Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB0121
Illinois General Assembly

Previous General Assemblies

Full Text of SB0121  98th General Assembly

SB0121sam002 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Mattie Hunter

Filed: 4/3/2014

 

 


 

 


 
09800SB0121sam002LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 121

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 121 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Illinois African-American Family
5Commission Act is amended by changing Sections 5, 15, 20, and
625 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 3903/5)
8    Sec. 5. Legislative findings. It is the policy of this
9State to promote family preservation and to preserve and
10strengthen families.
11    (a) Over 12 million people live in Illinois.
12African-Americans represent 15% of the population and 26% of
13the residents living in Cook County. Despite some progress over
14the last few decades, African-Americans in Illinois continue to
15lag behind other racial groups relative to indicators of
16well-being in education, employment, income, and health.

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 2 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1According to the 2000 U.S. Census, just 26% of the
2African-American population over 25 years of age in Illinois
3completed their high school education; 6% held an associate's
4degree; less than 10% (9%) held a bachelor's degree; less than
55% (3%) held a master's degree; and less than one percent held
6either a professional (.8%) or doctoral (.4%) degree.
7    These levels of education attainment reflect more
8fundamental problems with retaining African-Americans in
9school. The Illinois State Board of Education reported that for
10the 2001-2002 school year, 36,373, or 6%, of students enrolled
11in public high schools dropped out. Thirty-nine percent of
12these students were African-Americans; 38% were White; 21% were
13Hispanic; and 2% were classified as Other.
14    Although African-Americans make up 18% of the high school
15population, they are disproportionately represented in the
16number of students who are suspended and expelled. In the
172001-2002 school year, 29,068 students were suspended from
18school. Forty-seven percent were White, 37% were
19African-American, 14% were Hispanic, and 1% were classified as
20Other. In regards to expulsions Statewide, the total number of
21high school students expelled was 1,651. Forty-three percent
22were African-American, 41% were White, 14% were Hispanic, and
232% were classified as Other. Within Chicago public schools, 448
24students were expelled. Seventy-seven of these students were
25African-American; 27% were White; 14% were Hispanic; and 4%
26were classified as Other. The fact that African-Americans are

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 3 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1more likely to be suspended or expelled from school also
2contributes to the high dropout rate among African-American
3high school students.
4    In addition to educational challenges, African-Americans
5face challenges in the areas of employment and income. In the
6year 2000, the unemployment rate for African-Americans age 16
7years or older was 15% compared to only 6% for the total
8Illinois population. Moreover, the median household income of
9African-Americans in Illinois was $31,699 compared to $46,590
10for the total Illinois population, and the percentage of
11African-American families below the poverty level in Illinois
12was 26% percent in 1999 compared to 10.7% for the total
13Illinois population in that same year.
14    Indicators of child welfare and criminal justice reveal
15still more challenges that African-American families face in
16Illinois. In 2000, African-American children represented 18%
17of children 18 years of age and under, but comprised 73% of
18children in substitute care. African-Americans are also
19overrepresented in the criminal justice population. Of the
20total Illinois adult inmate population in the year 2000, 65%
21were African-American. During this same time period,
22African-American youth represented 58% of the juvenile inmate
23population in Illinois.
24    While the leading causes of death among African-Americans
25are the same as those for the general population in Illinois,
26African-Americans have a higher rate of death per 100,000

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 4 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1residents. The rate of overall deaths per 100,000 residents
2among African-Americans in the year 2000 was 1,181; 847 for
3Whites; and 411 for those classified as Other. The rate of
4cancer-related deaths per 100,000 residents by racial or ethnic
5groups in 2000 was: 278 African-Americans; 206 Whites; and 110
6of those classified as Other. The rate of diabetes-related
7deaths per 100,000 residents among African-Americans in 2000
8was 41 compared to 23 for Whites and 13 for those classified as
9Other. The rate of deaths per 100,000 residents by heart
10disease among African-Americans in 2000 was 352 compared to 257
11for Whites and 120 for those classified as Other. The rate of
12deaths per 100,000 residents by stroke among African-Americans
13in 2000 was 75; 60 for Whites; and 35 for those classified as
14Other.
15    African-Americans had higher rates of smoking and obesity
16than other racial groups in Illinois in 2001. African-Americans
17accounted for more of the new adult/adolescent AIDS cases,
18cumulative adult/adolescent AIDS cases, and number of people
19living with AIDS than other racial groups in Illinois in the
20year 2002. Still, 23% of uninsured persons in Illinois are
21African-American.
22    (b) The Illinois African-American Family Commission
23continues to be an essential key to promoting the preservation
24and strengthening of families. As of the effective date of this
25amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, just under 13
26million people live in Illinois. African-Americans represent

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 5 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

