Section 428.220  General Powers and Duties

a)         Unless otherwise defined by statute, advisory groups may exercise the following powers and duties to fulfill Department or legislative requirements, mandates, and obligations:  To consider and study the entire field; to advise the executive officers of the department upon their request; to recommend, on its own initiative, policies and practices, which recommendations the executive officers of the department shall duly consider; and to give advice or make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly when so requested or on its own initiative.

b)         To investigate the conduct of the work of the department with which it may be associated, and for this purpose to have access, at any time, to all books, papers, documents, and records pertaining or belonging to that department, and to require written or oral information from any officer or employee of that department.

c)         To adopt rules, not inconsistent with law, for its internal control and management. A copy of the rules shall be filed with the director of the department with which the board is associated.

d)         To hold meetings at the times and places prescribed by the rules but not less frequently than quarterly.

e)         To act by a sub-committee or by a majority of the board if the rules so prescribe.

f)         To keep minutes of the transactions of each session, regular or special, which shall be public records and filed with the director of the department.

g)         To give notice to the Governor and to the director of the department with which it is associated of the time and place of every meeting, regular or special, and to permit the Governor and the director of the department to be present and to be heard upon any matter coming before the board. [20 ILCS 5/5-505]

h)         To allow a committee under the advisory group to present to the full advisory group policy recommendations for a vote of approval when there is a quorum before submission to the Department. The Department shall consider and respond to each policy recommendation submitted by an advisory group.