Bill Text: IL HB0161 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Amended

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that every electronic benefits transfer ("LINK") card issued on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of enabling the cardholder to obtain food stamp benefits or cash must include on the card's face a photograph of the cardholder. Provides that within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Department shall replace every still-valid card issued before that date with a card that includes on its face a photograph of the cardholder.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 33-1)

Status: (Failed) 2013-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB0161 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HB0161-Amended.html

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Rep. Chapin Rose

Filed: 3/8/2011

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AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 161
AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 161 by replacing
everything after the enacting clause with the following:
"Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
adding Section 12-4.4a as follows:
(305 ILCS 5/12-4.4a new)
Sec. 12-4.4a. LINK cards; cardholder photo; drug
screening.
(a) In this Section:
"Cardholder" means the person to whom or for whose benefit
the Department issues an electronic benefits transfer card for
the purpose of obtaining SNAP benefits (formerly known as food
stamps) or cash.
"Caregiver" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in
Section 12-21 of the Criminal Code of 1961.
"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

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"LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card
issued by the Department for the purpose of enabling the
cardholder to obtain SNAP benefits (formerly known as food
stamps) or cash.
"SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program).
(b) Within 6 months after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Secretary of
Human Services shall seek a waiver from the United States
Department of Agriculture to allow the State to include on the
face of every LINK card issued to a recipient of SNAP benefits
or cash assistance under this Code a photo of the cardholder.
(c) Within 6 moths after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department
shall provide the Illinois General Assembly with a good faith
estimate of the cost, pursuant to a potential waiver under
subsection (b), of (i) replacing every still-valid LINK card
with a card that contains on its face a photo of the
cardholder; (ii) "phasing-in" new photo identification cards
issued under the current contract with the current LINK card
vendor; and (iii) implementing photo identification cards
pursuant to federal waiver in subsection (b) through new
request for proposals (RFP) once the contract with the current
LINK card vendor expires.
(d) Within 6 months after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department

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shall suggest a process to the Illinois General Assembly that
allows the caregiver of a recipient of SNAP benefits or cash
assistance under this Code to use the recipient's LINK card on
the recipient's behalf pursuant to the subsection (b) waiver.
(e) If the subsection (b) waiver is received it shall be up
to the Illinois General Assembly through legislation to
determine whether it wishes to implement the waiver based upon
the findings in subsection (c) and subsection (d).".