HB1567enr 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1567 Enrolled LRB102 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.)