Synopsis As Introduced Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Adds families that are not recipients of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and that need child care assistance to participate in education and training activities to the list of family categories that are covered under the child care assistance program. Deletes a provision: requiring the Department of Human Services to allocate $7,500,000 annually for a test program for families that are income-eligible for child care assistance, are not recipients of TANF, and need child care assistance to participate in education and training activities; and requiring the Department to specify the conditions of eligibility for the test program. Effective July 1, 2017.
Fiscal Note (Dept. of Human Services)
The proposed FY18 budget restores education and training activities to the list of income eligible non-TANF families in the Child Care eligibility priority group; this is all specifically included in rules. Adding this language into statute would limit the Department's flexibility to revise and/or change eligibility criteria when necessary to comply with changes in federal regulations and/or budgetary matters.
Education and training for families that qualify is increased by approximately $37. 1 million in the FY18 budget request, for total funding of $59.8 million. This amount is included even though the program is currently in the Department's rules and not in statute.