HB1547eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1547 Engrossed LRB097 08750 RLJ 48879 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Commission to End the Disparities Facing the African-American Community Act.

Section 5. Commission; creation; members.

(a) There is created a Commission to End the Disparities Facing the African-American Community, to consist of 24 members as follows:

(1) 6 members appointed by the Governor as follows: (i) 2 members must be educators, (ii) 2 members must be healthcare service providers, and (iii) 2 members must be business persons;

(2) 6 members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows: (i) 2 members must be educators, (ii) 2 members must be healthcare service providers, and (iii) 2 members must be business persons;

(3) 3 members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader as follows: (i) one member must be an educator, (ii) one member must be a healthcare service provider, and (iii) one member must be a business person;

(4) 6 members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows: (i) 2 members must be educators, (ii) 2 members must be healthcare service providers, and (iii) 2 members must be business persons; and

(5) 3 members appointed by the House Minority Leader as follows: (i) one member must be an educator, (ii) one member must be a healthcare service provider, and (iii) one member must be a business person.

(b) The members of the Commission shall elect one member to serve as the chair of the Commission.

(c) Members shall serve for 2-year terms.

(d) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as appointments.

Section 10. Study; recommendations; report. The Commission must:

(1) Research the disparities facing African-Americans in the areas of education, healthcare, healthcare services, and employment.

(2) Prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2013 and each January 1 thereafter, setting forth specific recommendations for legislation to end the disparities facing African-Americans in the areas of education, healthcare, healthcare services, and employment.

Section 15. Meetings; officers. The members of the Commission shall meet and the Commission shall be organized within 30 days after the effective date of this Act. The Commission may adopt its own rules of procedure.

Section 20. Compensation; expenses. The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the Commission.

Section 25. Administrative support. The Department of Human Services shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission.

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