305 ILCS 5/9-6
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 305 - PUBLIC AID|305 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Public Aid Code.|Article IX - Other Social Services

 (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6)Sec. 9-6.     Job Search, Training and Work Programs.     The Illinois Department  and local governmental units shall initiate, promote and develop job search,  training and work programs which will provide employment for and contribute  to the training and experience of persons receiving aid under Articles III,  V, and VI.The job search, training and work programs shall be designed to preserve and  improve the work habits and skills of recipients for whom jobs are not  otherwise immediately available and to provide training and experience for  recipients who lack the skills required for such employment opportunities as  are or may become available.  The Illinois Department and local governmental  unit shall determine by rule those classes of recipients who shall be subject  to participation in such programs.  If made subject to participation, every  applicant for or recipient of public aid who is determined to be "able to  engage in employment", as defined by the Department or local governmental unit  pursuant to rules and regulations, for whom unsubsidized jobs are not otherwise  immediately available shall be required to participate in any program  established under this Section.The Illinois Department shall establish with the Director of Central  Management Services an outreach and training  program designed to encourage and assist recipients participating in job  search, training and work programs to participate in open competitive  examinations for trainee and other entry level positions to maximize  opportunities for placement on open competitive eligible listings and  referral to State agencies for employment consideration.The Department shall provide payment for transportation, day-care and  Workers' Compensation costs which occur for recipients as a result of  participating in job search, training and work programs as described in  this Section.  The Department may decline to initiate such programs in  areas where eligible recipients would be so few in number as to not  economically justify such programs; and in this event the Department shall  not require persons in such areas to participate in any job search,  training, or work programs whatsoever as a condition of their continued  receipt of, or application for, aid.The programs may include, but shall not be limited to, service in child  care centers, in preschool programs as teacher aides and in public health  programs as home visitors and health aides; the  maintenance of or services required in connection with public offices,  buildings and grounds; state, county and municipal hospitals, forest  preserves, parks, playgrounds, streets and highways, and other  governmental maintenance or construction directed toward environmental  improvement; and similar facilities.The Illinois Department or local governmental units may enter into agreements  with local taxing bodies and private not-for-profit organizations, agencies  and institutions to provide for the supervision and administration of job  search, work and training projects authorized by this Section.  Such agreements  shall stipulate the requirements for utilization of recipients in such  projects. In addition to any other requirements dealing with the  administration of these programs, the Department shall assure, pursuant to  rules and regulations, that:(a) Recipients may not displace regular employees.(b) The maximum number of hours of mandatory work is     8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, not to exceed 120 hours per month.(c) The maximum number of hours per month shall be     determined by dividing the recipient's benefits by the federal minimum wage, rounded to the lowest full hour.  "Recipient's benefits" in this subsection includes:  (i) both cash assistance and food stamps provided to the entire assistance unit or household by the Illinois Department where the job search, work and training program is administered by the Illinois Department and, where federal programs are involved, includes all such cash assistance and food stamps provided to the greatest extent allowed by federal law; or (ii) includes only cash assistance provided to the entire assistance unit by the local governmental unit where the job search, work and training program is administered by the local governmental unit.(d) The recipient shall be provided or compensated     for transportation to and from the work location.(e) Appropriate terms regarding recipient     compensation are met.Local taxing bodies and private not-for-profit organizations, agencies  and institutions which utilize recipients in job search, work and training  projects authorized by this Section are urged to include such recipients in the  formulation of their employment policies.Unless directly paid by an employing local taxing body or not-for-profit  agency, a recipient participating in a work project who meets all requirements  set forth by the Illinois Department shall receive credit towards his or  her monthly assistance benefits for work performed based upon the applicable  minimum wage rate.  Where a recipient is paid directly by an employing agency,  the Illinois Department or local governmental unit shall provide for payment  to such employing entity the appropriate amount of assistance benefits to  which the recipient would otherwise be entitled under this Code.The Illinois Department or its designee, including local governmental units,  may enter into agreements with the agencies or institutions providing work  under programs established hereunder for payment to each such employer  (hereinafter called "public service employer") of all or a portion of the  wages to be paid to persons for the work performed and other appropriate costs.If the number of persons receiving aid under Article VI is insufficient  to justify the establishment of job search, training and work programs  on a local basis by a local governmental unit, or if for other good cause the  establishment of a local program is impractical or unwarranted, the local  governmental unit shall cooperate with other local governmental units, with  civic and non-profit community agencies, and with the Illinois Department in  developing a program or programs which will jointly serve the participating  governmental units and agencies.A local governmental unit receiving State funds shall refer all  recipients able to engage in employment to such job search, training and work  programs as are established, whether within or without the governmental  unit, and as are accessible to persons receiving aid from the governmental  unit. The Illinois Department shall withhold allocation of state funds to  any governmental unit which fails or refuses to make such referrals.Participants in job search, training and work programs shall be required  to maintain current registration for regular employment under Section 11-10  and to accept any bona fide offer of regular employment. They shall  likewise be required to accept education, work and training opportunities  available to them under other provisions of this Code or Federal law. The  Illinois Department or local governmental unit shall provide by rule for  periodic review of the circumstances of each participant to determine the  feasibility of his placement in regular employment or other work, education  and training opportunities.Moneys made available for public aid purposes under Articles IV  and VI may be expended to pay public service employers all or a  portion of the wages of public service employees and other appropriate  costs, to provide necessary supervisory personnel and equipment, to  purchase Workers' Compensation Insurance or to pay Workers' Compensation  claims, and to provide transportation to and from work sites.The Department shall provide through rules and regulations for sanctions  against applicants and recipients of aid under this Code who fail to cooperate  with the regulations and requirements established pursuant to this Section.  Such sanctions may include the loss of eligibility to receive aid under  Article VI of this Code for up to 3 months.The Department, in cooperation with a local governmental unit, may maintain  a roster of persons who are required to participate in a local job search,  training and work program.  In such cases, the roster shall be available  for inspection by employers for the selection of possible workers.In addition to the programs authorized by this Section, the Illinois  Department is authorized to administer any job search, training or work  projects in conjunction with the Federal Food Stamp Program, either under  this Section or under other regulations required by the Federal government.The Illinois Department may also administer pilot programs to provide job  search, training and work programs to unemployed parents of children  receiving child support enforcement services under Article X of this  Code.    (Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02; 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)