(20 ILCS 5/5-550) (was 20 ILCS 5/6.23)
    Sec. 5-550. In the Department of Human Services. A State Rehabilitation Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby established for the purpose of advising the Secretary and the vocational rehabilitation administrator of the provisions of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in matters concerning individuals with disabilities and the provision of rehabilitation services. The Council shall consist of 25 members appointed by the Governor after soliciting recommendations from representatives of organizations representing a broad range of individuals with disabilities and organizations interested in individuals with disabilities. The Governor shall appoint to this Council the following:
        (1) One representative of a parent training center
    
established in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
        (2) One representative of the client assistance
    
program.
        (3) One vocational rehabilitation counselor who has
    
knowledge of and experience with vocational rehabilitation programs. (If an employee of the Department is appointed, that appointee shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member.)
        (4) One representative of community rehabilitation
    
program service providers.
        (5) Four representatives of business, industry, and
    
labor.
        (6) Eight representatives of disability advocacy
    
groups representing a cross section of the following:
            (A) individuals with physical, cognitive,
        
sensory, and mental disabilities; and
            (B) parents, family members, guardians,
        
advocates, or authorized representative of individuals with disabilities who have difficulty in representing themselves or who are unable, due to their disabilities, to represent themselves.
        (7) One current or former applicant for, or recipient
    
of, vocational rehabilitation services.
        (8) Three representatives from secondary or higher
    
education.
        (9) One representative of the State Workforce
    
Investment Board.
        (10) One representative of the Illinois State Board
    
of Education who is knowledgeable about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The chairperson of, or a member designated by, the Statewide Independent Living Council created under Section 12a of the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act, the chairperson of the Blind Services Planning Council created under the Bureau for the Blind Act, and the vocational rehabilitation administrator shall serve as ex officio members. The vocational rehabilitation administrator shall have no vote.
    The Council shall select a Chairperson.
    The Chairperson and at least 12 other members of the Council shall have a recognized disability. One member shall be a senior citizen age 60 or over. A majority of the Council members shall not be employees of the Department of Human Services. Current members of the Rehabilitation Services Council shall serve until members of the newly created Council are appointed.
    The terms of all members appointed before the effective date of Public Act 88-10 shall expire on July 1, 1993. The members first appointed under Public Act 88-10 shall be appointed to serve for staggered terms beginning July 1, 1993, as follows: 7 members shall be appointed for terms of 3 years, 7 members shall be appointed for terms of 2 years, and 6 members shall be appointed for terms of one year. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for terms of 3 years. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. Appointments to fill vacancies in unexpired terms and new terms shall be filled by the Governor or by the Council if the Governor delegates that power to the Council by executive order. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. No member, except the representative of the client assistance program, shall serve for more than 2 full terms.
    Members shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, including expenses for travel, child care, and personal assistance services, and a member who is not employed or who must forfeit wages from other employment shall be paid reasonable compensation for each day the member is engaged in performing the duties of the Council.
    The Council shall meet at least 4 times per year at times and places designated by the Chairman upon 10 days written notice to the members. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or 7 members of the Council upon 7 days written notice to the other members. Nine members shall constitute a quorum. No member of the Council shall cast a vote on any matter that would provide direct financial benefit to the member or otherwise give the appearance of a conflict of interest under Illinois law.
    The Council shall prepare and submit to the vocational rehabilitation administrator the reports and findings that the vocational rehabilitation administrator may request or that the Council deems fit. The Council shall select jointly with the vocational rehabilitation administrator a pool of qualified persons to serve as impartial hearing officers. The Council shall, with the vocational rehabilitation unit in the Department, jointly develop, agree to, and review annually State goals and priorities and jointly submit annual reports of progress to the federal Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration.
    To the extent that there is a disagreement between the Council and the unit within the Department of Human Services responsible for the administration of the vocational rehabilitation program, regarding the resources necessary to carry out the functions of the Council as set forth in this Section, the disagreement shall be resolved by the Governor.
(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00; 91-540, eff. 8-13-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)