Public Act 101-0560
 
SB1641 EnrolledLRB101 10098 KTG 55201 b

    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
changing Section 12-4.13b and adding Section 12-4.13c as
follows:
 
    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.13b)
    Sec. 12-4.13b. College student eligibility for
supplemental nutrition assistance benefits.
    (a) For the purposes of Section 273.5(b)(11)(ii) of Title 7
of the Code of Federal Regulations, a career and technical an
educational program offered at a community college and approved
by the Illinois Community College Board under the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006
(Public Law 109-270) that could be a component of a SNAP
Employment and Training (E&T) program, as identified by the
Department of Human Services, shall be considered an employment
and training program under Section 273.7 of Title 7 of the Code
of Federal Regulations, unless prohibited by federal law.
    (b) The Department of Human Services, in consultation with
representatives of the Illinois Community College Board, the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission ISAC, the Illinois
Workforce Innovation Board Investment Board, and advocates for
students and SNAP recipients, shall establish a protocol to
identify and verify all potential exemptions to the eligibility
rule described in Section 273.5(a) of Title 7 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, and to identify and verify a student's
participation in educational programs, including, but not
limited to, self-initiated placements, that would exempt a
student from the eligibility rule described in Section 273.5(a)
of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations. To the extent
possible, this consultation shall take place through existing
workgroups convened by the Department of Human Services.
    (c) If the United States Department of Agriculture requires
federal approval of the exemption designation established
pursuant to subsection (a) and the protocol established
pursuant to subsection (b), the Department of Human Services
shall seek and obtain that approval before publishing the
guidance or regulation required by subsection (e).
    (d)(1) This Section does not require the Department of
Human Services to offer a particular component, support
services, or workers' compensation to a college student found
eligible for an exemption pursuant to this Section.
    (2) This Section does not restrict or require the use of
federal funds for the financing of SNAP E&T programs.
    (3) This Section does not require an institution of higher
education to verify eligibility for SNAP.
    (e) The Department of Human Services shall adopt any rules
necessary to implement the provisions of subsections (a), (b),
(c), and (d).
(Source: P.A. 100-620, eff. 7-20-18.)
 
    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.13c new)
    Sec. 12-4.13c. SNAP eligibility notification; college
students.
    (a) To complement student financial assistance programs
and to enhance their effectiveness for students with financial
need, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) shall
annually include information about the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) in the language that schools are
required to provide to students eligible for the Monetary Award
Program grant. The language shall, at a minimum, direct
students to information about college student eligibility
criteria for SNAP, and it shall direct students to the
Department of Human Services and to the Illinois Hunger
Coalition's Hunger Hotline for additional information.
    (b) Illinois institutions of higher education that
participate in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) shall provide
the notice described in subsection (a) to all students who are
enrolled, or who are accepted for enrollment and intending to
enroll, and who have been identified by ISAC as MAP-eligible at
the institution. If possible, the institution may designate a
public benefits liaison or single point person to assist
students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public
benefits if eligible.
    (c) ISAC shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the
provisions of this Section on or before October 1, 2020.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/23/2019