Public Act 097-1077
 
SB0278 EnrolledLRB097 04890 HLH 44930 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
Illinois Human Services Commission Act.
 
    Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly
finds that:
    (1) The State of Illinois depends upon public and private
service providers to deliver many critical human services
necessary to protect and enhance the welfare of its citizens,
including its most vulnerable populations.
    (2) The citizens of Illinois and their communities depend
upon these services to protect public health, create individual
and family well-being, improve public safety, revitalize local
economies, and enhance learning.
    (3) Human services play a vital role in every community and
legislative district across the State, providing jobs and
revenue in addition to services and supports to children and
youth, families, workers, the elderly, people with
disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.
    (4) A strong and well-managed network of public and private
human services is integral to the achievement of other State
goals in the areas of health and wellness, educational
outcomes, workforce development, and an improved business
climate.
    (5) A lack of adequate appropriations, clear goals,
spending priorities, and measurable outcomes along with delays
in payments, inadequate rates, duplicative reporting
requirements, and other systemic barriers prevent private
entities from achieving the goal of a strong and effective
network of well-managed public and private service providers.
    (6) The maintenance of a strong and well-managed network of
human services requires a joint planning process that brings
together public and private experts in human services to
identify best practices and strategies.
 
    Section 10. Illinois Human Services Commission. The
Illinois Human Services Commission is created to undertake a
systematic review of human services programs with the goal of
ensuring their consistent delivery in the State.
 
    Section 15. Duties.
    (a) The Commission shall review all State human services
programs and make recommendations for achieving a system that
will provide for the efficient and effective delivery of high
quality human services. These recommendations shall include
the following elements:
        (1) Ensuring adequate appropriations for the provision
    of human services.
        (2) Establishing processes for determining fair,
    adequate, and timely reimbursement.
        (3) Maintaining efficient management of publicly
    funded programs and services.
        (4) Implementing best practices within the human
    services field.
        (5) Creating outcome measures and accountability
    mechanisms.
        (6) Developing projections for future human services
    needs based on demographic trends and other related
    variables.
    (b) The Commission shall make best efforts to:
        (1) Use existing reports, research, and planning
    efforts and call for additional reports and research to
    support its work.
        (2) Seek input from existing advisory councils and task
    forces that address human services delivery, as well as
    other human services experts and the public at large,
    including one or more public hearings to take and consider
    public comment.
        (3) Identify opportunities for increased efficiency or
    cross-agency collaboration regarding human services
    delivery.
 
    Section 20. Membership; appointments; meetings; support.
    (a) The Commission shall include representation from both
public and private organizations, and its membership shall
reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to ensure
representation of the needs of all Illinois citizens.
Commission members shall include one member appointed by the
President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, one member appointed by the
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and other
members appointed by the Governor. The Governor's appointments
shall include, without limitation, the following:
        (1) A co-chair from the Office of the Governor and a
    co-chair not employed by a governmental entity to represent
    the interests of nongovernmental organizations.
        (2) Eight members of the General Assembly representing
    each of the majority and minority caucuses of each chamber.
        (3) The Directors or Secretaries of the following State
    agencies or their designees:
            (A) Department of Human Services.
            (B) Department of Children and Family Services.
            (C) Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
            (D) State Board of Education.
            (E) Department on Aging.
            (F) Department of Juvenile Justice.
            (G) Department of Corrections.
            (H) Department of Public Health.
        (4) Local government stakeholders and nongovernmental
    stakeholders with an interest in human services, including
    representation among the following private-sector fields
    and constituencies:
            (A) Early childhood education and development.
            (B) Child care.
            (C) Child welfare.
            (D) Youth services.
            (E) Developmental disabilities.
            (F) Mental health.
            (H) Employment and training.
            (I) Sexual and domestic violence.
            (J) Alcohol and substance abuse.
            (K) Local community collaborations among human
        services programs.
            (L) Immigrant services.
            (M) Affordable housing.
            (N) Re-entry.
            (O) Food and nutrition.
            (P) Homelessness.
            (Q) Older adults.
            (R) Physical disabilities.
            (S) Business.
            (T) Philanthropy.
            (U) Labor.
            (V) Law enforcement.
            (W) Maternal and child health.
        (5) A representative of a maternal and child health
    training program at a public university in the State.
    (b) Members shall serve without compensation for the
duration of the Commission.
    (c) In the event of a vacancy, the appointment to fill the
vacancy shall be made in the same manner as the original
appointment.
    (d) The Commission shall convene within 60 days after the
effective date of this Act. The initial meeting of the
Commission shall be convened by the co-chair selected by the
Governor. Subsequent meetings shall convene at the call of the
co-chairs. The Commission shall meet on a quarterly basis, or
more often if necessary.
    (e) The Department of Human Services shall provide
administrative support to the Commission.
 
    Section 25. Report. The Commission shall report to the
Governor and the General Assembly on the Commission's progress
toward its goals and objectives by June 30, 2013, and every
June 30 thereafter.
 
    Section 30. Transparency. In addition to whatever policies
or procedures it may adopt, all operations of the Commission
shall be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. This Section shall
not be construed so as to preclude other State laws from
applying to the Commission and its activities.