115% of the population and 25% of the residents living in Cook
2County. Despite some progress over the last few decades,
3African-Americans in Illinois continue to lag behind other
4racial groups relative to indicators of well-being in
5education, employment, income, and health. According to the
62010 federal decennial census: just 28% of the African-American
7population over 25 years of age in Illinois completed their
8high school education; 36% had some college or an associate's
9degree; less than 12% held a bachelor's degree; less than 8%
10held either a graduate or professional degree.
11    These levels of education attainment reflect more
12fundamental problems with retaining African-Americans in
13school. The State Board of Education reported that for the
142010-2011 school year, 18,210, or 2.77%, of students enrolled
15in public high schools dropped out. 39.3% of these students
16were African-Americans; 32.6% were White; 24.2% were Hispanic;
17and 2% were classified as Other.
18    Although African-Americans make up 20% of the high school
19population, they are disproportionately represented in the
20number of students who are suspended and expelled. In the
212011-2012 school year, 29,928 students were suspended from
22school. 36% were White, 34% were African-American, 26% were
23Hispanic, and 4% were classified as Other. With regard to
24expulsions statewide, the total number of high school students
25expelled was 982. 37% were African-American, 41% were White,
2621% were Hispanic, and 2% were classified as Other. Within

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 6 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1Chicago public schools, 294 students were expelled. 80% of
2these students were African-American; none were White; 17% were
3Hispanic; and 3% were classified as Other. The fact that
4African-Americans are more likely to be suspended or expelled
5from school also contributes to the high dropout rate among
6African-American high school students.
7    In addition to educational challenges, African-Americans
8face challenges in the areas of employment and income. In the
9year 2010, the unemployment rate for African-Americans age 16
10years or older was 16% compared to only 9% for the total
11Illinois population. Moreover, the median household income of
12African-Americans in Illinois was $34,874 compared to $60,433
13for the total Illinois population, and the percentage of
14African-American families below the poverty level in Illinois
15was 32% percent in 2012 compared to 15% for the total Illinois
16population in that same year.
17    Indicators of child welfare and criminal justice reveal
18still more challenges that African-American families face in
19Illinois. In 2010, African-American children represented 14%
20of children 18 years of age and under, but comprised 56% of
21children in substitute care. African-Americans are also
22overrepresented in the criminal justice population. Of the
23total Illinois adult inmate population in the year 2012, 57%
24were African-American. During this same time period,
25African-American youth represented 66% of the juvenile inmate
26population in Illinois.

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 7 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1    While the leading causes of death among African-Americans
2are the same as those for the general population in Illinois,
3African-Americans have a higher rate of death per 100,000
4residents. The rate of overall deaths per 100,000 residents
5among African-Americans in the year 2010 was 898; 741 for
6Whites; and 458 for those classified as Other. The rate of
7cancer-related deaths per 100,000 residents by racial or ethnic
8groups in 2010 was 216 for African-Americans; 179 for Whites;
9and 124 for those classified as Other. The rate of
10diabetes-related deaths per 100,000 residents among
11African-Americans in 2010 was 114 compared to 66 for Whites and
1275 for those classified as Other. The rate of deaths per
13100,000 residents by heart disease among African-Americans in
142010 was 232 compared to 179 for Whites and 121 for those
15classified as Other. The rate of deaths per 100,000 residents
16by stroke among African-Americans in 2010 was 108; 73 for
17Whites; and 56 for those classified as Other.
18    African-Americans had higher rates of smoking and obesity
19than other racial groups in Illinois in 2013. African-Americans
20accounted for more of the new adult/adolescent AIDS cases,
21cumulative adult/adolescent AIDS cases, and number of people
22living with AIDS than other racial groups in Illinois in the
23year 2013. Still, 24% of uninsured persons in Illinois are
24African-American.
25    (c) These huge disparities in education, employment,
26income, child welfare, criminal justice, and health

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 8 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1demonstrate the tremendous challenges facing the
2African-American family in Illinois. These challenges are
3severe. There is a need for government, child and family
4advocates, and other key stakeholders to create and implement
5public policies to address the health and social crises facing
6African-American families. The development of given solutions
7clearly transcends any one State agency and requires a
8coordinated effort. The Illinois African-American Family
9Commission shall assist State agencies with this task.
10    The African-American Family Commission was created in
11October 1994 by Executive Order to assist the Illinois
12Department of Children and Family Services in developing and
13implementing programs and public policies that affect the
14State's child welfare system. The Commission has a proven track
15record of bringing State agencies, community providers, and
16consumers together to address child welfare issues. The ability
17of the Commission to address the above-mentioned health issues,
18community factors, and the personal well-being of
19African-American families and children has been limited due to
20the Executive Order's focus on child welfare. It is apparent
21that broader issues of health, mental health, criminal justice,
22education, and economic development also directly affect the
23health and well-being of African-American families and
24children. Accordingly, the role of the Illinois
25African-American Family Commission is hereby expanded to
26encompass working relationships with every department, agency,

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 9 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1and commission within State government if any of its activities
2impact African-American children and families. The focus of the
3Commission is hereby restructured and shall exist by
4legislative mandate to engage State agencies in its efforts to
5preserve and strengthen African-American families.
6(Source: P.A. 93-867, eff. 8-5-04.)
 
