Rep. Ann M. Williams
Filed: 2/15/2022
 
 

 

 

 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 855




2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 855 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:


 
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Legislative Accessibility Act.
 
6    Section 5. General Assembly accessibility.

7    (a)   The General Assembly shall make efforts to increase 
8the accessibility of the General Assembly for people with 
9disabilities.

10    (b)    The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
11President of the Senate shall each appoint an accessibility 
12coordinator who, in consultation with the Architect of the 
13Capitol, shall be responsible for addressing accessibility 
14needs for his or her corresponding house.

15    (c)   The Illinois General Assembly website shall include 
16either an email address, web form, or other similar mechanism 
 
 
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1to request reasonable accommodations to meet the accessibility 
2needs of people with disabilities attending legislative 
3events, including, but not limited to, all hearings and floor 
4proceedings.

 
5    Section 10. General Assembly Accessibility Task Force.

6    (a)   There is hereby established the General Assembly 
7Accessibility Task Force.
8    (b) The President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of 
9Representatives, Minority Leader of the Senate, and Minority 
10Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 2 
11members to the Task Force. The President of the Senate and the 
12Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly appoint 
13the chair of the Task Force. Appointees shall include persons 
14who self-identify as having a disability or advocates for such 
15persons. In addition, the following State officials shall 
16serve on the Task Force as ex officio members: (i) the 
17Secretary of State or his or her designee; (ii) the Secretary 
18of the Senate or his or her designee; (iii) the Clerk of the 
19House of Representatives or his or her designee; (iv) the 
20Assistant Secretary of the Senate or his or her designee; and 
21(v) the Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives or his 
22or her designee.
23    (c)   The Task Force shall convene as soon as practicable 
24after the effective date of this Act, and shall hold at least 2 
25meetings. Members and ex officio members of the Task Force 
 
 
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1shall serve without compensation. The Architect of the Capitol 
2shall provide administrative and other support to the Task 
3Force.

4    (d)   The Task Force shall examine issues concerning 
5accessibility of the General Assembly to persons with a 
6disability. No later than December 31, 2023, the Task Force 
7shall issue recommendations to the General Assembly on what 
8measures can be taken to increase the accessibility of the 
9General Assembly to persons with a disability.

10    (e)   This Section is repealed on January 1, 2025.

 
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
12becoming law.".