093_SB1523ren

SB1523 Re-enrolled                   LRB093 11000 BDD 11648 b

 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.
 
SB1523 Re-enrolled             -2-   LRB093 11000 BDD 11648 b
 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
 
SB1523 Re-enrolled             -3-   LRB093 11000 BDD 11648 b
 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        their effectiveness; identify and promote new services or
34        programs whenever necessary; and make recommendations  to
 
SB1523 Re-enrolled             -4-   LRB093 11000 BDD 11648 b
 1        public  officials  about changes necessary to improve the
 2        quality  and  delivery   of   services,   programs,   and
 3        activities and about future financial support to continue
 4        existing programs and establish new programs.
 5             (5)  Monitor   State   funded   programs  delivering
 6        services to persons who are deaf or hard  of  hearing  to
 7        determine  the extent that promised and mandated services
 8        are delivered.
 9             (6)  Review,  evaluate,  and  participate   in   the
10        development  of  proposed  and  amended  statutes, rules,
11        regulations, and policies relating to services, programs,
12        and activities for deaf and hard of hearing  persons  and
13        make   recommendations   on   existing  statutes,  rules,
14        regulations,  and  policies  to  the  Governor,   General
15        Assembly,   and   State  agencies  Recommend  legislative
16        changes to the Governor and General Assembly  and  follow
17        and  evaluate laws affecting persons who are deaf or hard
18        of hearing.
19             (7)  Promote  cooperation  among  State  and   local
20        agencies providing educational programs for deaf and hard
21        of hearing individuals.
22             (8)  Establish  rules and regulations policy related
23        to evaluation,  certification,  licensure,  and  training
24        standards of sign language interpreters for deaf and hard
25        of   hearing   persons;   monitor   the  courts'  use  of
26        interpreters provided from an approved list; and serve as
27        a  resource  by  providing   a   listing   of   qualified
28        interpreters  upon  request to legislative bodies, public
29        and private agencies, and persons who are deaf  and  hard
30        of hearing.
31    (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

32        (20 ILCS 3932/30)
33        Sec.  30.  Rules  and  regulations.  The Commission shall
 
SB1523 Re-enrolled             -5-   LRB093 11000 BDD 11648 b
 1    promulgate rules and regulations to  implement  this  Act  in
 2    accordance  with  the  Illinois  Administrative Procedure Act
 3    Powers and duties of  the  Director.   The  Director  of  the
 4    Commission  shall  carry out the policies and programs of the
 5    Commission.  The Director shall organize and  administer  the
 6    staff of the Commission to meet the requirements of this Act.
 7    (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)