HJ0084 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0084 LRB099 12643 GRL 36438 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Executive Order 1997-01 created the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, which was directed to identify solutions to remove obstacles and impediments that face women and families in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The majority of the obstacles and impediments that were identified by the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women in 1998 remain unresolved; and

WHEREAS, In a continuing effort to help women achieve economic independence, the General Assembly finds that it is necessary to reestablish the Commission on the Status of Women in order to continue this important work; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Commission on the Status of Women within the Office of the Governor in order to identify solutions to remove obstacles and impediments in education, employment, business, and health care in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(3) two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;

(4) two members of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(5) one member appointed by the Governor; and

(6) eight members of the public, two each appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That vacancies occurring because of death or resignation shall be filled by the appointing authority for the group in which the vacancy occurs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall, within 30 days after all of the members have been appointed, organize by appointing one member as its Chairperson and by making necessary rules for the administration of the Commission that are not inconsistent with this resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission may employ those employees and assistants as it deems necessary without regard to the Personnel Code or any other law of this State concerning State employment; the members of the Commission and their employees and assistants shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That 9 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the concurrence of at least 8 Commissioners shall be necessary to render a decision by the Commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall undertake the following activities:

(1) studying the status of women in this State and make recommendations for constructive action in employment policies and practices, Illinois labor laws, legal rights, the family and the employed woman, women and citizens volunteers, access to health care, education, and expanded health care and employment programs to help women as wives, mothers, and workers;

(2) studying and analyzing all facts relating to Illinois laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to equal protection under the Illinois Constitution; and

(3) surveying activity in the area of the status of women carried on by any commission, agency, or department of the federal government or State or any private entity and cooperating with these entities in conducting investigations and studies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission may accept monetary gifts or grants from the federal government or its agencies, from any charitable foundation or professional association, or from any other reputable source for the implementation of any program necessary or desirable for carrying out the general purposes of the Commission; such gifts and grants may be held in trust by the Commission and expended in the exercise of its powers and performance of its duties and prescribed by law; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall make a full report of its proceedings, recommendations concerning the activities of the Commission, and recommendations for legislative consideration and action to the Governor and the members of the General Assembly on or before February 1, 2016.