093_HB3818

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 1        AN ACT concerning employment.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  1.  Short  title.  This  Act may be cited as the
 5    Illinois Ex-Offenders Employment  Stabilization Act.

 6        Section 5. Illinois Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization
 7    Program.  The  Department  of   Employment   Security   shall
 8    establish  the  Illinois Ex-Offender Employment Stabilization
 9    Program as a  grant  program  to  (i)  increase  and  improve
10    post-release  employment  opportunities  for ex-offenders and
11    (ii) reduce recidivism rates through the  combined  resources
12    and  expertise  of  providers  of  workforce  development and
13    supportive services. The  program  shall  be  established  in
14    Illinois  local governments where (i) the number of residents
15    under State community correctional supervision is  10,000  or
16    more  annually and (ii) the number of returnees to that local
17    government  who  have exited annually from State correctional
18    institutions is 25%  or  more  of  all  individuals  released
19    annually   from   state   correctional    institutions.   The
20    Department shall be responsible for reviewing grant proposals
21    and awarding grants.

22        Section 10. Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization Program
23    Advisory  Board.  The  Governor shall appoint an Ex-Offenders
24    Employment Stabilization Program Advisory Board. The Advisory
25    Board shall be chaired by the Director of the  Department  of
26    Employment Security.  Other members appointed by the Governor
27    shall   consist   of   one   representative  of  an  Illinois
28    not-for-profit  organization  and  enrolling  1,000  or  more
29    individuals annually in its employment and training programs,
30    of whom at least 70% must be ex-offenders; one representative
 
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 1    of an  Illinois  not-for-profit  organization  and  enrolling
 2    fewer  than  150  individuals  annually in its employment and
 3    training programs, of whom at least 70% must be ex-offenders;
 4    the Commissioner of the City of  Chicago  Mayor's  Office  of
 5    Workforce  Development;  and 4 members nominated by the Mayor
 6    of the City of Chicago, at least 2 of  whom  the  shall  hold
 7    management-level  positions  at  employers located within the
 8    City of Chicago currently employing ex-offenders.

 9        Section 15. Advisory Board.
10        (a)  The Advisory Board shall:
11             (1)  prepare and recommend to the  Department  rules
12        implementing this Act;
13             (2)  determine   criteria   and   procedures  to  be
14        followed in awarding grants and review  applications  for
15        grants  under  the  Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization
16        Program; and
17             (3)  make recommendations to the  Department  as  to
18        the  award  of  grants  under the Ex-Offenders Employment
19        Stabilization Program.
20        (b)  Members  all  the  Advisory  Board  shall   not   be
21    reimbursed for their costs and expenses of participation. All
22    decisions  of  the  Advisory  Board shall be decided on a one
23    vote per member basis with a majority of the  Advisory  Board
24    membership to rule.
25        (c)  The  Advisory  Board  shall  report  annually to the
26    General Assembly on its effectiveness and shall make  further
27    recommendations  based on the experiences and outcomes of its
28    operations.

29        Section 20. Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization Program
30    required elements. The Ex-Offenders Employment  Stabilization
31    Program   shall   require  grant  proposals  to  include  the
32    following elements to achieve a  holistic  and  comprehensive
 
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 1    service strategy:
 2             (1)  rapid attachment to work;
 3             (2)  long-term follow-up;
 4             (3)  pre-release services;
 5             (4)  comprehensive support services;
 6             (5)  identification assistance; and
 7             (6)  job development and marketing.

 8        Section  25. Appropriations. Funds may be appropriated to
 9    the Department to pay its costs of administering the programs
10    authorized by this  Act.   Beginning  in  fiscal  year  2002,
11    appropriated   funds   may   be  used  for  the  purposes  of
12    implementing this  Act,  including  necessary  administrative
13    costs.

14        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
15    becoming law.