The Illinois House has approved legislation sponsored by State Representative Chad Hays of Catlin that will help individuals living in poverty to transition to self-sufficient residents of their community.
Hays says Senate Bill 3232 is designed to help those seeking job skills training from being forced out of support programs.
‘’By allowing for a 36-month income disregard, program participants can focus on gaining valuable workforce and parenting skills,’’ says Representative Hays, ‘’that will help them move forward without having to contend with a sudden loss of services if they exceed income eligibility levels.’’
[Representative Hays celebrates passage of the bill with a group from Carle. Note: You can click on the photo to enlarge it.]
Senate Bill 3232 creates a five year program within the Department of Human Services to provide an intensive workforce training program and a multi-generational healthy family initiative.
The programs would be privately funded through not-for-profit organizations.
According to Hays, the idea for the legislation came from Champaign-Urbana’s Carle Foundation Hospital, which currently operates two programs to assist low-income individuals with becoming self-sufficient.
‘’Just as Carle leaders from multiple areas joined forces to support people in our community, Illinois lawmakers from both parties partnered to move this legislation to the governor’s desk,’’ said Carle President and CEO James Leonard.
The bill was approved by the Senate in April and is now being sent to Governor Bruce Rauner for final action.
