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SB 1298

SNAP E&T PGRAM-PUBLIC COLLEGE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Dee Avelar and 32 co-sponsors

Expands SNAP E&T by counting undergraduate programs at public colleges serving low-income students as qualifying components, subject to federal approval.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1298

SB 1298 — SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) Programs at Public Colleges (Summary)

Status: House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Rule 19(c)) — Re‑referred to Rules Committee
Introduced: February 14, 2025
Primary sponsor (noted in versions): Sen. Graciela Guzmán (IL) — bill amends Illinois Public Aid Code (305 ILCS 5/12‑4.13b)

Purpose / Intent

To expand what counts as an acceptable component of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment & Training (E&T) program by recognizing certain college programs at public institutions as equivalent to E&T components. The aim is to increase job‑readiness pathways for low‑income students and align college programs with SNAP E&T participation rules (subject to federal law/approval).

Key provisions

  • Clarifies and expands existing law that already treats certain community college career & technical programs as E&T components (7 C.F.R. §273.7).
  • Adds a new rule (subsection a‑5) that, subject to any required federal approval, treats any undergraduate program of study at a public institution of higher education that “serves low‑income students” or “improves employability” as equivalent to an acceptable SNAP E&T program component under 7 C.F.R. §273.7(e).
  • Establishes data‑reporting requirements:
    • On or before January 1, 2028 (as amended in some drafts), the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) must provide to the Department of Human Services (DHS) program‑level percentages of students receiving Pell Grants and State Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants (or alternate income indicators) to substantiate that programs serve low‑income students.
    • DHS must publish an updated list of qualifying programs by March 1, 2028, and annually thereafter.
    • House amendment adds an annual March 1, 2029 requirement to publish available data on students enrolled in SNAP (demographics, household size).
  • Graduate programs may qualify if institutions supply program‑level low‑income student data (annual or every 3 years in some amendments).
  • Requires DHS to consult with IBHE, ICCB, Workforce Innovation entities and advocates to establish a protocol to identify and verify exemptions under 7 C.F.R. §273.5(a) (college student exemption criteria).
  • DHS must adopt rules necessary to implement the statute; rulemaking shall not delay full implementation.
  • Clarifies limits: the section does not obligate DHS to provide particular services or require higher‑education institutions to verify SNAP eligibility; does not mandate federal funds usage for E&T financing.

Who is affected

  • Low‑income students attending public colleges and community colleges (potentially easier access to SNAP E&T components while enrolled).
  • Public institutions of higher education (IBHE/ICCB) — required to provide program income data.
  • Illinois Department of Human Services — rulemaking, program listing, and federal coordination responsibilities.
  • SNAP program administrators and E&T partners — may need to integrate qualifying college programs into local E&T offerings (subject to USDA approval).

Timeline & Procedural notes

  • Data-sharing deadlines and implementation dates are anchored to January 1 and March 1, 2028 in the principal drafts; some amendment texts reference 2026 or 2028/2029 variants — final dates depend on the adopted amendment.
  • Implementation is expressly tied to any required federal approvals under SNAP regulations; DHS must seek USDA approval where necessary.
  • DHS rulemaking is required but cannot be used to delay implementation of the statute’s provisions.
  • Effective date in multiple drafts: upon becoming law.

Potential impact

  • Could broaden E&T program options for SNAP recipients who are college students, enabling more education‑based employability services to qualify as E&T activities.
  • May increase administrative work for DHS and higher‑education boards (data collection, rulemaking, coordination) and require USDA review/approval.
  • Actual effect on student SNAP participation depends on federal approval and how DHS and local E&T providers adopt qualifying college programs into services.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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