Public Act 93-0647

SB1523 Re-enrolled                   LRB093 11000 BDD 11648 b

    AN  ACT  concerning  the  Deaf  and   Hard   of   Hearing
Commission.

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

    Section 5.  The Deaf and Hard of Hearing  Commission  Act
is  amended  by  changing  Sections  15,  20,  25,  and 30 as
follows:

    (20 ILCS 3932/15)
    Sec. 15.  Commission membership.
    (a)  The  Commission  shall  be  composed  of  11  voting
members appointed by the Governor from residents of the State
whose position, knowledge,  or  experience  enables  them  to
reasonably represent the concerns, needs, and recommendations
of  deaf  or hard of hearing persons.  At a minimum, 6 voting
members of the Commission shall be persons who  are  deaf  or
hard  of hearing.  The Chairperson of the Commission shall be
elected from the Commission's membership by a simple majority
vote  of  the  total  membership  of  the  Commission.    The
Vice-Chairperson  of the Commission shall be elected from the
Commission's membership by a  simple  majority  vote  of  the
total membership of the Commission.
    (b)  The  Governor  shall  consider  nominations  made by
advocacy groups for  the    deaf  and  hard  of  hearing  and
community-based organizations.
    (c)  Of  the initial members appointed by the Governor, 3
shall be appointed to terms of one year, 4 shall be appointed
to terms of 2 years, and 4 shall be appointed to terms  of  3
years.   Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for terms
of 3 years.  No member shall serve more  than  2  consecutive
terms.  A  member  shall  serve until his or her successor is
appointed and qualified.
    (d)  Initial members' terms of office shall be chosen  by
lot at the initial meeting of the Commission.
    (e)  Vacancies  in  Commission membership shall be filled
in the same manner as initial appointments.  Appointments  to
fill  vacancies  occurring  before  the  expiration of a term
shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
    (f)  Members shall not  receive  compensation  for  their
services  but  shall be  reimbursed for their actual expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties plus  up  to  $50
per  day  for  any  actual  loss  of  wages  incurred  in the
performance of their duties.
    (g)  Total membership consists of the  number  of  voting
members,  as  defined  in  this Section, excluding any vacant
positions.  A quorum shall consist of a  simple  majority  of
total  membership  and  shall  be  sufficient  to conduct the
transaction of business of the Commission  unless  stipulated
otherwise in the by-laws of the Commission.
    (h)  The Commission shall meet at least quarterly.
(Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (20 ILCS 3932/20)
    Sec. 20.  Director.  The Director of the Commission shall
be  hired,  supervised,  evaluated,  and  terminated  by  the
Commission.  The  Director  shall  carry  out  the  policies,
programs,  and  activities  of  the Commission.  The Director
shall employ,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the
Illinois  Personnel  Code,  manage, and organize the staff of
the Commission as he or she deems appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (20 ILCS 3932/25)
    Sec. 25.   Powers  and  duties  of  the  Commission.  The
Commission  shall  be a coordinating and advocating body that
acts on behalf of the interests of persons  in  Illinois  who
are  deaf  or  hard  of  hearing, including children, adults,
senior citizens, and those with  any  additional  disability.
The   Commission   shall  submit  an  annual  report  of  its
activities to  the  Governor  and  the  General  Assembly  on
January 1st of each year.   The Commission shall:
         (1)  Make  available  and provide an educational and
    informational program through printed materials, workshop
    and training sessions, presentations, demonstrations, and
    public awareness events about hearing loss  for  citizens
    in  Illinois  and  for  public  and private entities. The
    program shall include, but not be limited to, information
    concerning information  and  referral  services,  lending
    libraries,   service   and   resource  availability,  the
    interpreter  registry,  accessibility  and  accommodation
    issues,   assistive   technology,   empowerment   issues,
    obligations   of   service   providers   and   employers,
    educational  options,  and  current  federal  and   State
    statutes,  regulations,  and  policies  regarding hearing
    loss Develop a program to inform persons who are deaf  or
    hard  of  hearing  and  the public of the State and local
    services available for the deaf and hard of  hearing  and
    make  available  other  information of value to families,
    professionals, and  citizens  working  or  involved  with
    persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
         (2)  Cooperate  with public and private agencies and
    local,  State,  and  federal  governments  to  coordinate
    programs for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
         (3)  Provide technical assistance, consultation, and
    training support to start and enhance  existing  programs
    and services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
         (4)  Evaluate  and monitor State programs delivering
    services to deaf and hard of hearing persons to determine
    their effectiveness; identify and promote new services or
    programs whenever necessary; and make recommendations  to
    public  officials  about changes necessary to improve the
    quality  and  delivery   of   services,   programs,   and
    activities and about future financial support to continue
    existing programs and establish new programs.
         (5)  Monitor   State   funded   programs  delivering
    services to persons who are deaf or hard  of  hearing  to
    determine  the extent that promised and mandated services
    are delivered.
         (6)  Review,  evaluate,  and  participate   in   the
    development  of  proposed  and  amended  statutes, rules,
    regulations, and policies relating to services, programs,
    and activities for deaf and hard of hearing  persons  and
    make   recommendations   on   existing  statutes,  rules,
    regulations,  and  policies  to  the  Governor,   General
    Assembly,   and   State  agencies  Recommend  legislative
    changes to the Governor and General Assembly  and  follow
    and  evaluate laws affecting persons who are deaf or hard
    of hearing.
         (7)  Promote  cooperation  among  State  and   local
    agencies providing educational programs for deaf and hard
    of hearing individuals.
         (8)  Establish  rules and regulations policy related
    to evaluation,  certification,  licensure,  and  training
    standards of sign language interpreters for deaf and hard
    of   hearing   persons;   monitor   the  courts'  use  of
    interpreters provided from an approved list; and serve as
    a  resource  by  providing   a   listing   of   qualified
    interpreters  upon  request to legislative bodies, public
    and private agencies, and persons who are deaf  and  hard
    of hearing.
(Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (20 ILCS 3932/30)
    Sec.  30.  Rules  and  regulations.  The Commission shall
promulgate rules and regulations to  implement  this  Act  in
accordance  with  the  Illinois  Administrative Procedure Act
Powers and duties of  the  Director.   The  Director  of  the
Commission  shall  carry out the policies and programs of the
Commission.  The Director shall organize and  administer  the
staff of the Commission to meet the requirements of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)