20 ILCS 625/ Illinois Economic Opportunity Act.

(20 ILCS 625/1) (from Ch. 127, par. 2601)

Sec. 1. It is the policy of this State to help develop the full potential of all of its citizens so that they may live in decency and dignity, and contribute to the strength of the State as a whole. To effect that development, the employment of the resources of the private sector of the economy is encouraged.

It is the purpose of this Act to strengthen, supplement and coordinate efforts that further this policy.

(Source: P.A. 83-978.)

(20 ILCS 625/2) (from Ch. 127, par. 2602)

Sec. 2. (a) The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is authorized to administer the federal community services block program, emergency community services homeless grant program, low-income energy assistance program, weatherization assistance program, supplemental low-income energy assistance fund, low-income household water assistance program, and other federal programs that require or give preference to community action agencies for local administration in accordance with federal laws and regulations as amended. The Director shall provide financial assistance to community action agencies from community service block grant funds and other federal funds requiring or giving preference to community action agencies for local administration for the programs described in Section 4.

(b) Funds appropriated for use by community action agencies in community action programs shall be allocated annually to existing community action agencies or newly formed community action agencies by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Allocations will be made consistent with duly enacted departmental rules.

(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21.)

(20 ILCS 625/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 2603)

Sec. 3. (a) A community action agency is a political subdivision of the State, a combination of political subdivisions, a public agency, or a private nonprofit agency which has the authority under any applicable charter or laws to receive funds pursuant to Section 2 to support community action programs of the type described in Section 4 and is designated as a community action agency.

(b) Each community action agency shall administer its community action programs through a Community Action Board consisting of 15 to 51 members chosen as follows:

(1) One-third of the members of the Board shall be elected public officials, currently holding office, or representatives designated by these officials. These members shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the chief elected official of the political subdivision served by the community action agency.

(2) At least one-third of the members shall be persons chosen in accordance with democratic selection procedures adequate to assure that they are representative of the poor from within the area served.

(3) The other members shall be officials or members of business, industry, labor, religious, welfare, education or other major groups or interests in the community. Each member of the Board selected to represent a specific geographic area within a community shall reside in that area.

(4) The community action agency through its bylaws shall determine the board tenure of the members selected under subparagraphs (2) or (3).

(c) Each community action agency shall consult neighborhood-based organizations composed of residents of the area and members of the groups served by that agency for assistance in the planning, conduct and evaluation of community action programs.

(d) A community action agency shall

(1) plan and carry out community action programs;

(2) address the needs of low-income residents, gather information as to the problems and causes of poverty in the community and, where necessary, establish priorities among projects and activities on the basis of which projects provide the best and most efficient use of resources;

(3) encourage organizations engaged in activities related to community action programs to plan for, secure and administer financial assistance available either under Section 2 or from other sources on a common or cooperative basis, provide planning and technical assistance to those organizations, and cooperate with such organizations in undertaking actions to improve upon existing efforts to reduce poverty;

(4) initiate and sponsor projects which are responsive to needs of the poor not otherwise being met, with particular emphasis on providing central or common services that can be drawn upon by a variety of related programs, and which offer new approaches or new types of services that can be incorporated into other programs; and

(5) join with and encourage business, labor and other private groups and organizations to undertake, together with public officials and agencies, activities supporting community action programs which will result in the additional use of private resources and capabilities in an effort to develop new employment opportunities and stimulate investment that will have a measurable impact on reducing poverty among the residents of areas of concentrated poverty, and provide methods by which residents of those areas can work with private groups, firms, and institutions in seeking solutions to problems of common concern.

(Source: P.A. 87-926.)

(20 ILCS 625/4) (from Ch. 127, par. 2604)

Sec. 4. (a) A community action program is a community-based and operated program, the purpose of which is to provide a measurable and remedial impact on causes of poverty in a community or those areas of a community where poverty is acute.

(b) The methods by which the purposes of community action programs may be effected include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Programs designed to further community economic development.

(2) Programs designed to secure and maintain meaningful employment for individuals.

(3) Programs to assure an adequate education for all individuals.

(4) Programs to instruct individuals on more economical uses of available income.

(5) Programs to provide and maintain adequate housing.

(6) Programs for the prevention of narcotics addiction and alcoholism, and for the rehabilitation of narcotics addicts and alcoholics.

(7) Programs to aid individuals in obtaining emergency assistance through loans or grants to meet immediate and urgent personal and family needs.

(8) Programs to aid in the resolution of personal and family problems which block the achievement of self-sufficiency.

(9) Programs to achieve greater citizen participation in the affairs of the community.

(10) Programs to provide adequate nutrition for individuals and improved community health.

(11) Programs to aid families and individuals in obtaining adequate health care.

(12) Programs to provide transportation to facilitate individuals' access to community resources.

(13) Programs to provide for employment training and retraining, with special emphasis on employment in the high technology industries.

(14) Programs to provide aid and encouragement to small businesses and small-business development.

(15) Programs to assist households to meet the cost of home energy and water.

(16) Programs designed to ameliorate the adverse effects of high energy costs on low-income households and conserve energy.

(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21.)

(20 ILCS 625/5) (from Ch. 127, par. 2605)

Sec. 5. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Illinois Economic Opportunity Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-978.)