100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB0752

 

Introduced 2/1/2017, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 3932/5
20 ILCS 3932/10
20 ILCS 3932/15
20 ILCS 3932/20
20 ILCS 3932/25

    Amends the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission Act. Provides that the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission shall be composed of 11 Commissioners (currently, members) that are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Requires at least 8 (currently, 6) commissioners of the Commission to be people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing. Specifies the membership of the Commission. Modifies the qualifications and duties of the Director of the Commission. Provides that the added Director qualifications shall apply to anyone who becomes Director on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Establishes the Director as the chief executive officer of the Commission. Modifies a Section concerning the powers and duties of the Commission. Defines "commissioner".


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A BILL FOR

 

SB0752LRB100 07373 RJF 17437 b

1    AN ACT concerning government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission Act is
5amended by changing Sections 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 3932/5)
7    Sec. 5. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the
8context requires otherwise:
9    "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Deaf and Hard of
10Hearing Commission.
11    "Commission" means the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission.
12    "Commissioner" means a resident of the State who is
13appointed and confirmed by the Senate to govern the Commission.
14    "Director" means the Director of the Deaf and Hard of
15Hearing Commission, its Chief Executive Officer.
16    "Vice-Chairperson" means the Vice-Chairperson of the Deaf
17and Hard of Hearing Commission.
18(Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)
 
19    (20 ILCS 3932/10)
20    Sec. 10. Commission. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing
21Commission is created as an executive agency of State
22government. The Commission shall be composed of 11

 

 

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1commissioners members, governed by a chairperson, and headed by
2a Director, who shall serve as its chief executive officer
3director.
4(Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)
 
5    (20 ILCS 3932/15)
6    Sec. 15. Commission membership.
7    (a) The Commission shall be composed of 11 Commissioners
8voting members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the
9Senate from residents of the State whose position, knowledge,
10or experience enables them to reasonably represent the
11concerns, needs, and recommendations of deaf, deafblind, or
12hard of hearing persons. At a minimum, 8 commissioners 6 voting
13members of the Commission shall be persons who are deaf,
14deafblind, or hard of hearing, and the Commission shall consist
15of the following: .
16        (1) one parent or guardian of a deaf, deafblind, or
17    hard of hearing minor child;
18        (2) one licensed sign language interpreter for the deaf
19    or faculty member from an interpreter education program;
20        (3) one educator of the deaf or faculty member from a
21    deaf education program;
22        (4) one Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the
23    deaf or mental health professional for the deaf;
24        (5) one representative from a Center of Independent
25    Living or community-based organization that serves a deaf,

 

 

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1    deafblind, and hard of hearing population;
2        (6) one deafblind representative;
3        (7) one late-deafened representative; and
4        (8) four members at large who are deaf or hard of
5    hearing.
6    The Chairperson of the Commission shall be elected from the
7Commission's membership by a simple majority vote of the total
8membership of the Commission. The Vice-Chairperson of the
9Commission shall be elected from the Commission's membership by
10a simple majority vote of the total membership of the
11Commission.
12    (b) The Governor shall consider nominations made by
13advocacy groups for the deaf and hard of hearing and
14community-based organizations.
15    (c) Of the initial commissioners members appointed by the
16Governor, 3 shall be appointed to terms of one year, 4 shall be
17appointed to terms of 2 years, and 4 shall be appointed to
18terms of 3 years. Thereafter, all commissioners members shall
19be appointed for terms of 3 years. No commissioner member shall
20serve more than 2 consecutive terms. A commissioner member
21shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and
22qualified.
23    (d) Initial commissioners' members' terms of office shall
24be chosen by lot at the initial meeting of the Commission.
25    (e) Vacancies in Commission membership shall be filled in
26the same manner as initial appointments. Appointments to fill

 

 

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1vacancies occurring before the expiration of a term shall be
2for the remainder of the unexpired term.
3    (f) Commissioners Members shall not receive compensation
4for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual
5expenses incurred in the performance of their duties plus up to
6$50 per day for any actual loss of wages incurred in the
7performance of their duties.
8    (g) Total membership consists of the number of
9commissioners voting members, as defined in this Section,
10excluding any vacant positions. A quorum shall consist of a
11simple majority of total membership and shall be sufficient to
12conduct the transaction of business of the Commission unless
13stipulated otherwise in the by-laws of the Commission.
14    (h) The Commission shall meet at least quarterly.
15(Source: P.A. 93-647, eff. 6-1-04.)
 
