HB3217eng 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3217 Engrossed LRB101 10305 RJF 55410 b

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Asian American Family Commission Act.

Section 5. Purpose and objectives. The purpose of the Asian American Family Commission is to advise the Governor and General Assembly, as well as work directly with State agencies, to improve and expand existing policies, services, programs, and opportunities for Asian American families. The Asian American Family Commission shall guide the efforts of and collaborate with State agencies, including: the Department on Aging, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Employment Security, and others. This shall be achieved primarily by:

(1) monitoring and commenting on existing and proposed legislation and programs designed to address the needs of Asian Americans in Illinois;

(2) assisting State agencies in developing programs, services, public policies, and research strategies that will expand and enhance the social and economic well-being of Asian American children and families;

(3) facilitating the participation of and representation of Asian Americans in the development, implementation, and planning of policies, programs, and services; and

(4) promoting research efforts to document the impact of policies and programs on Asian American families.

The work of the Asian American Family Commission shall include the use of existing reports, research and planning efforts, procedures, and programs.

Section 10. Asian American Family Commission.

(a) There is hereby established the Asian American Family Commission.

(b) The Asian American Family Commission shall be comprised of 15 members. The Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 3 members to the Commission. Each member shall have working knowledge of human services, community development, or economic public policies in Illinois. The Governor shall appoint the chairperson or chairpersons.

(c) Members shall serve 3-year terms, except in the case of initial appointments. Five members, as determined by lot, shall initially be appointed to one-year terms; 5 members shall be appointed to 2-year terms; and 5 members shall be appointed to 3-year terms, so that the terms are staggered. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for Commission-related expenses.

(d) The Department on Aging, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Employment Security, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, the State Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Department of Human Rights, the Capital Development Board, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Transportation shall each appoint a liaison to serve ex officio on the Commission. The Office of the Governor, in cooperation with the State agencies appointing liaisons to the Commission under this subsection (d), shall provide administrative support to the Commission.

Section 15. Funding. The Asian American Family Commission may receive funding through specific appropriations available for its purposes made to the Department on Aging, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, the State Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Department of Human Rights, the Capital Development Board, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Transportation.

Section 20. Report. The Asian American Family Commission shall annually report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the Commission's progress toward its goals and objectives.