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92_SB2239
LRB9214872BDdv
1 AN ACT concerning employment.
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 Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization Act.
6 Section 5. Illinois Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization
7 Program. The Department of Employment Security shall
8 establish the Illinois Ex-Offender Employment Stabilization
9 Program as a grant program to (i) increase and improve
10 post-release employment opportunities for ex-offenders and
11 (ii) reduce recidivism rates through the combined resources
12 and expertise of providers of workforce development and
13 supportive services. The program shall be established in
14 Illinois local governments where (i) the number of residents
15 under State community correctional supervision is 10,000 or
16 more annually and (ii) the number of returnees to that local
17 government who have exited annually from State correctional
18 institutions is 25% or more of all individuals released
19 annually from state correctional institutions. The
20 Department shall be responsible for reviewing grant proposals
21 and awarding grants.
22 Section 10. Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization Program
23 Advisory Board. The Governor shall appoint an Ex-Offenders
24 Employment Stabilization Program Advisory Board. The Advisory
25 Board shall be chaired by the Director of the Department of
26 Employment Security. Other members appointed by the Governor
27 shall consist of one representative of an Illinois
28 not-for-profit organization and enrolling 1,000 or more
29 individuals annually in its employment and training programs,
30 of whom at least 70% must be ex-offenders; one representative
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1 of an Illinois not-for-profit organization and enrolling
2 fewer than 150 individuals annually in its employment and
3 training programs, of whom at least 70% must be ex-offenders;
4 the Commissioner of the City of Chicago Mayor's Office of
5 Workforce Development; and 4 members nominated by the Mayor
6 of the City of Chicago, at least 2 of whom the shall hold
7 management-level positions at employers located within the
8 City of Chicago currently employing ex-offenders.
9 Section 15. Advisory Board.
10 (a) The Advisory Board shall:
11 (1) prepare and recommend to the Department rules
12 implementing this Act;
13 (2) determine criteria and procedures to be
14 followed in awarding grants and review applications for
15 grants under the Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization
16 Program; and
17 (3) make recommendations to the Department as to
18 the award of grants under the Ex-Offenders Employment
19 Stabilization Program.
20 (b) Members all the Advisory Board shall not be
21 reimbursed for their costs and expenses of participation. All
22 decisions of the Advisory Board shall be decided on a one
23 vote per member basis with a majority of the Advisory Board
24 membership to rule.
25 (c) The Advisory Board shall report annually to the
26 General Assembly on its effectiveness and shall make further
27 recommendations based on the experiences and outcomes of its
28 operations.
29 Section 20. Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization Program
30 required elements. The Ex-Offenders Employment Stabilization
31 Program shall require grant proposals to include the
32 following elements to achieve a holistic and comprehensive
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1 service strategy:
2 (1) rapid attachment to work;
3 (2) long-term follow-up;
4 (3) pre-release services;
5 (4) comprehensive support services;
6 (5) identification assistance; and
7 (6) job development and marketing.
8 Section 25. Appropriations. Funds may be appropriated to
9 the Department to pay its costs of administering the programs
10 authorized by this Act. Beginning in fiscal year 2002,
11 appropriated funds may be used for the purposes of
12 implementing this Act, including necessary administrative
13 costs.
14 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15 becoming law.