluntary acknowledgment of paternity pertaining to the child covered by the order, and the documents showing service of the notice of support obligation or the notice of paternity and support obligation that commenced the procedure for establishment of the administrative support order or the administrative paternity order pursuant to Section 10-4 of this Code.

(2) A sworn statement by the person requesting registration or a certified copy of the Department payment record showing the amount of any past due support accrued under the administrative support order.

(3) The name of the obligor and, if known, the obligor's address and social security number.

(4) The name of the obligee and the obligee's address, unless the obligee alleges in an affidavit or pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of the obligee or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of specific identifying information, in which case that information must be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or public. After a hearing in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party or child, the court may order disclosure of information that the court determines to be in the interest of justice.

(b) The filing of an administrative support order or an administrative paternity order under subsection (a) constitutes registration with the circuit court.

(c) (Blank).

(c-5) Every notice of registration must be accompanied by a copy of the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order and the documents and relevant information accompanying the order pursuant to subsection (a).

(d) (Blank).

(d-5) The registering party shall serve notice of the registration on the other party by first class mail, unless the administrative support order or the administrative paternity order was entered by default or the registering party is also seeking an affirmative remedy. The registering party shall serve notice on the Department in all cases by first class mail.

(1) If the administrative support order or the administrative paternity order was entered by default against the obligor, the obligor must be served with the registration by any method provided by law for service of summons.

(2) If a petition or comparable pleading seeking an affirmative remedy is filed with the registration, the non-moving party must be served with the registration and the affirmative pleading by any method provided by law for service of summons.

(e) A notice of registration of an administrative support order or an administrative paternity order must provide the following information:

(1) That a registered administrative order is enforceable in the same manner as an order for support or an order for paternity issued by the circuit court.

(2) That a hearing to contest enforcement of the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order must be requested within 30 days after the date of service of the notice.

(3) That failure to contest, in a timely manner, the enforcement of the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order shall result in confirmation of the order and enforcement of the order and the alleged arrearages and precludes further contest of that order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted.

(4) The amount of any alleged arrearages.

(f) A nonregistering party seeking to contest enforcement of a registered administrative support order or a registered administrative paternity order shall request a hearing within 30 days after the date of service of notice of the registration. The nonregistering party may seek to vacate the registration, to assert any defense to an allegation of noncompliance with the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order, or to contest the remedies being sought or the amount of any alleged arrearages.

(g) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the enforcement of the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order in a timely manner, the order shall be confirmed by operation of law.

(h) If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to contest the enforcement of the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order, the circuit court shall schedule the matter for hearing and give notice to the parties and the Illinois Department of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

(i) A party contesting the enforcement of a registered administrative support order or a registered administrative paternity order or seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:

(1) The Illinois Department lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party.

(2) The administrative support order or the administrative paternity order was obtained by fraud.

(3) The administrative support order or the administrative paternity order has been vacated, suspended, or modified by a later order.

(4) The Illinois Department has stayed the administrative support order or the administrative paternity order pending appeal.

(5) There is a defense under the law to the remedy sought.

(6) Full or partial payment has been made.

(j) If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial payment defense under subsection (i), the court may stay enforcement of the registered order, continue the proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence, and issue other appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order may be enforced by all remedies available under State law.

(k) If a contesting party does not establish a defense under subsection (i) to the enforcement of the administrative support order or the administrative paternity order, the court shall issue an order confirming the administrative support order or the administrative paternity order. Confirmation of the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration. Upon confirmation, the registered administrative support order or the registered administrative paternity order shall be treated in the same manner as a support order or a paternity order entered by the circuit court, including the ability of the court to entertain a petition to modify the administrative support order due to a substantial change in circumstances or a petition to modify the administrative paternity order due to clear and convincing evidence regarding paternity, or petitions for visitation or custody of the child or children covered by the administrative support order or the administrative paternity order. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to alter the effect of a final administrative support order or a final administrative paternity order, or the restriction of judicial review of such a final order to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, as provided in Sections 10-11 and 10-17.7 of this Code.

