SB0220eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0220 Engrossed LRB098 04693 OMW 34721 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service Act is amended by changing Sections 1, 2, 4, 5.1, 6.1, and 7 and by adding Sections 4.1 and 4.2 as follows:

(20 ILCS 710/1) (from Ch. 127, par. 3801)

Sec. 1. Creation. There is created in the Department of Public Health Human Services the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.

(Source: P.A. 91-798, eff. 7-9-00.)

(20 ILCS 710/2) (from Ch. 127, par. 3802)

Sec. 2. Purpose. The purpose of the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is to promote and support community service in public and private programs to meet the needs of Illinois residents citizens; to stimulate new volunteerism and community service initiatives and partnerships; and to serve as a resource and advocate among all State agencies within the Department of Human Services for community service agencies, volunteers, and programs which utilize federal, State, and private volunteers.

(Source: P.A. 91-798, eff. 7-9-00.)

(20 ILCS 710/4) (from Ch. 127, par. 3804)

Sec. 4. Operation. The Governor shall appoint a Director of the Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service who shall serve at the Governor's pleasure and who shall receive such compensation as is determined by the Governor. The Director shall employ such staff as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act. The Commission, working in cooperation with State agencies, individuals, local groups, and organizations throughout the State, may undertake programs and activities which further the purposes of this Act, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) providing technical assistance to programs which depend upon volunteers;

(b) initiating community service programs to meet previously unmet needs in Illinois;

(c) promoting and coordinating efforts to expand and improve the statewide community service network;

(d) recognizing outstanding community service accomplishments;

(e) disseminating information to support community service programs and to broaden community service involvement throughout the State;

(f) implementing federally funded grant programs in Illinois such as the National and Community Service Trust Act, as amended by the Serve America Act; .

(g) taking an active role in the State's emergency management plan to coordinate volunteers for disaster preparedness and response;

(h) promoting intergenerational initiatives and efforts to promote inclusion among diverse populations; and

(i) fostering an environment that promotes social innovation throughout the State.

The Commission may receive and expend funds, grants and services from any source for purposes reasonable and necessary to carry out a coordinated plan of community service throughout the State.

(Source: P.A. 91-798, eff. 7-9-00.)

(20 ILCS 710/4.1 new)

Sec. 4.1. Illinois Service Education Award Grant. The Commission may, subject to appropriation, award an Illinois Service Education Award Grant to recipients of a national service educational award established under 42 U.S.C. 12602 and awarded by the Corporation for National Community Service. The grant must be awarded only as a partial matching grant. An individual who successfully completes a required term of full-time national service in an approved national service position in this State may apply to receive an Illinois Service Education Award Grant. The Commission shall adopt rules to govern the process for applying for the grant and for determining the amount of the grant and any other rules necessary to implement and administer this Section.

An Illinois Service Education Award Grant may be used for any of the following purposes:

(1) To repay student loans associated with attending an Illinois institution of higher learning, as defined in the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

(2) To pay all or part of the cost of attendance at an Illinois institution of higher learning, as defined in the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

(3) To pay expenses incurred in participating in an approved Illinois school-to-work program.

(4) Any other purpose for which the national service educational award may lawfully be used.

(20 ILCS 710/4.2 new)

Sec. 4.2. Receiving and expending funds. The Commission may receive and expend funds, grants, and services from any source for purposes reasonable and necessary to carry out a coordinated plan of community service throughout the State.

(20 ILCS 710/5.1)

Sec. 5.1. Commission. The Commission is established to encourage community service and volunteer participation as a means of community and State problem-solving; to promote and support voluntary resident citizen involvement in government and private programs throughout the State; to develop a long-term, comprehensive vision and plan of action for national volunteerism and community service initiatives in Illinois; and to serve as the State's liaison to national and State organizations that support its mission.

The Commission shall consist of 15 to 25 bipartisan voting members and up to 15 bipartisan nonvoting members. At least 25% of the members must be from the City of Chicago.

The Governor shall appoint up to 25 voting members and up to 15 nonvoting members. Of those initial 25 voting members, 10 shall serve for 3 years, 8 shall serve for 2 years, and 7 shall serve for one year. Voting members appointed by the Governor shall include at least one representative of the following: an expert in the education, training, and development needs of youth; an expert in philanthropy the chairman of the City Colleges of a municipality having a population of more than 2 million; a representative of labor organizations; a representative of business; a representative of community-based the human services department of a municipality with a population of more than 2 million; community based organizations; the State Superintendent of Education; the Superintendent of Police of a municipality having a population of more than 2 million; a youth between 16 and 25 years old who is a participant or supervisor in a community service program; the President of a County Board of a county having a population of more than 3 million; an expert in older adult volunteerism; a representative of persons with disabilities the public health commissioner of a municipality having a population of more than 2 million; a representative of local government; and a representative of a national service program. A representative of the federal Corporation for National Service shall be appointed as a nonvoting member.

Appointing authorities shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the Commission is diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, age, gender, geography, and disability. Not more than 50% of the Commission appointed by the Governor may be from the same political party.

Subsequent voting members of the Commission shall serve 3-year terms. Commissioners must be allowed to serve until new commissioners are appointed in order to maintain the federally required number of commissioners.

Each nonvoting member shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

Members of the Commission may not serve more than 3 consecutive terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments and any member so appointed shall serve during the remainder of the term for which the vacancy occurred. The members shall not receive any compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(Source: P.A. 91-798, eff. 7-9-00.)

(20 ILCS 710/6.1)

Sec. 6.1. Functions of Commission. The Commission shall meet at least quarterly and shall advise and consult with the Department of Public Health and the Governor's Office Human Services and the Director on all matters relating to community service in Illinois. In addition, the Commission shall have the following duties:

(a) prepare a 3-year State national and community service plan, developed through an open, public process and updated annually;

(b) prepare the financial assistance applications of the State under the National and Community Service Trust Fund Act of 1993, as amended by the Serve America Act;

(c) assist in the preparation of the application by the State Board of Education for assistance under that Act;

(d) prepare the State's application under that Act for the approval of national service positions;

(e) assist in the provision of health care and child care benefits under that Act;

(f) develop a State recruitment, placement, and information dissemination system for participants in programs that receive assistance under the national service laws;

(g) administer the State's grant program including selection, oversight, and evaluation of grant recipients;

(h) make technical assistance available to enable applicants to plan and implement service programs and to apply for assistance under the national service laws;

(i) develop projects, training methods, curriculum materials, and other activities related to service;

(j) coordinate its functions with any division of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service outlined in the National and Community Service Trust Fund Act of 1993, as amended by the Serve America Act.

(k) publicize Commission services and promote community involvement in the activities of the Commission;

(l) promote increased visibility and support for volunteers of all ages, especially youth and senior citizens, and community service in meeting the needs of Illinois residents citizens; and

(m) represent the Department of Public Health and the Governor's Office Human Services on such occasions and in such manner as the Department may provide.

(Source: P.A. 91-798, eff. 7-9-00.)

(20 ILCS 710/7)

Sec. 7. Program transfer. On the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, the authority, powers, and duties in this Act of the Department of Human Services Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) are transferred to the Department of Public Health Human Services.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

Section 95. Illinois Compiled Statutes reassignment.

The Legislative Reference Bureau shall reassign the following Act to the specified location in the Illinois Compiled Statutes and file appropriate documents with the Index Division of the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 5.04 of the Legislative Reference Bureau Act:

Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service Act, reassigned from 20 ILCS 710/ to 20 ILCS 2330/.