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| Public Act 097-1077 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Illinois Human Services Commission Act. | ||||
Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly | ||||
finds that: | ||||
(1) The State of Illinois depends upon public and private | ||||
service providers to deliver many critical human services | ||||
necessary to protect and enhance the welfare of its citizens, | ||||
including its most vulnerable populations. | ||||
(2) The citizens of Illinois and their communities depend | ||||
upon these services to protect public health, create individual | ||||
and family well-being, improve public safety, revitalize local | ||||
economies, and enhance learning. | ||||
(3) Human services play a vital role in every community and | ||||
legislative district across the State, providing jobs and | ||||
revenue in addition to services and supports to children and | ||||
youth, families, workers, the elderly, people with | ||||
disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. | ||||
(4) A strong and well-managed network of public and private | ||||
human services is integral to the achievement of other State | ||||
goals in the areas of health and wellness, educational | ||||
outcomes, workforce development, and an improved business | ||
climate. | ||
(5) A lack of adequate appropriations, clear goals, | ||
spending priorities, and measurable outcomes along with delays | ||
in payments, inadequate rates, duplicative reporting | ||
requirements, and other systemic barriers prevent private | ||
entities from achieving the goal of a strong and effective | ||
network of well-managed public and private service providers. | ||
(6) The maintenance of a strong and well-managed network of | ||
human services requires a joint planning process that brings | ||
together public and private experts in human services to | ||
identify best practices and strategies.
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Section 10. Illinois Human Services Commission. The | ||
Illinois Human Services Commission is created to undertake a | ||
systematic review of human services programs with the goal of | ||
ensuring their consistent delivery in the State. | ||
Section 15. Duties. | ||
(a) The Commission shall review all State human services | ||
programs and make recommendations for achieving a system that | ||
will provide for the efficient and effective delivery of high | ||
quality human services. These recommendations shall include | ||
the following elements:
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(1) Ensuring adequate appropriations for the provision | ||
of human services.
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(2) Establishing processes for determining fair, | ||
adequate, and timely reimbursement.
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(3) Maintaining efficient management of publicly | ||
funded programs and services.
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(4) Implementing best practices within the human | ||
services field.
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(5) Creating outcome measures and accountability | ||
mechanisms.
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(6) Developing projections for future human services | ||
needs based on demographic trends and other related | ||
variables. | ||
(b) The Commission shall make best efforts to: | ||
(1) Use existing reports, research, and planning | ||
efforts and call for additional reports and research to | ||
support its work. | ||
(2) Seek input from existing advisory councils and task | ||
forces that address human services delivery, as well as | ||
other human services experts and the public at large, | ||
including one or more public hearings to take and consider | ||
public comment. | ||
(3) Identify opportunities for increased efficiency or | ||
cross-agency collaboration regarding human services | ||
delivery. | ||
Section 20. Membership; appointments; meetings; support. | ||
(a) The Commission shall include representation from both | ||
public and private organizations, and its membership shall | ||
reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to ensure | ||
representation of the needs of all Illinois citizens.
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Commission members shall include one
member appointed by the | ||
President of the Senate, one
member appointed by the Minority | ||
Leader of the Senate, one
member appointed by the Speaker of | ||
the House of
Representatives, one member appointed by the | ||
Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives, and other | ||
members appointed
by the Governor. The Governor's appointments | ||
shall include,
without limitation, the following:
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(1) A co-chair from the Office of the Governor and a | ||
co-chair not employed by a governmental entity to represent | ||
the interests of nongovernmental organizations. | ||
(2) Eight members of the General Assembly representing | ||
each of the majority and minority caucuses of each chamber. | ||
(3) The Directors or Secretaries of the following State | ||
agencies or their designees: | ||
(A) Department of Human Services. | ||
(B) Department of Children and Family Services. | ||
(C) Department of Healthcare and Family Services. | ||
(D) State Board of Education. | ||
(E) Department on Aging. | ||
(F) Department of Juvenile Justice. | ||
(G) Department of Corrections. | ||
(H) Department of Public Health. | ||
(4) Local government stakeholders and nongovernmental | ||
stakeholders with an interest in human services, including | ||
representation among the following private-sector fields | ||
and constituencies: | ||
(A) Early childhood education and development. | ||
(B) Child care. | ||
(C) Child welfare. | ||
(D) Youth services. | ||
(E) Developmental disabilities. | ||
(F) Mental health. | ||
(H) Employment and training. | ||
(I) Sexual and domestic violence. | ||
(J) Alcohol and substance abuse. | ||
(K) Local community collaborations among human | ||
services programs. | ||
(L) Immigrant services. | ||
(M) Affordable housing. | ||
(N) Re-entry. | ||
(O) Food and nutrition. | ||
(P) Homelessness. | ||
(Q) Older adults. | ||
(R) Physical disabilities. | ||
(S) Business. | ||
(T) Philanthropy. | ||
(U) Labor. | ||
(V) Law enforcement. | ||
(W) Maternal and child health. | ||
(5) A representative of a maternal and child health | ||
training program at a public university in the State. | ||
(b) Members shall serve without compensation for the | ||
duration of the Commission. | ||
(c) In the event of a vacancy, the appointment to fill the | ||
vacancy shall be made in the same manner as the original
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appointment. | ||
(d) The Commission shall convene within 60 days after the | ||
effective date of this Act. The initial meeting of the | ||
Commission shall be convened by the co-chair selected by the | ||
Governor. Subsequent meetings shall convene at the call of the | ||
co-chairs. The Commission shall meet on a quarterly basis, or | ||
more often if necessary. | ||
(e) The Department of Human Services shall provide | ||
administrative support to the Commission. | ||
Section 25. Report. The Commission shall report to the | ||
Governor and the General Assembly on the Commission's progress | ||
toward its goals and objectives by June 30, 2013, and every | ||
June 30 thereafter. | ||
Section 30. Transparency. In addition to whatever policies | ||
or procedures it may adopt, all operations of the Commission | ||
shall be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of | ||
Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. This Section shall | ||
not be construed so as to preclude other State laws from | ||
applying to the Commission and its activities.
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