(l) Notwithstanding the limitations of relief provided for under this Section regarding an administrative paternity order and the administrative relief available from an administrative paternity order under Sections 10-12 through 10-14.1 of this Code, a party may petition for relief from a registered final administrative paternity order entered by consent of the parties, excluding a voluntary acknowledgement or denial of paternity as well as an administrative paternity order entered pursuant to genetic testing. The petition shall be filed pursuant to Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure based upon a showing of due diligence and a meritorious defense. The court, after reviewing the evidence regarding this specific type of administrative paternity order entered by consent of the parties, shall issue an order regarding the petition. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to alter the effect of a final administrative paternity order, or the restriction of judicial review of such a final order to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, as provided in Section 10-17.7 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 99-471, eff. 8-27-15; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-16) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-16)

Sec. 10-16. Judicial enforcement of court and administrative support orders. Court orders entered in proceedings under Section 10-10 and court orders for enforcement of an administrative order under Section 10-15 and for the payment of money may be enforced by attachment as for contempt against the persons of the defendants, and in addition, as other judgments for the payment of money, and costs may be adjudged against the defendants and apportioned among them; but if the complaint is dismissed, costs shall be borne by the Illinois Department or the local governmental unit, as the case may be. If a responsible relative is directed by the Illinois Department, or the local governmental unit, under the conditions stated in Section 10-8, to make support payments directly to the person, or to some person or agency in his behalf, the court order entered against him under this Section or Section 10-10 may be enforced as herein provided if he thereafter fails to furnish support in accordance with its terms. The State of Illinois shall not be required to make a deposit for or pay any costs or fees of any court or officer thereof in any proceeding instituted under this Section.

The provisions of the Civil Practice Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof, shall apply to and govern all actions instituted under this Section and Section 10-10. In such actions proof that a person is an applicant for or recipient of public aid under any Article of this Code shall be prima facie proof that he is a person in necessitous circumstances by reason of infirmity, unemployment or other cause depriving him of the means of a livelihood compatible with health and well-being.

Payments under this Section to the Illinois Department pursuant to the Child Support Enforcement Program established by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act shall be paid into the Child Support Enforcement Trust Fund. All payments under this Section to the Illinois Department of Human Services shall be deposited in the DHS Recoveries Trust Fund. Disbursements from these funds shall be as provided in Sections 12-9.1 and 12-10.2 of this Code. Payments received by a local governmental unit shall be deposited in that unit's General Assistance Fund.

In addition to the penalties or punishment that may be imposed under this Section, any person whose conduct constitutes a violation of Section 15 of the Non-Support Punishment Act may be prosecuted under that Act, and a person convicted under that Act may be sentenced in accordance with that Act. The sentence may include but need not be limited to a requirement that the person perform community service under Section 50 of that Act or participate in a work alternative program under Section 50 of that Act. A person may not be required to participate in a work alternative program under Section 50 of that Act if the person is currently participating in a work program pursuant to Section 10-11.1 of this Code.

To the extent the provisions of this Section are inconsistent with the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit under Sections 10-10.4 and 10-26 of this Code, the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement Unit shall apply.

(Source: P.A. 91-24, eff. 7-1-99; 91-212, eff. 7-20-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-16.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-16.2)

Sec. 10-16.2. Withholding of Income to Secure Payment of Support. Orders for support entered under this Code are subject to the Income Withholding for Support Act.

(Source: P.A. 90-18, eff. 7-1-97; 90-425, eff. 8-15-97; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 90-673, eff. 1-1-99; 90-790, eff. 8-14-98; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-16.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-16.3)

Sec. 10-16.3. Posting Security, Bond or Guarantee to Secure Payment. The court may require the responsible relative to post security, bond or give some other guarantee of a character and amount sufficient to assure payment of any amount of support due.

(Source: P.A. 84-758.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-16.4)

Sec. 10-16.4. Information concerning obligors.

(a) In this Section:

"Arrearage", "delinquency", "obligor", and "order for support" have the meanings attributed to those terms in the Income Withholding for Support Act.

"Consumer reporting agency" has the meaning attributed to that term in Section 603(f) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f).

(b) Whenever a court of competent jurisdiction finds that an obligor either owes an arrearage of more than $10,000 or is delinquent in payment of an amount equal to at least 3 months' support obligation pursuant to an order for support, the court shall direct the clerk of the court to make information concerning the obligor available to consumer reporting agencies.

(c) Whenever a court of competent jurisdiction finds that an obligor either owes an arrearage of more than $10,000 or is delinquent in payment of an amount equal to at least 3 months' support obligation pursuant to an order for support, the court shall direct the clerk of the court to cause the obligor's name and address to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the obligor resides. The clerk shall cause the obligor's name and address to be published only after sending to the obligor at the obligor's last known address, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice of intent to publish the information. This subsection (c) applies only if the obligor resides in the county in which the clerk of the court holds office.

