093_SB1523

 
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 1        AN  ACT  concerning  the  Deaf  and   Hard   of   Hearing
 2    Commission.

 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section 5.  The Deaf and Hard of Hearing  Commission  Act
 6    is  amended  by  changing  Sections  15,  20,  25,  and 30 as
 7    follows:

 8        (20 ILCS 3932/15)
 9        Sec. 15.  Commission membership.
10        (a)  The  Commission  shall  be  composed  of  11  voting
11    members appointed by the Governor from residents of the State
12    whose position, knowledge,  or  experience  enables  them  to
13    reasonably represent the concerns, needs, and recommendations
14    of  deaf  or hard of hearing persons.  At a minimum, 6 voting
15    members of the Commission shall be persons who  are  deaf  or
16    hard  of hearing.  The Chairperson of the Commission shall be
17    elected from the Commission's membership by a simple majority
18    vote  of  the  total  membership  of  the  Commission.    The
19    Vice-Chairperson  of the Commission shall be elected from the
20    Commission's membership by a  simple  majority  vote  of  the
21    total membership of the Commission.
22        (b)  The  Governor  shall  consider  nominations  made by
23    advocacy groups for  the    deaf  and  hard  of  hearing  and
24    community-based organizations.
25        (c)  Of  the initial members appointed by the Governor, 3
26    shall be appointed to terms of one year, 4 shall be appointed
27    to terms of 2 years, and 4 shall be appointed to terms  of  3
28    years.   Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for terms
29    of 3 years.  No member shall serve more  than  2  consecutive
30    terms.  A  member  shall  serve until his or her successor is
31    appointed and qualified.
 
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 1        (d)  Initial members' terms of office shall be chosen  by
 2    lot at the initial meeting of the Commission.
 3        (e)  Vacancies  in  Commission membership shall be filled
 4    in the same manner as initial appointments.  Appointments  to
 5    fill  vacancies  occurring  before  the  expiration of a term
 6    shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
 7        (f)  Members shall not  receive  compensation  for  their
 8    services  but  shall be  reimbursed for their actual expenses
 9    incurred in the performance of their duties plus  up  to  $50
10    per  day  for  any  actual  loss  of  wages  incurred  in the
11    performance of their duties.
12        (g)  Total membership consists of the  number  of  voting
13    members,  as  defined  in  this Section, excluding any vacant
14    positions.  A quorum shall consist of a  simple  majority  of
15    total  membership  and  shall  be  sufficient  to conduct the
16    transaction of business of the Commission  unless  stipulated
17    otherwise in the by-laws of the Commission.
18        (h)  The Commission shall meet at least quarterly.
19    (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

20        (20 ILCS 3932/20)
21        Sec. 20.  Director.  The Director of the Commission shall
22    be  hired,  supervised,  evaluated,  and  terminated  by  the
23    Commission.  The  Director  shall  carry  out  the  policies,
24    programs,  and  activities  of  the Commission.  The Director
25    shall employ,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the
26    Illinois  Personnel  Code,  manage, and organize the staff of
27    the Commission as he or she deems appropriate.
28    (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

29        (20 ILCS 3932/25)
30        Sec. 25.   Powers  and  duties  of  the  Commission.  The
31    Commission  shall  be a coordinating and advocating body that
32    acts on behalf of the interests of persons  in  Illinois  who
 
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 1    are  deaf  or  hard  of  hearing, including children, adults,
 2    senior citizens, and those with  any  additional  disability.
 3    The   Commission   shall  submit  an  annual  report  of  its
 4    activities to  the  Governor  and  the  General  Assembly  on
 5    January 1st of each year.   The Commission shall:
 6             (1)  Make  available  and provide an educational and
 7        informational program through printed materials, workshop
 8        and training sessions, presentations, demonstrations, and
 9        public awareness events about hearing loss  for  citizens
10        in  Illinois  and  for  public  and private entities. The
11        program shall include, but not be limited to, information
12        concerning information  and  referral  services,  lending
13        libraries,   service   and   resource  availability,  the
14        interpreter  registry,  accessibility  and  accommodation
15        issues,   assistive   technology,   empowerment   issues,
16        obligations   of   service   providers   and   employers,
17        educational  options,  and  current  federal  and   State
18        statutes,  regulations,  and  policies  regarding hearing
19        loss Develop a program to inform persons who are deaf  or
20        hard  of  hearing  and  the public of the State and local
21        services available for the deaf and hard of  hearing  and
22        make  available  other  information of value to families,
23        professionals, and  citizens  working  or  involved  with
24        persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
25             (2)  Cooperate  with public and private agencies and
26        local,  State,  and  federal  governments  to  coordinate
27        programs for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
28             (3)  Provide technical assistance, consultation, and
29        training support to start and enhance  existing  programs
30        and services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
31             (4)  Evaluate  and monitor State programs delivering
32        services to deaf and hard of hearing persons to determine
33        that promised and mandated services are delivered and  to
34        assure  their  effectiveness;  identify  and  promote new
 
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 1        services  or  programs  whenever  necessary;   and   make
 2        recommendations   to   public   officials  about  changes
 3        necessary  to  improve  the  quality  and   delivery   of
 4        services,  programs,  and  activities  and  about  future
 5        financial  support  to  continue  existing  programs  and
 6        establish new programs.
 7             (5)  Appoint   task   forces   and  committees  when
 8        appropriate for in-depth investigations  and  studies  of
 9        particular  problems  relating  to  deafness  and receive
10        reports of findings and  recommendations  from  the  task
11        forces  and  committees  Monitor  State  funded  programs
12        delivering  services  to  persons who are deaf or hard of
13        hearing  to  determine  the  extent  that  promised   and
14        mandated services are delivered.
15             (6)  Review,   evaluate,   and  participate  in  the
16        development of  proposed  and  amended  statutes,  rules,
17        regulations, and policies relating to services, programs,
18        and  activities  for deaf and hard of hearing persons and
19        make  recommendations  on   existing   statutes,   rules,
20        regulations,   and  policies  to  the  Governor,  General
21        Assembly,  and  State  agencies   Recommend   legislative
22        changes  to  the Governor and General Assembly and follow
23        and evaluate laws affecting persons who are deaf or  hard
24        of hearing.
25             (7)  Provide    awards,   grants,   contracts,   and
26        sponsorships to any person or public or private agency to
27        provide services or programs that  are  identified  as  a
28        service  or program gap or that promote an innovative and
29        creative  approach  to  strengthen,  expand,  or  improve
30        services and  programs  for  deaf  and  hard  of  hearing
31        persons   Promote   cooperation  among  State  and  local
32        agencies providing educational programs for deaf and hard
33        of hearing individuals.
34             (8)  Establish rules and regulations policy  related
 
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 1        to  evaluation,  certification,  licensure,  and training
 2        standards of sign language interpreters for deaf and hard
 3        of  hearing  persons;  monitor   the   courts'   use   of
 4        interpreters provided from an approved list; and serve as
 5        a   resource   by   providing   a  listing  of  qualified
 6        interpreters upon request to legislative  bodies,  public
 7        and  private  agencies, and persons who are deaf and hard
 8        of hearing.
 9    (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

10        (20 ILCS 3932/30)
11        Sec. 30.  Rules and  regulations.  The  Commission  shall
12    promulgate  rules  and  regulations  to implement this Act in
13    accordance with the  Illinois  Administrative  Procedure  Act
14    Powers  and  duties  of  the  Director.   The Director of the
15    Commission shall carry out the policies and programs  of  the
16    Commission.   The  Director shall organize and administer the
17    staff of the Commission to meet the requirements of this Act.
18    (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)