Bill Text: IL SB3162 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish a diaper allowance program for eligible families with children 3 years of age or younger. Requires the Department to create an application process that requires applicants to submit an initial application for a diaper allowance and on an annual basis thereafter an application for a redetermination of eligibility. Requires the Department to maintain on its official website an online application system that permits an Illinois family to apply online for a diaper allowance or a redetermination of eligibility or to download a mail-in application form. Provides that paper application forms shall be made available at WIC offices and at family community resource centers throughout the State. Contains provisions concerning application requirements. Sets the monthly diaper allowance amount at $70 for eligible children whose family income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. Provides that families may receive a diaper allowance for each eligible child and that the diaper allowance shall not be considered income for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of assistance for any public aid benefit provided under State law. Permits the Department to distribute diaper allowance amounts electronically to an eligible family by means of an electronic benefits transfer card issued by the Department. Permits the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement the program. Contains provisions on redetermination application requirements. Provides that an advisory committee shall advise the Department on program implementation. Sets forth the composition of the advisory committee and provides that the committee shall meet monthly beginning September 1, 2024 through July 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-03 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB3162 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB3162-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3162 Introduced 2/6/2024, by Sen. Lakesia Collins SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 1305/10-80 new
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish a diaper allowance program for eligible families with children 3 years of age or younger. Requires the Department to create an application process that requires applicants to submit an initial application for a diaper allowance and on an annual basis thereafter an application for a redetermination of eligibility. Requires the Department to maintain on its official website an online application system that permits an Illinois family to apply online for a diaper allowance or a redetermination of eligibility or to download a mail-in application form. Provides that paper application forms shall be made available at WIC offices and at family community resource centers throughout the State. Contains provisions concerning application requirements. Sets the monthly diaper allowance amount at $70 for eligible children whose family income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. Provides that families may receive a diaper allowance for each eligible child and that the diaper allowance shall not be considered income for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of assistance for any public aid benefit provided under State law. Permits the Department to distribute diaper allowance amounts electronically to an eligible family by means of an electronic benefits transfer card issued by the Department. Permits the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement the program. Contains provisions on redetermination application requirements. Provides that an advisory committee shall advise the Department on program implementation. Sets forth the composition of the advisory committee and provides that the committee shall meet monthly beginning September 1, 2024 through July 1, 2026. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended
by adding Section 10-80 as follows:
(20 ILCS 1305/10-80 new)
Sec. 10-80. Diaper allowance.
(a) Legislative intent. The General Assembly finds that:
(1) According to the National Diaper Bank Network, one
out of every 2 families experience diaper insecurity.
Despite this growing need, there are limited government
programs available for families to access diapers.
(2) A lack of diapers has significant physical,
financial, and emotional impacts on young children and
their caregivers.
(3) In order for Illinois to be the best state in the
nation to raise a family, we must ensure caregivers are
able to access this basic need.
(b) As used in this Section:
"Eligible child" means any child who is 3 years of age or
younger and whose primary residence is the State of Illinois.
"WIC" means the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

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(c) Diaper allowance program; application process. Subject
to appropriation, the Department shall establish a diaper
allowance program for eligible families with children 3 years
of age or younger. The Department shall create an application
process that requires applicants to submit an initial
application for a diaper allowance and on an annual basis
thereafter an application for a redetermination of
eligibility. The Department shall maintain on its official
website an online application system that permits an Illinois
family to apply online for a diaper allowance or a
redetermination of eligibility or to download a mail-in
application form. Paper application forms shall be made
available at WIC offices and at family community resource
centers throughout the State. An application for a diaper
allowance or a redetermination of eligibility must include all
of the following information:
(1) The name of each eligible child and the name of the
applicant who is primarily responsible for the welfare of
each identified child.
(2) The address of the primary residence of each
eligible child and applicant.
(3) The applicant's household income. Acceptable forms
of income verification shall include a copy of the
applicant's most recent W-2 form or copies of the
applicant's 2 most recent pay stubs. Other methods of
income verification may be accepted by the Department as

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prescribed by rule.
(4) The applicant's written signature, if submitting a
paper application. The applicant's digital or electronic
signature, if submitting an online application.
(d) Eligibility. A child is eligible for a diaper
allowance in the amount of $70 per month if all of the
following conditions are met:
(1) the applicant's household income is at or below
100% of the federal 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); and
(2) the applicant is primarily responsible for the
child's welfare.
An applicant may submit one application for all eligible
children whose welfare the applicant is responsible for, and
may receive a diaper allowance for each eligible child.
Diaper allowance benefits shall not be considered income
for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of
assistance for any other public aid benefit provided under
State law.
(e) Implementation.
(1) The Department shall administer the diaper
allowance program through the Division of Family and
Community Services.
(2) Diaper allowance benefits shall be distributed in

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the name of the applicant in a form and manner prescribed
by the Department. If possible, diaper allowance benefits
may be distributed electronically to the applicant by
means of an electronic benefits transfer card issued by
the Department.
(3) The Department may adopt any additional rules
necessary to implement this Section.
(f) Redetermination. In order to receive uninterrupted
diaper allowance benefits, an applicant must file a
redetermination application within 30 days before the
expiration of the applicant's benefits. If any additional
information is requested by the Department, the applicant must
respond within 15 calendar days after the date the
verification was requested in order to ensure there is no
interruption of benefits.
(g) Advisory committee. An advisory committee shall advise
the Department concerning the implementation of the diaper
allowance program. The advisory committee shall include:
(1) the Secretary of Human Services, or the
Secretary's designee;
(2) the Governor, or the Governor's designee;
(3) one member appointed by the President of the
Senate;
(4) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives; and
(5) three members appointed by the Governor as

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follows:
(A) one member of a community-based organization
which currently distributes diapers to families;
(B) one member of an organization with experience
providing access to diapers to families via a debit
card or other electronic issuance method; and
(C) one caregiver who has been directly impacted
by a lack of diapers for his or her child.
The advisory committee shall be staffed by the Department
of Human Services. The advisory committee shall meet monthly
starting on September 1, 2024 through July 1, 2026.