Illinois House Passes $700M for Human Service Programs

The Illinois House has approved $700 million to partially finance various human service programs that have not received funding since last summer because of the state's budget stalemate.

The proposal would fund 46 percent of what human service programs expected to receive had the state budget taken effect July 1.

No one voted against the measure Thursday but three lawmakers voted "present" because they wanted some money to go to prisons or other programs.

The bill 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.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday he would prefer a full budget instead of short-term funding for human services.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us