Bill Text: IL HJR0023 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Encourages State agencies and departments to continue their efforts to train staff and share information about Illinois ABLE to the beneficiaries they serve.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-01 - Adopted Both Houses [HJR0023 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HJR0023-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Illinois ABLE program is a transformative
tool for Illinoisans with disabilities and their families who
want to save for additional expenses that come with living
with a disability; and
WHEREAS, Before ABLE, people with disabilities lived with
chronic financial insecurity, and only those with means had a
real pathway to financial independence and to achieve the
promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act to assure
equality of opportunity, full participation, independent
living, and economic self-sufficiency; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, a great bi-partisan victory was achieved
when members of Congress joined together to pass the Stephen
Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, making
it possible for people with disabilities to save for
disability expenses without losing federal means-tested
benefits, and more than 43 states plus the District of
Columbia have launched ABLE programs since then; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly passed ABLE
legislation in 2015, and Illinois now leads a 18-state
National ABLE Alliance, representing approximately one-quarter
of the ABLE eligible population nationwide; and

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WHEREAS, Illinois ABLE was launched by the State
Treasurer's Office in January 2017, and four years later, as
of January 1, 2021, more than 1,900 Illinois ABLE accounts
have been opened; approximately $17 million has been
contributed to save for a wide range of qualified disability
expenses, such as therapy, adaptive equipment, training,
transportation, job coaching, housing, and more; and
WHEREAS, Illinois ABLE has created a pathway to greater
financial independence for Illinoisans with disabilities and
their families, incentivizes employment of people with
disabilities, and increases economic self-reliance and
person-centered independence for many individuals with
disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The State Treasurer offers his thanks and
heartfelt appreciation for the path that Illinois lawmakers
blazed four years ago and acknowledges that we must build upon
our progress to keep Illinois ABLE on the path to advancement
through cooperation and collaboration with Illinois human
services agencies and departments to accomplish the long term
goals of the ABLE ACT; and
WHEREAS, Illinois human services agencies and departments,
including the Illinois Department of Human Services, the

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Division of Family and Community Services, the Division of
Rehabilitation Services, the Division of Mental Health, the
Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Division of
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, the Department of
Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and
Family Services, the Department on Aging, and the Illinois
State Board of Education can aid in the identification of
ABLE-eligible persons and direct the dissemination of
information about ABLE through a direct connection to
approximately 300,000 people in the State of Illinois who are
ABLE-eligible; and
WHEREAS, The State Treasurer recognizes these State
agencies and departments for their excellent service to people
with disabilities across the State and looks to achieve
support from these agencies and departments in helping
Illinoisans with disabilities achieve a better life experience
through ABLE savings plans as they are essential to the
continued success of Illinois ABLE; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we encourage these State
agencies and departments to continue their efforts to train
staff and share information about Illinois ABLE to the
beneficiaries they serve; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to the Illinois Department of Human Services, the
Division of Family and Community Services, the Division of
Rehabilitation Services, the Division of Mental Health, the
Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Division of
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, the Department of
Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and
Family Services, the Department on Aging, the Illinois State
Board of Education, and the Treasurer's Office.