Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the first $100 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for one child and the first $200 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for 2 or more children shall be passed through to the family and disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant provided to the family. Provides that any amount of child support that would be disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for cash assistance. Effective immediately.

Thanks Tom Weisner for his hard work as Mayor of the City of Aurora.

Mourns the death of Bishop William Haven Bonner.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Includes persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes in the categories of non-citizens who are eligible for cash or medical assistance under the Code. Defines "foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes". Provides that beginning January 1, 2017, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide medical assistance coverage to foreign-born victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and to their derivative family members who: reside in Illinois; are not otherwise eligible under the Code; meet certain income guidelines; and have filed or are preparing to file a formal application for status pursuant to specified provisions of the United States Code. Provides that such a person is ineligible for continued medical assistance coverage if he or she has not filed a formal application for status within one year after the date of his or her application for cash assistance or SNAP benefits; and that if there is a final denial of the person's visa or asylum application, any medical assistance coverage provided to that person and his or her derivative family members shall be terminated. Adds the Survivor Support and Trafficking Prevention Article to the Code with provisions concerning: cash assistance and SNAP benefits for persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and their derivative family members; eligibility determinations; work requirements and exemptions; and termination of benefits. Grants the Department rulemaking authority to implement these provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a patient discharged to a skilled nursing facility who is not assessed prior to discharge or whose pre-screening information does not accompany the patient to the skilled nursing facility shall (i) be admitted to the skilled nursing facility pending the case coordination unit completing a post-screening evaluation or the delivery of the pre-screening information to the skilled nursing facility and (ii) be eligible for Medicaid funded care from the date of admission if the patient meets all eligibility criteria for medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that a nursing home resident determined to be eligible for medical assistance for long term care services shall be entitled to have his or her care paid retroactive to the date of admission to a nursing home or the date the resident converted from Medicare or private funds as a payer source if it is determined that the resident met the financial eligibility standards for medical assistance on the date of admission or conversion and the admission or conversion date is within the retroactive window established under the Code. Provides that an outstanding application for medical assistance for long term care services shall not be closed or denied based solely on the applicant's death or the absence of certain documentation if services authorized under the Code were provided pending a determination of eligibility. Provides that a nursing home resident who is unable to comply in securing financial documents requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to prove financial eligibility shall be assigned a long term care ombudsman to assist the resident in securing medical assistance.

Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning applications.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a Division of the Code concerning the assessment of wind energy devices applies through assessment year 2021 (instead of 2016). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Seed Law. Provides that specified provisions do not apply to seed distributed within this State by means of noncommercial, interpersonal seed sharing activities, including, but not limited to, seed libraries, seed exchanges, or other formal or informal seed sharing activities. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation to the State Board of Education, there is created an agriculture education teacher grant program to fund personal services costs for agriculture education teachers in school districts. Provides that a school district may apply for a grant to fund 50% of the personal services cost for an agriculture education teacher; however, a school district that is creating a new agriculture education program may apply for a grant to fund 100% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the first and second year of the new agriculture education program and 80% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the third and fourth years of the new agriculture education program. Allows a school district to apply for a grant for more than one teacher. Sets forth the duties of the State Board. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to teacher shortage scholarships. Specifies that agricultural education is a course of study included in the definition of "areas of identified staff shortages".

Creates the Police Dog Retirement Act. Provides that a police dog, which is deemed no longer fit for public service, may be offered by the county, municipality, or State law enforcement agency to the officer or employee who had custody and control of the animal during its service. If the officer or employee does not wish to keep the dog, it may be offered to another officer or employee in the agency, or to a non-profit organization or a no-kill animal shelter that may facilitate an appropriate adoption of the dog.