(310 ILCS 95/1)

Sec. 1.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Accessible Housing Demonstration Grant Program Act.

(Source: P.A. 91‑451, eff. 8‑6‑99.)

(310 ILCS 95/10)

Sec. 10.

Accessibility demonstration grant program.

Subject to appropriation for this purpose, the Authority shall establish a demonstration grant program to encourage the building of spec homes that are accessible to the disabled. Through the program the Authority shall provide grants to builders who build spec homes meeting the basic access standards described in Section 15. The goal of the demonstration program shall be that at least 10% of all new spec homes within a development participating in the demonstration grant program for which construction begins 6 or more months after the effective date of this Act meet the minimum standards for basic access as described in Section 15.

Builders who wish to participate in the demonstration grant program shall submit a grant application to the Authority in accordance with rules promulgated by the Authority. The Authority shall prescribe by rule standards and procedures for the provision of demonstration grant funds in relation to each grant application.

(Source: P.A. 91‑451, eff. 8‑6‑99.)

(310 ILCS 95/15)

Sec. 15.

Basic access standards.

Every spec home for which a builder is eligible to receive a grant under this Act shall include the following features:

(1) The home shall have at least one no‑step exterior entrance with a 36‑inch‑wide entrance door to allow for wheelchair access into the home.

(2) All interior passage doors in the home shall allow at least 32 inches of clearance in width.

(3) No electrical outlet in the home shall be lower than 15 inches from the finished floor and no light switch in the home shall be more than 48 inches from the finished floor. All environmental controls in the home shall be in accessible locations.

(4) In each bathroom or other room containing a toilet, bathtub, shower stall, or shower seat, the walls adjacent to those fixtures shall be reinforced in a manner that will allow the later installation of grab bars around those fixtures.

(Source: P.A. 91‑451, eff. 8‑6‑99.)

(310 ILCS 95/20)

Sec. 20.

Task Force on Housing Accessibility.

There is created a Task Force on Housing Accessibility. The Task Force shall consist of 7 members who shall be appointed by the Governor as follows: the executive vice president of the Illinois Association of Realtors or his or her designee, the executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Illinois or his or her designee, an architect with expertise and experience in designing accessible housing for persons with disabilities, a senior citizen, a person with disabilities, a representative from the Attorney General's Office, and the Director of the Authority or his or her designee. The terms of the Task Force members shall last 4 years and shall begin 60 days after the effective date of this Act, or as soon thereafter as all members of the Board have been appointed. At the expiration of the term of each Task Force member, and of each succeeding Task Force member, or in the event of a vacancy, the Governor shall appoint a Task Force member to hold office, in the case of a vacancy, for the unexpired term, or in the case of expiration, for a term of 4 years or until a successor is appointed by the Governor. The members shall receive no compensation for their services on the Task Force but shall be reimbursed by the Authority for any ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

The Task Force shall provide recommendations to builders regarding the types of accommodations needed in new housing stock for disabled persons. The recommendations shall include provisions on how to build homes that will retain their resale and aesthetic value.

(Source: P.A. 91‑451, eff. 8‑6‑99.)

(310 ILCS 95/5)

Sec. 5.

Definitions.

In this Act:

"Authority" means the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

"Spec home" means a private single‑family residence constructed by a builder or individual for sale on the open market and not built for an individual for immediate occupancy.

(Source: P.A. 91‑451, eff. 8‑6‑99.)

(310 ILCS 95/99)

Sec. 99.

Effective date.

This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 91‑451, eff. 8‑6‑99.)