MEASURE TO MAINTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC DATA OF BENEFIT RECIPIENTS SIGNED INTO LAW
08/22/2017
SPRINGFIELD – A new law would require the Illinois Department of Human Services to collect and publicly report data on the racial and ethnic demographics of recipients of its state aid programs.
State Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, the bill’s Senate sponsor, believes that the proposed law will help the government assess the impact that cutting or expanding a program could have on specific communities.
“Without tracking demographics, it is difficult to know if we are spending public dollars equitably in regards to race, gender and ethnicity,” Aquino said. “When we make cuts, we need to ask ourselves: How does this affect our minority communities? When we cut a program, whom do we hurt?”
At a Senate hearing this April, Aquino asked DHS Director James Dimas for demographic data explaining how cuts in Gov. Rauner’s budget proposal would affect minority communities. Dimas responded that the Department only collects data when it is mandated by the federal government, as in the case of food subsidy programs like TANF and SNAP.
“There is a reason the federal government tracks this information,” Aquino said. “In order to govern better, you need to measure. This is a smart, good government innovation. Better data means better government.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the legislation, House Bill 3131, into law today.
State Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, the bill’s Senate sponsor, believes that the proposed law will help the government assess the impact that cutting or expanding a program could have on specific communities.
“Without tracking demographics, it is difficult to know if we are spending public dollars equitably in regards to race, gender and ethnicity,” Aquino said. “When we make cuts, we need to ask ourselves: How does this affect our minority communities? When we cut a program, whom do we hurt?”
At a Senate hearing this April, Aquino asked DHS Director James Dimas for demographic data explaining how cuts in Gov. Rauner’s budget proposal would affect minority communities. Dimas responded that the Department only collects data when it is mandated by the federal government, as in the case of food subsidy programs like TANF and SNAP.
“There is a reason the federal government tracks this information,” Aquino said. “In order to govern better, you need to measure. This is a smart, good government innovation. Better data means better government.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the legislation, House Bill 3131, into law today.
