Public Act 102-1054
 
HB1567 EnrolledLRB102 03598 RJF 13611 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 Governor's Office of New Americans Act is
amended by changing Sections 5 and 10 as follows:
 
    (15 ILCS 55/5)
    Sec. 5. Governor's Office of New Americans.
    (a) The Office of New Americans is hereby created in the
Office of the Governor. The Office of New Americans shall
maintain and continue to develop on behalf of the people of the
State of Illinois a New Americans Immigrant Policy that builds
upon the strengths of immigrants, their families, and their
institutions, and expedites their journey towards
self-sufficiency. The policy developed by the Office shall
enable State government to more effectively assist immigrants
in overcoming barriers to success and shall facilitate host
communities' ability to capitalize on the assets of their
immigrant populations.
    (b) The Governor's Office of New Americans shall have the
following duties:
        (1) to welcome and support immigrants and refugees in
    the State of Illinois;
        (2) to promote and support immigrant and refugee
    integration into the social, cultural, economic, and civic
    life of the United States;
        (3) to ensure access to quality English language
    learning programs that support the successful integration
    of immigrant adults;
        (4) to coordinate the efforts of State, federal, and
    local entities to support the effective social, economic,
    linguistic, and civic integration of immigrants, refugees,
    and the children of immigrants and refugees;
        (5) to provide advice and leadership to the Governor,
    members of the General Assembly, and other State
    government officials on the challenges and opportunities
    facing such entities with respect to immigrant and refugee
    integration;
        (6) to evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness
    of State initiatives with respect to immigrant and refugee
    social and economic integration;
        (7) to identify the anticipated effects of new State
    government policies on integration efforts and provide
    strategic advice to the Governor on how to address
    effects, gaps, and needs created by such policies;
        (8) to ensure the inclusion of the perspectives of
    immigrants and refugees with respect to paragraphs (1)
    through (7);
        (9) to develop a coordinated New Americans Plan for
    the State that responds effectively and comprehensively to
    immigrant and refugee integration issues, and includes
    policy recommendations; and
        (10) to submit to the Governor and the General
    Assembly the New Americans Plan annual report, describing
    the activities, accomplishments, and recommendations of
    the Office.
    (c) The Governor's Office of New Americans shall identify
strategic partnerships with State agencies under the
jurisdiction of the Governor in an effort to implement best
practices, policies, and procedures and make recommendations
for statewide policy and administrative changes. The
Governor's Office of New Americans shall also monitor
completion of New Americans Plans at each State agency level.
(Source: P.A. 98-467, eff. 1-1-14.)
 
    (15 ILCS 55/10)
    Sec. 10. State agency New Americans Plans New American
Plans. Each State agency under the jurisdiction of the
Governor shall develop a New American Plan that incorporates
effective training and resources, ensures language access and
culturally and linguistically competent and appropriate
services, and includes administrative practices that reach out
to and reflect the needs of the immigrant refugees populations
and populations with limited English proficiency. Each State
agency under the jurisdiction of the Governor shall integrate
guidance and recommendations made by the Governor's Office of
New Americans statewide plan consider the New Americans
Immigrant Policy Council's recommendations in creating the
agency's plans. Agency plans shall should be submitted to the
Governor's Office of New Americans Governor for approval.
(Source: P.A. 98-467, eff. 1-1-14.)