Rep. Mary E. Flowers

Filed: 5/17/2016

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 574

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 574 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings and declaration of policy. The General
7Assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares:
8    (a) The State of Illinois is home to over 500,000 Muslims
9and over 300 mosques, representing various races and
10ethnicities, including but not limited to African Americans,
11West and East African Americans, South Asian Americans, Arab
12Americans, Latin Americans, and Caucasian Americans. They also
13represent a variety of professions, including but not limited
14to lawyers, business owners, professors, and community
15activists.
16    (b) Muslims are the third largest religious group in the

 

 

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1State of Illinois after Roman Catholics and independent
2Evangelical Christians.
3    (c) It is the public policy of the State of Illinois to
4promote diversity and to ensure inclusion of all religious,
5racial, and ethnic groups within this State.
 
6    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    "Council" means the Illinois Muslim American Advisory
8Council created by this Act.
9    "Muslim" means an individual who practices the religion of
10Islam.
 
11    Section 15. The Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council.
12There is hereby created the Illinois Muslim American Advisory
13Council. The purpose of the Council is to advise the Governor
14and the General Assembly on policy issues impacting Muslim
15Americans and immigrants; to advance the role and civic
16participation of Muslim Americans in this State; to enhance
17trade and cooperation between Muslim-majority countries and
18this State; and to build relationships with and disseminate
19information to, in cooperation with State agencies, boards, and
20commissions, Muslim American and immigrant communities across
21this State.
 
22    Section 20. Council members.
23    (a) The Council shall consist of 21 members. The Governor

 

 

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1shall appoint one member to be the representative of the Office
2of the Governor. The Governor, the President of the Senate, the
3Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of
4the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of
5Representatives shall also each appoint 4 public members to the
6Council. The Governor shall select the chairperson of the
7Council, from among the members.
8    (b) Appointing authorities shall ensure, to the maximum
9extent practicable, that the Council is diverse with respect to
10race, ethnicity, age, gender, and geography.
11    (c) Appointments to the Council shall be persons of
12recognized ability and experience in one or more of the
13following areas: higher education, business, international
14trade, law, social services, human services, immigration,
15refugee services, community development, or healthcare.
16    (d) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms. A
17member shall serve until his or her successor shall be
18appointed. Members of the Council shall not be entitled to
19compensation for their services as members.
20    (e) The following officials shall serve as ex-officio
21members: the Deputy Director of the Office of Trade and
22Investment within the Department of Commerce and Economic
23Opportunity, or his or her designee, and the Chief of the
24Bureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services within the Department
25of Human Services, or his or her designee. In addition, the
26Department on Aging, the Department of Children and Family

 

 

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1Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the
2Department of Public Health, the Department of Central
3Management Services, the Board of Education, the Board of
4Higher Education, and the Community College Board shall each
5appoint a liaison to serve as an ex-officio member of the
6Council.
7    (f) The Council may establish committees that address
8certain issues, including, but not limited to, communications,
9economic development, and legislative affairs.
10    (g) The Office of the Governor shall provide administrative
11and technical support to the Council, including a staff member
12to serve as ethics officer.
 
13    Section 25. Meetings. The Council shall meet at least once
14per month. In addition, the Council may hold up to 2 public
15hearings annually to assist in the development of policy
16recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. All
17meetings of the Council shall be conducted in accordance with
18the Open Meetings Act. Eleven members of the Council shall
19constitute a quorum.
 
20    Section 30. Reports. The Council shall issue semi-annual
21reports on its policy recommendations by June 30th and December
2231st of each year to the Governor and the General Assembly.
 
23    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are

 

 

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1severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.".