Public Act 100-0459
 
SB1696 EnrolledLRB100 10202 RJF 20384 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
Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council Act.
 
    Section 5. Findings and declaration of policy. The General
Assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares:
    (a) The State of Illinois is home to over 500,000 Muslims
and over 300 mosques, representing various races and
ethnicities, including but not limited to African Americans,
West and East African Americans, South Asian Americans, Arab
Americans, Latin Americans, and Caucasian Americans. They also
represent a variety of professions, including, but not limited
to, lawyers, business owners, professors, and community
activists.
    (b) Muslims are the third largest religious group in the
State of Illinois after Roman Catholics and independent
Evangelical Christians.
    (c) It is the public policy of the State of Illinois to
promote diversity and to ensure inclusion of all religious,
racial, and ethnic groups within this State.
 
    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
    "Council" means the Illinois Muslim American Advisory
Council created by this Act.
    "Muslim" means an individual who practices the religion of
Islam.
 
    Section 15. The Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council.
There is hereby created the Illinois Muslim American Advisory
Council. The purpose of the Council is to advise the Governor
and the General Assembly on policy issues impacting Muslim
Americans and immigrants; to advance the role and civic
participation of Muslim Americans in this State; to enhance
trade and cooperation between Muslim-majority countries and
this State; and to build relationships with and disseminate
information to, in cooperation with State agencies, boards, and
commissions, Muslim American and immigrant communities across
this State.
 
    Section 20. Council members.
    (a) The Council shall consist of 21 members. The Governor
shall appoint one member to be the representative of the Office
of the Governor. The Governor, the President of the Senate, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of
the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives shall also each appoint 4 public members to the
Council. The Governor shall select the chairperson of the
Council from among the members.
    (b) Appointing authorities shall ensure, to the maximum
extent practicable, that the Council is diverse with respect to
race, ethnicity, age, gender, and geography.
    (c) Appointments to the Council shall be persons of
recognized ability and experience in one or more of the
following areas: higher education, business, international
trade, law, social services, human services, immigration,
refugee services, community development, or healthcare.
    (d) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms. A
member shall serve until his or her successor shall be
appointed. Members of the Council shall not be entitled to
compensation for their services as members.
    (e) The following officials shall serve as ex-officio
members: the Deputy Director of the Office of Trade and
Investment within the Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity, or his or her designee, and the Chief of the
Bureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services within the Department
of Human Services, or his or her designee. In addition, the
Department on Aging, the Department of Children and Family
Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the
Department of Public Health, the Department of Central
Management Services, the Board of Education, the Board of
Higher Education, and the Community College Board shall each
appoint a liaison to serve as an ex-officio member of the
Council.
    (f) The Council may establish committees that address
certain issues, including, but not limited to, communications,
economic development, and legislative affairs.
    (g) The Office of the Governor shall provide administrative
and technical support to the Council, including a staff member
to serve as ethics officer.
 
    Section 25. Meetings. The Council shall meet at least once
per month. In addition, the Council may hold up to 2 public
hearings annually to assist in the development of policy
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. All
meetings of the Council shall be conducted in accordance with
the Open Meetings Act. Eleven members of the Council shall
constitute a quorum.
 
    Section 30. Reports. The Council shall issue semi-annual
reports on its policy recommendations by June 30th and December
31st of each year to the Governor and the General Assembly.
 
    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.