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90_HB1691eng
New Act.
Creates the Commission on the Status of Women Act.
Contains the short title only.
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1 AN ACT to create the Commission on the Status of Women.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Commission on the Status of Women Act.
6 Section 5. Creation; members. A commission, to be known
7 as the Commission on the Status of Women, is created within
8 the Department of Human Rights.
9 The Commission shall consist of 18 members, including: 8
10 members of the General Assembly, 2 each to be appointed by
11 the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority
12 Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the
13 Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate; 8 members of
14 the public, 2 each to be appointed by the Speaker of the
15 House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of
16 Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the
17 Minority Leader of the Senate; and 2 members of the public
18 appointed by the Governor.
19 Members appointed from the public may include but are not
20 limited to persons who are active in and knowledgeable about
21 the following areas: health and human services, education,
22 business and industry, science and technology, arts and
23 culture, the promotion of social and economic justice, law
24 and government, and volunteerism.
25 At least 11 of the 18 members of the Commission shall be
26 women. The membership of the Commission shall reflect the
27 diversity of this State's population. The legislative
28 leaders and the Governor shall consult with individuals and
29 organizations that promote the advancement of women to seek
30 their recommendation of persons to serve as public members of
31 the Commission.
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1 Section 10. Terms. The members of the Commission shall
2 be appointed every 2 years for terms expiring on July 1 of
3 each succeeding odd-numbered year. The public members shall
4 serve until their respective successors are appointed and
5 qualified. The members from the General Assembly shall serve
6 until their respective successors are appointed or until the
7 termination of their legislative service, whichever occurs
8 first. Vacancies occurring because of the death or
9 resignation of a member shall be filled by the appointing
10 authority for the group in which the vacancy occurs. The new
11 member shall serve for the remainder of the term of the
12 position that was vacated.
13 Section 15. Compensation. Commission members shall not
14 receive compensation for their services but shall be
15 reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance
16 of their duties.
17 Section 20. Organization; rules. The Commission shall,
18 within 30 days after all of the members have been appointed,
19 appoint one member as its Chairperson, a secretary to keep a
20 record of its proceedings, and any other officers that it
21 considers necessary. A Chairperson shall be appointed every
22 2 years. The Commission may make any rules for the
23 administration of the Commission that are not inconsistent
24 with this Act.
25 Section 25. Staff and assistants. Subject to
26 appropriations, the Department of Human Rights shall provide
27 the necessary staff and assistance for the Commission.
28 Section 30. Offices. Subject to appropriations, the
29 Commission shall maintain an office for the transaction of
30 business in any city in the State that the Commission may
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1 designate.
2 Section 40. Powers and duties.
3 (a) The Commission shall do all of the following:
4 (1) identify through research, data collection, and
5 public hearings, barriers to women's equality;
6 (2) maintain and make available to the appropriate
7 appointing authorities lists of persons qualified for
8 appointment to positions in State government;
9 (3) educate the public on the status of women and
10 on the impact of public policy on women, and analyze
11 current and proposed public policies to determine their
12 impact on women and report the analysis to the
13 appropriate authorities;
14 (4) issue reports and recommendations to the
15 executive and legislative branches of State government
16 and to the general public regarding women's policy
17 issues; and
18 (5) help the public and private sectors develop
19 programs and services for women, and encourage
20 collaboration between the Commission and other public
21 agencies, institutions, and organizations on issues of
22 mutual interest on them.
23 (b) The Commission shall also study and analyze all
24 facts relating to Illinois laws, rules, and guidelines with
25 respect to equal protection under the Illinois Constitution.
26 (c) The Commission may do the following:
27 (1) Create standing or special committees as
28 needed. These standing or special committees shall be
29 chaired by a member of the Commission but may include
30 members who are not members of the Commission.
31 (2) Survey activity in the area of status of women
32 carried on by any commission, agency, or department of
33 the federal government, any State, or any private
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1 organization or association and may cooperate with any of
2 those entities in conducting investigations and studies.
3 Section 45. Gifts and grants. The Commission may accept
4 monetary gifts or grants from the federal government or an
5 agency of the federal government, any charitable foundation
6 or professional association, or any other reputable source
7 for the implementation of any program necessary or desirable
8 for carrying out the general purposes of the Commission. The
9 gifts and grants shall be held by the State Treasurer in a
10 special trust fund outside the State treasury and expended as
11 directed by the Commission in the exercise of its powers and
12 the performance of its duties as prescribed by law.
13 Section 50. Reports and recommendations. On or before
14 February 1 of each year, the Commission shall make a full
15 report of its proceedings for the year ending December 1 to
16 the Governor and members of the General Assembly. The
17 Commission may submit any recommendations pertaining to its
18 affairs that it deems desirable and any recommendations for
19 legislative consideration and action that it deems necessary
20 or desirable with the report.
21 The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly
22 shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the
23 Speaker, Minority Leader, and Clerk of the House of
24 Representatives; the President, Minority Leader, and
25 Secretary of the Senate; and the Legislative Research Unit as
26 required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization
27 Act; and by filing additional copies with the State
28 Government Report Distribution Center for the General
29 Assembly as is required under subsection (1) of Section 7 of
30 the State Library Act.
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