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92_HB1031eng HB1031 Engrossed LRB9204966DJgc 1 AN ACT in relation to public aid. 2 WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that there has been 3 no general adjustment in the grant amounts under Article IV 4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code to reflect changes in the 5 cost of subsistence needs since 1989; and 6 WHEREAS, The grant amounts have fallen far behind the 7 cost of subsistence needs, especially the costs of private 8 market housing, which have far outpaced the general increases 9 in the cost of living; and 10 WHEREAS, The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 11 program under Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code is 12 now a time-limited program with vigorous work activity 13 requirements; and 14 WHEREAS, Many recipients are employed, and all of the 15 unemployed recipients must pursue employment or activities 16 directed at increasing their employability; and 17 WHEREAS, Stable housing is a crucial ingredient in the 18 success of these efforts and the earliest possible exit from 19 the program; and 20 WHEREAS, Inability to meet housing costs interferes with 21 these work efforts and delays exit from the program, and, 22 among families with difficult problem delaying their exit 23 from the program, such as disabilities within the family, the 24 inability to meet housing costs threatens their health and 25 well-being; and 26 WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that a crucial 27 support for the welfare-to-work effort is a housing allowance 28 for families participating in the Temporary Assistance for 29 Needy Families program who do not receive a government 30 housing subsidy or reside in public housing; therefore, HB1031 Engrossed -2- LRB9204966DJgc 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 2 represented in the General Assembly: 3 Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by 4 changing Section 12-4.11 as follows: 5 (305 ILCS 5/12-4.11) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.11) 6 Sec. 12-4.11. Grant amounts. The Department, with due 7 regard for and subject to budgetary limitations, shall 8 establish grant amounts for each of the programs, by 9 regulation. The grant amounts may vary by program, size of 10 assistance unit and geographic area. Effective July 1, 2001, 11 the Department shall establish a housing allowance to include 12 in the grant amounts under Article IV of this Code. The 13 housing allowance shall be provided in the grant amounts for 14 families in each month as to which they do not reside in 15 public housing or receive a governmental housing subsidy. 16 Effective July 1, 2001, the housing allowance shall be equal 17 to 15% of the grant amounts effective on June 30, 2001. 18 Effective July 1, 2002, the Department shall increase the 19 housing allowance by a further 15% of the grant amounts 20 effective on June 30, 2001. 21 Aid payments shall not be reduced except: (1) for changes 22 in the cost of items included in the grant amounts, or (2) 23 for changes in the expenses of the recipient, or (3) for 24 changes in the income or resources available to the 25 recipient, or (4) for changes in grants resulting from 26 adoption of a consolidated grant amount. 27 In fixing standards to govern payments or reimbursements 28 for funeral and burial expenses, the Department shall take 29 into account the services essential to a dignified, low-cost 30 funeral and burial, including reasonable amounts that may be 31 necessary for burial space and cemetery charges, and any 32 applicable taxes or other required governmental fees or HB1031 Engrossed -3- LRB9204966DJgc 1 charges. 2 Nothing contained in this Section or in any other Section 3 of this Code shall be construed to prohibit the Illinois 4 Department (1) from consolidating existing standards on the 5 basis of any standards which are or were in effect on, or 6 subsequent to July 1, 1969, or (2) from employing any 7 consolidated standards in determining need for public aid and 8 the amount of money payment or grant for individual 9 recipients or recipient families. 10 (Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97; 90-326, eff. 8-8-97; 11 90-372, eff. 7-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 91-24, eff. 12 7-1-99.) 13 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on 14 July 1, 2001.