16    (20 ILCS 3932/20)
17    Sec. 20. Director. The Director of the Commission shall
18have knowledge, experience, and background regarding the
19unique issues, programs, and services of deaf, deafblind, and
20hard of hearing individuals; be fluent in American Sign
21Language; have a minimum of a bachelor's degree; and a minimum
22of 5 years' experience in a deafness related leadership or
23management capacity. The foregoing qualifications shall apply
24to anyone who becomes Director on or after the effective date
25of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. The

 

 

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1Director shall be employed at-will, serve at the leisure of the
2commission and shall be hired, supervised, evaluated, and
3terminated by the Commission. The Director, under the direction
4of the Commission, shall carry out the policies, programs, and
5activities of the Commission. The Director shall employ, in
6accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Personnel Code,
7manage, and organize the staff of the Commission as he or she
8deems appropriate.
9(Source: P.A. 93-647, eff. 6-1-04.)
 
10    (20 ILCS 3932/25)
11    Sec. 25. Powers and duties of the Commission. The
12Commission shall be a coordinating and advocating body that
13acts on behalf of the interests of persons in Illinois who are
14deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing, including children,
15adults, senior citizens, and those with any additional
16disability. The Commission shall submit an annual report of its
17activities to the Governor and the General Assembly on January
181st of each year. The Commission shall:
19        (1) Make available and provide an educational and
20    informational program through printed materials, workshop
21    and training sessions, presentations, demonstrations, and
22    public awareness events about hearing loss for citizens in
23    Illinois and for public and private entities. The program
24    shall include, but not be limited to, information
25    concerning information and referral services, lending

 

 

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1    libraries, service and resource availability, the
2    interpreter registry, accessibility and accommodation
3    issues, assistive technology, empowerment issues, support
4    service providers for the deafblind, obligations of
5    service providers and employers, educational options, and
6    current federal and State statutes, regulations, and
7    policies regarding hearing loss.
8        (2) Cooperate and work with public and private agencies
9    and local, State, and federal governments to coordinate
10    programs for persons who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of
11    hearing.
12        (3) Provide technical assistance, consultation, and
13    training support to start and enhance existing programs and
14    services for persons who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of
15    hearing.
16        (4) Evaluate and monitor State programs delivering
17    services to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons to
18    determine their effectiveness; identify, advocate for, and
19    promote new services or programs whenever necessary; and
20    propose solutions make recommendations to public officials
21    about changes necessary to improve the quality and delivery
22    of services, programs, and activities and about future
23    financial support to continue existing programs and
24    establish new programs.
25        (5) Monitor State funded programs delivering services
26    to persons who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing to

 

 

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1    determine the extent that promised and mandated services
2    are delivered.
3        (6) Review, evaluate, and participate in the
4    development of, and advocate for, proposed and amended
5    statutes, rules, regulations, and policies relating to
6    services, programs, and activities for deaf and hard of
7    hearing persons and make recommendations on existing
8    statutes, rules, regulations, and policies to the
9    Governor, General Assembly, and State agencies.
10        (7) Promote cooperation among State and local agencies
11    providing educational programs for deaf and hard of hearing
12    individuals.
13        (8) Establish rules and regulations related to
14    evaluation, certification, licensure, and training
15    standards of interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing
16    persons.
17        (9) Receive, coordinate, and monitor complaints filed
18    with the Commission of alleged violations of the rights of
19    deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing individuals; contact
20    appropriate parties involved to obtain additional
21    information, explain the rights of deaf, deafblind, and
22    hard of hearing individuals, and attempt to negotiate a
23    satisfactory resolution of complaints; and refer or assist
24    with filing of complex cases to the Illinois Attorney
25    General, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the
26    Illinois Human Rights Commission, or to an appropriate

 

 

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1    federal civil rights enforcement agency.
2(Source: P.A. 93-647, eff. 6-1-04.)