SB2178 Enrolled LRB096 02930 KTG 12944 b

1     AN ACT concerning plain language.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Illinois Plain Language Task Force Act.
 
6     Section 5. Purpose. The mission of the Illinois Plain
7 Language Task Force is to conduct a study on, and to propose
8 legislative measures designed to realize:
9         (1) the potential benefits of incorporating plain
10     language in State government documents, statutes, and
11     contracts into which the State enters; and
12         (2) how plain language principles might be
13     incorporated into the statutes governing contracts among
14     private parties so as to provide additional protections to
15     Illinois consumers, to reduce litigation between private
16     parties over the meaning of contractual terms, and to
17     foster judicial economy.
 
18     Section 10. Definition. As used in this Act:
19     "Plain language" has the same meaning ascribed to it in the
20 Executive Memorandum of the President of the United States,
21 mandating that Federal Agencies and Federal Administrative
22 Rules employ plain language, issued June 1, 1998, namely that

 

 

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1 "plain language" documents have logical organization,
2 easy-to-read design features, and use: (i) common, everyday
3 words, except for necessary technical terms; (ii) "you" and
4 other pronouns; (iii) the active voice; and (iv) short
5 sentences.
 
6     Section 15. Task Force.
7     (a) The Illinois Plain Language Task Force is hereby
8 created. The Illinois Plain Language Task Force shall be
9 chaired by the Governor or his or her designee and shall
10 consist of the following members: one member appointed by the
11 Illinois Attorney General; one member appointed by the Senate
12 President; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
13 Senate; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House; one
14 member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; and 3
15 members appointed by the Governor, one of whom represents the
16 interests of the banking industry, one of whom represents the
17 interests of the business community, and one of whom represents
18 the interests of the consumers.
19     (b) Members of the Task Force must be appointed no later
20 than 90 days after the effective date of this Act.
21     (c) If a vacancy occurs on the Task Force, it shall be
22 filled according to the guidelines of the initial appointment.
23     (d) At the discretion of the chair, additional individuals
24 may participate as non-voting members in the meetings of the
25 Task Force.

 

 

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1     (e) Members of the Illinois Plain Language Task Force shall
2 serve without compensation. The Office of the Governor shall
3 provide staff and administrative services to the Task Force.
 
4     Section 20. Duties. Once all members have been appointed,
5 the Task Force shall meet not less than once each quarter
6 following the effective date of this Act to carry out the
7 duties prescribed in this Act. An initial report delineating
8 the Task Force's findings, conclusions, and recommendations
9 shall be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly no later
10 than 9 months after the effective date of this Act. Thereafter,
11 the Task Force shall make periodic recommendations on its own
12 motion or at the urging of the Illinois General Assembly.
 
13     Section 25. Guidance. The Task Force shall be guided in its
14 discussions on the subject of plain language by the guidelines
15 for plain language drafting promulgated by the President of the
16 United States on June 1, 1998, which accompanied his plain
17 language Executive Memorandum issued on the same day.
 
18     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19 becoming law.