Bill Amendment: IL SB2906 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly

NOTE: For additional amemendments please see the Bill Drafting List

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Bill Title: PUB AID-DHS-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Status: 2016-08-05 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0746 [SB2906 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SB2906-Senate_Amendment_002.html

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Sen. Steve Stadelman

Filed: 4/15/2016

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AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2906
AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2906, AS AMENDED,
by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
following:
"Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
changing Section 9A-8 as follows:
(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),

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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
abuse 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

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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 abuse, and special needs
of any child of the individual). As part of the plan,
individuals and Department staff shall work together to

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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

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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 treat participation in high school and high school
equivalency programs as a core activity for at least one
year and continue to allow such participation as long as
satisfactory progress is made, as determined by the high
school or high school equivalency program; 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

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(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. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)".