98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB1235
 
Introduced , by Rep. Jim Sacia
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:



305 ILCS 5/12-4.4a new

 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 SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) 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. Requires the Department to issue a caregiver identification card to the facility provider, guardian, or caregiver of a person entitled to benefits funded under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as the federal Food Stamp program). Provides that every caregiver identification card must include on its face a current photo of the facility provider, guardian, or caregiver of the person entitled to benefits, the name of the person entitled to benefits, and a statement that clearly identifies the card holder as having the legal capacity to use the named person's LINK card. Further provides that beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act, a facility provider, guardian, or caregiver must present a valid caregiver identification card when using a LINK card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash on behalf of a person entitled to benefits funded under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.



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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 


HB1235LRB098 05535 KTG 35572 b



1 AN ACT concerning public aid.


2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3represented in the General Assembly:



4 Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by 
5adding Section 12-4.4a as follows:

6 (305 ILCS 5/12-4.4a new)

7 Sec. 12-4.4a. SNAP benefits; electronic benefits transfer 
8card.
9 (a) In this Section:
10 "Cardholder" means the person to whom or for whose benefit 
11the Department issues an electronic benefits transfer card for 
12the purpose of obtaining SNAP benefits or cash.
13 "Caregiver identification card" means a caregiver photo 
14identification card issued by the Department of Human Services 
15for the purpose of enabling a holder of the card to use a LINK 
16card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash on behalf of a person 
17entitled to benefits funded under the federal Supplemental 
18Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 
19 "Caregiver" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in 
20Section 12-21 of the Criminal Code of 2012. 
21 "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
22 "Facility provider" means an individual representing a 
23facility that provides residential services to persons who are 
 
 
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1developmentally disabled. 
2 "Guardian" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in 
3Section 10 of the Health Care Surrogate Act. 
4 "LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card 
5issued by the Department for the purpose of enabling the 
6cardholder to obtain SNAP benefits or cash.
7 "SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
8Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program). 
9 (b) Every LINK card issued on or after the effective date 
10of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly must 
11include on the card's face a photograph of the cardholder.
12 (c) Within 6 months after the effective date of this 
13amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the Department 
14shall replace every still-valid LINK card issued before that 
15date with a card that includes on its face a photograph of the 
16cardholder.
17 (d) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act 
18of the 98th General Assembly, the Department of Human Services 
19shall issue a caregiver identification card to the facility 
20provider, guardian, or caregiver of a person entitled to 
21benefits funded under the federal Supplemental Nutrition 
22Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as the federal Food 
23Stamp program). Every caregiver identification card must 
24include on its face a current photo of the facility provider, 
25guardian, or caregiver of the person entitled to benefits, the 
26name of the person entitled to benefits, and a statement that 
 
 
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1clearly identifies the card holder as having the legal capacity 
2to use the named person's LINK card. Beginning on the effective 
3date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, a 
4facility provider, guardian, or caregiver must present a valid 
5caregiver identification card when using a LINK card to obtain 
6SNAP benefits or cash on behalf of a person entitled to 
7benefits funded under the federal Supplemental Nutrition 
8Assistance Program.