Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1859

Sen. Graciela Guzmán

Filed: 3/14/2025

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AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1859

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1859 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Climate Displacement Task Force Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to ensure Illinois proactively plans for climate-driven displacement by identifying future resource needs, supporting community resilience, and developing policies in collaboration with residents, advocates, and industry stakeholders. With rising global water levels and more extreme weather events, states like Illinois will see an increase in the number of people relocating to escape these situations, which may include: (i) an influx of people from areas outside of Illinois facing greater threats, which can put strain on existing resources, (ii) increasing impacts on current Illinois residents, which may lead to a need to relocate within Illinois and even within smaller geographies, or (iii) both. The State of Illinois has a responsibility to analyze the State's future needs and to ensure the resilience of resources. As a result, the State of Illinois must adequately prepare to make robust policy suggestions in consultation with residents, advocates, and industry.

Section 10. Appointments. Members of the Task Force must be appointed no later than 60 days after the effective date of this Act. If a vacancy occurs on the Task Force, it shall be filled according to the guidelines of the initial appointment. These guidelines might include consultation with relevant stakeholders, adherence to diversity and equity principles, and consideration of expertise in climate displacement. At the discretion of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, additional individuals may be appointed as voting members in the meetings of the Task Force, provided they have relevant expertise or experience in addressing climate displacement, building community resilience, or related fields. The qualifications for the appointments shall be documented and made publicly available.

Section 15. Duties. The Climate Displacement Task Force is created to make findings and recommendations regarding climate displacement within this State. An initial report delineating the Task Force's findings, conclusions, and recommendations shall be submitted to the General Assembly no later than June 30, 2026.

Once the initial voting members have been appointed, the Task Force shall meet not less than once each quarter following the effective date of this Act to carry out the duties prescribed in this Act.

Section 20. Membership. The Task Force shall consist of the following voting members:

(1) the Governor or his or her designee;

(2) 4 members of the General Assembly:

(A) one member, who shall serve as Chairperson, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(B) one member, who shall serve as Vice-Chairperson, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(C) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(D) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(3) the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or the Director's designee;

(4) the Director of Public Health or the Director's designee;

(5) the Secretary of Human Services or the Secretary's designee;

(6) the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security or the Director's designee;

(7) one representative from labor organizations, appointed by the Governor;

(8) one representative from community-based organizations working on affordable housing or transportation or other essential services, appointed by the Governor;

(9) one representative from immigrant rights organizations, appointed by the Governor;

(10) one representative from environmental justice organizations, appointed by the Governor;

(11) one representative from academic institutions with experience in urban planning, appointed by the Governor; and

(12) any other additional members appointed under Section 10.".