(Source: P.A. 90-466, eff. 1-1-98; 90-673, eff. 1-1-99.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-16.5)

Sec. 10-16.5. Interest on support obligations. A support obligation, or any portion of a support obligation, which becomes due and remains unpaid as of the end of each month, excluding the child support that was due for that month to the extent that it was not paid in that month, shall accrue simple interest as set forth in Section 12-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure. An order for support entered or modified on or after January 1, 2006 shall contain a statement that a support obligation required under the order, or any portion of a support obligation required under the order, that becomes due and remains unpaid as of the end of each month, excluding the child support that was due for that month to the extent that it was not paid in that month, shall accrue simple interest as set forth in Section 12-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Failure to include the statement in the order for support does not affect the validity of the order or the accrual of interest as provided in this Section. The Department may provide, by rule, if, or how, the Department will enforce interest in cases in which IV-D services are being provided.

(Source: P.A. 101-336, eff. 8-9-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-16.6)

Sec. 10-16.6. Electronic Funds Transfer Committee.

(a) The Director of Public Aid shall establish within the Department an Electronic Funds Transfer Committee. The Director or his or her designee shall be a member of the committee and shall serve as chairperson of the committee. The Director shall appoint 4 other members of the committee, 2 of whom shall represent employers in this State and 2 of whom shall represent the banking industry in this State. The administrator of the State Disbursement Unit established under Section 10-26 shall be an ex officio member of the committee.

(b) The committee shall study ways to modify or expand the use of electronic funds transfers for the payment of child support. The committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly before December 1, 2001.

(c) The committee is abolished on December 1, 2001.

(Source: P.A. 91-677, eff. 1-5-00.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-16.7)

Sec. 10-16.7. Child support enforcement debit authorization.

(a) For purposes of this Section:

"Financial institution" and "account" are defined as set forth in Section 10-24.

"Payor" is defined as set forth in Section 15 of the Income Withholding for Support Act.

"Order for support" means any order for periodic payment of funds to the State Disbursement Unit for the support of a child or, where applicable, for support of a child and a parent with whom the child resides, that is entered or modified under this Code or under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Non-Support of Spouse and Children Act, the Non-Support Punishment Act, the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984, or the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, or that is entered or registered for modification or enforcement under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

"Obligor" means an individual who owes a duty to make payments under an order for support in a case in which child support enforcement services are being provided under this Article X.

(b) The Department of Public Aid (now Healthcare and Family Services) shall adopt a child support enforcement debit authorization form that, upon being signed by an obligor, authorizes a financial institution holding an account on the obligor's behalf to debit the obligor's account periodically in an amount equal to the amount of child support that the obligor is required to pay periodically and transfer that amount to the State Disbursement Unit. The form shall include instructions to the financial institution concerning the debiting of accounts held on behalf of obligors and the transfer of the debited amounts to the State Disbursement Unit. In adopting the form, the Department may consult with the Office of Banks and Real Estate and the Department of Financial Institutions. The Department must adopt the form within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. Promptly after adopting the form, the Department must notify each financial institution conducting business in this State that the form has been adopted and is ready for use.

(c) An obligor who does not have a payor may sign a child support debit authorization form adopted by the Department under this Section. The obligor may sign a form in relation to any or all of the financial institutions holding an account on the obligor's behalf. Promptly after an obligor signs a child support debit authorization form, the Department shall send the original signed form to the appropriate financial institution. Subject to subsection (e), upon receiving the form, the financial institution shall debit the account and transfer the debited amounts to the State Disbursement Unit according to the instructions in the form. A financial institution that complies with a child support debit authorization form signed by an obligor and issued under this Section shall not be subject to civil liability with respect to any individual or any agency.

(d) The signing and issuance of a child support debit authorization form under this Section does not relieve the obligor from responsibility for compliance with any requirement under the order for support.

(e) A financial institution is obligated to debit the account of an obligor pursuant to this Section only if or to the extent:

(1) the financial institution reasonably believes the debit authorization form is a true and authentic original document;

(2) there are finally collected funds in the account; and

(3) the account is not subject to offsetting claims of the financial institution, whether due at the time of receipt of the debit authorization form or thereafter to become due and whether liquidated or unliquidated.

To the extent the account of the obligor is pledged or held by the financial institution as security for a loan or other obligation, or that the financial institution has any other claim or lien against the account, the financial institution is entitled to retain the account.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-17) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-17)

Sec. 10-17. Other actions and remedies for support. The procedures, actions, and remedies provided in this Article shall in no way be exclusive, but shall be available in addition to other actions and remedies of support, including, but not by way of limitation, the remedies provided in (a) the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015; (b) (blank); (b-5) the Non-Support Punishment Act; (c) (blank); (d) the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act; (e) the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act; (f) the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act; and (g) the common law.

This Article does not create, enlarge, abrogate, or diminish parental rights or duties under other laws of this State, including the common law.

(Source: P.A. 102-541, eff. 8-20-21.)