Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1298

Sen. Graciela Guzmán

Filed: 2/18/2025

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AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1298

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1298 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Section 12-4.13b 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 educational program offered at a community college and approved by the Illinois Community College Board 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.

(a-5) For the purposes of Section 273.5(b)(11)(iv) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, any program of study at a public institution of higher education improves employability and shall be considered equivalent to an acceptable SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program component under Section 273.7(e) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, unless prohibited by federal law. As used in this subsection, "public institution of higher education" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1 of the Board of Higher Education Act.

(b) The Department of Human Services, in consultation with representatives of the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the Illinois Workforce Innovation 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), (a-5), (b), (c), and (d). Rulemaking shall not delay the full implementation of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-620, eff. 7-20-18; 101-560, eff. 8-23-19.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".