Illinois Democrats are proposing $700 million to partially finance various human service programs that have gone without state funding since last summer because there's no budget. A House committee unanimously advanced the bill to the full chamber. The measure would use $450 million from a fund dedicated to human services and $250 million from other special funds.
The money would go to programs including homelessness prevention, rental assistance, addiction treatment, and veterans' rehabilitation. The proposal would fund 46% of what human service programs expected to receive had the state budget taken effect July 1.
Chicago Democratic Rep. Greg Harris says the bill is intended to be a stop-gap measure until lawmakers and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner agree on a full budget.