7    (20 ILCS 3903/15)
8    Sec. 15. Purpose and objectives.
9    (a) The purpose of the Illinois African-American Family
10Commission is to advise the Governor and General Assembly, as
11well as work directly with State agencies, to improve and
12expand existing policies, services, programs, and
13opportunities for African-American families. The Illinois
14African-American Family Commission shall guide the efforts of
15and collaborate with State agencies, including: the Department
16on Aging, the Department of Children and Family Services, the
17Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the
18Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services,
19the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the
20Department of Public Health, the Department of Transportation,
21the Department of Employment Security, and others. This shall
22be achieved primarily by: to improve and expand existing human
23services and educational and community development programs
24for African-Americans. This will be achieved by:
25        (1) Monitoring and commenting on existing and proposed

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 10 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1    legislation and programs designed to address the needs of
2    African-Americans in Illinois;
3        (2) Assisting State agencies in developing programs,
4    services, public policies, and research strategies that
5    will expand and enhance the social and economic well-being
6    of African-American children and families; and
7        (3) Facilitating the participation of and
8    representation of African-Americans in the development,
9    implementation, and planning of policies, programs, and
10    community-based services; and .
11        (4) Promoting research efforts to document the impact
12    of policies and programs on African-American families.
13    The work of the Illinois African-American Family
14Commission shall include the use of existing reports, research
15and planning efforts, procedures, and programs.
16(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
 
17    (20 ILCS 3903/20)
18    Sec. 20. Appointment; terms. The Illinois African-American
19Family Commission shall be comprised of 15 members.
20    For those seats on the Commission with terms that expire in
212015, and for subsequent appointments to those seats, the
22Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of
23the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
24the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each
25appoint one member to the Commission.

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 11 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1    For those seats on the Commission with terms that expire in
22016, and for subsequent appointments to those seats, the
3Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of
4the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
5the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each
6appoint one member to the Commission.
7    For those seats on the Commission with terms that expire in
82017, and for subsequent appointments to those seats, the
9Governor shall appoint 5 members to the Commission who shall be
10appointed by the Governor.
11    Each member shall have a working knowledge of human
12services, community development, and economic public policies
13in Illinois. The Governor shall appoint the chairperson or
14chairpersons.
15    The members shall reflect regional representation to
16ensure that the needs of African-American families and children
17throughout the State of Illinois are met. The members shall be
18selected from a variety of disciplines. They shall be
19representative of a partnership and collaborative effort
20between public and private agencies, the business sector, and
21community-based human services organizations.
22    Members shall serve 3-year terms, except in the case of
23initial appointments. One-third of initially appointed
24members, as determined by lot, shall be appointed to 1-year
25terms; 1/3 shall be appointed to 2-year terms; and 1/3 shall be
26appointed to 3-year terms, so that the terms are staggered.

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 12 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1Members will serve without compensation, but shall be
2reimbursed for Commission-related expenses.
3    The Department on Aging, the Department of Children and
4Family Services, the Department of Commerce and Economic
5Opportunity, the Department of Corrections, the Department of
6Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family
7Services, the Department of Public Health, the State Board of
8Education, the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois
9Community College Board, the Department of Human Rights, the
10Capital Development Board, the Department of Labor, and the
11Department of Transportation shall each appoint a liaison to
12serve ex-officio on the Commission. The Office of the Governor,
13in cooperation with the State agencies appointing liaisons to
14the Commission under this Section, shall provide
15administrative support to the Commission.
16(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
 
17    (20 ILCS 3903/25)
18    Sec. 25. Funding. The African-American Family Commission
19may shall receive funding through appropriations available for
20its purposes made to the Department on Aging, the Department of
21Children and Family Services, the Department of Commerce and
22Economic Opportunity, the Department of Corrections, the
23Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and
24Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid), the
25Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, the

 

 

09800SB0121sam002- 13 -LRB098 04333 OMW 58142 a

1Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College
2Board, the Department of Human Rights, the Capital Development
3Board, the Department of Labor, and the Department of
4Transportation. Beginning on July 1, 2014, and every July 1
5thereafter, the funding allocation for the Commission shall be
6no less than $500,000. The Commission may also receive and
7expend funding from federal and private sources, including
8gifts, donations, and private grants.
9(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
 
10    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
111, 2015.".