HB4683 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 15475 AJO 30703 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB4683

Introduced , by Rep. LaShawn K. Ford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the African American Employment Plan Act. Provides that the purposes of the Act are to: (1) improve State services delivery to Illinois' African Americans; (2) increase the number of African Americans: who are employed throughout State government, who are promoted, and who are veterans who are hired by State government; (3) assist State agencies meet goals established by the African American Employment Plan; and (4) establish an African American Employment Plan Advisory Council. Defines terms. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall: develop and implement plans to increase the number of African Americans employed by State government, including those at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels; prepare a State African American Employment Plan; annually report to the General Assembly each State agency's activities that implement the Plan; and assist State agencies with training programs to meet their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals. Provides that each State agency shall: implement programs under the Plan to increase the number of African Americans employed by the State, including at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels; and report annually to the Department its activities that implement the Plan. Provides that the African American Employment Plan Advisory Council is created, consisting of 11 members each of whom shall be an African American subject matter expert appointed by the Governor. Provides that members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses from appropriated funds. Includes other provisions. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

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 African American Employment Plan Act.

Section 5. Purposes. The purposes of this Act are as follows:

(a) improve the delivery of State services to Illinois' African Americans by increasing the number of African American State employees and the number of African American State employees serving in supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial positions;

(b) identify State agencies' staffing needs and qualification requirements;

(c) track hiring practices and promotions of African Americans employed by State agencies;

(d) increase the number of African Americans employed by State agencies;

(e) increase the number of African American State employees who are promoted;

(f) increase the number of African American veterans hired by State agencies;

(g) assist State agencies to meet their goals established pursuant to the African American Employment Plan; and

(h) establish the African American Employment Plan Advisory Council.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Central Management Services.

"State agency" or "agency", whether used in the singular or plural, means all departments, officers, commissions, boards, institutions, and bodies politic and corporate of the State. The term, however, does not mean the judicial branch, including, without limitation, the several courts of the State, the offices of the clerk of the supreme court and the clerks of the appellate court, and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, nor does it mean the legislature or its committees or commissions.

Section 15. African American Employment Plan.

(a) The Department shall have a full-time position designated as the African American Employment Coordinator to monitor compliance with the African American Employment Plan.

(b) The Department shall develop and implement plans to increase the number of African Americans employed by State agencies and the number of African Americans employed by State agencies at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels.

(c) The Department shall prepare and revise annually an African American Employment Plan in consultation with individuals and organizations knowledgeable on this subject and with the African American Employment Plan Advisory Council. The Department shall report to the General Assembly by February 1 of each year, beginning with February 1, 2011, each State agency's activities that implement the African American Employment Plan.

Section 20. State agency affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals.

(a) Each State agency shall implement strategies and programs in accordance with the African American Employment Plan to increase the number of African Americans employed by that State agency and the number of African Americans employed by that State agency at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels.

(b) Each State agency shall report annually to the Department and the Department of Human Rights, in a format prescribed by the Department, all of the agency's activities in implementing the African American Employment Plan. Each agency's annual report shall include reports or information related to the agency's African American employment strategies and programs that the agency has received from the Department, the Department of Human Rights, or the Auditor General, pursuant to their periodic review responsibilities; findings made by the Governor in his or her report to the General Assembly; assessments of service needs based upon the agency's service populations; information on the agency's studies and monitoring success concerning the number of African Americans employed by the agency at the supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels and any increases in those categories from the prior year; and information concerning the agency's African American employment budget allocations.

(c) The Department shall assist State agencies required to establish preparation and promotion training programs under subsection (H) of Section 7-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act for failure to meet their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals. The Department shall survey State agencies to identify effective existing training programs and shall serve as a resource to other State agencies. The Department shall assist agencies in the development and modification of training programs to enable them to meet their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals and shall provide information regarding other existing training and educational resources, such as the Upward Mobility Program, the Illinois Institute for Training and Development, the Central Management Services Training Center, Executive Recruitment Internships, and Graduate Public Service Internships.

Section 25. African American Employment Plan Advisory Council.

(a) The African American Employment Plan Advisory Council is created, consisting of 11 members, each of whom shall be an African American subject matter expert, appointed by the Governor.

(b) All members of the African American Employment Plan Advisory Council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(c) The African American Employment Plan Advisory Council shall examine: (1) the prevalence and impact of African Americans employed by State government; (2) the barriers faced by African Americans who seek employment or promotional opportunities in State government; and (3) possible incentives that could be offered to foster the employment of and the promotion of African Americans in State government.

(d) The Council shall meet quarterly to provide consultation to State agencies and the African American Employment Coordinator.

(e) The African American Employment Plan Advisory Council shall receive administrative support from the Department of Central Management Services and shall issue an annual report of its activities each year on or before December 1, beginning with December 1, 2011.

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