HB4070enr 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4070 Enrolled LRB102 18093 RJF 25232 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 Indian American Advisory Council Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Indian" means a person descended from any of the countries of the subcontinent that are not primarily Muslim in character, including India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

"Council" means the Illinois Indian American Advisory Council created by this Act.

Section 10. Illinois Indian American Advisory Council. There is hereby created the Illinois Indian American Advisory Council. The purpose of the Council is to advise the Governor and the General Assembly on policy issues impacting Indian Americans and immigrants; to advance the role and civic participation of Indian Americans in this State; to enhance trade and cooperation between Indian-majority countries and this State; and, in cooperation with State agencies, boards, and commissions, to build relationships with and disseminate information to Indian American and immigrant communities across this State.

Section 15. Council members.

(a) The Council shall consist of 21 voting members. The Governor shall appoint one voting member, who shall act as the chairperson of the Council and serve as the representative of the Office of the Governor. The Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 4 members of the public to the Council, who shall also serve as voting members.

(b) Appointing authorities shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the Council is diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, age, gender, and geography.

(c) Appointments to the Council shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: higher education, business, international trade, law, social services, human services, immigration, refugee services, community development, or health care.

(d) Appointed members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms. A member shall serve until his or her successor shall be appointed. Members of the Council shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members.

(e) The following officials shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the Council: the Deputy Director of the Office of Trade and Investment within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, and the Chief of the Bureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services within the Department of Human Services, or his or her designee.

The following State agencies shall also each appoint a liaison to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the Council: the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Department of Human Services, the Department on Aging, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Central Management Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board.

(f) The Council may establish committees that address certain issues, including, but not limited to, communications, economic development, and legislative affairs.

(g) The Office of the Governor shall provide administrative and technical support to the Council, including a staff member to serve as ethics officer.

Section 20. Meetings. The Council shall meet at least once per each calendar quarter. In addition, the Council may hold up to 2 public hearings annually to assist in the development of policy recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. All meetings of the Council shall be conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Eleven members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

Section 25. Reports.

(a) The Council shall issue semi-annual reports on its policy recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by June 30th and December 31st of each year.

(b) The reports on policy recommendations shall focus on, but are not limited to, the following: (i) policy issues impacting Indian Americans and immigrants; (ii) advancement of the role and civic participation of Indian Americans in this State; (iii) enhancement of trade and cooperation between Indian-majority countries and this State; and (iv) building relationships with and disseminating information to, in cooperation with State agencies, boards, and commissions, Indian American and immigrant communities across this State.