(20 ILCS 864/15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2037)

Sec. 15. Duties of Commission. The Commission shall have the following duties:

(1) to provide resources for individuals and local entities seeking to learn more about the Underground Railroad in Illinois, including:

(A) an online resource website, including, but not limited to maps of journeys, historical sites, and conductor cemetery markers;

(B) a calendar of related events in this State;

(C) research sources and bibliographies;

(D) videos and links to videos; and

(E) pictures, brief histories, and other materials developed locally and at the State level;

(2) collaborate with organizations focusing on the Underground Railroad, including:

(A) local and regional Underground Railroad groups;

(B) county and regional historical societies;

(C) museums, especially museums that focus on slavery and the African American experience;

(D) academic programs, especially African American Studies at the college level and history departments; and

(E) organizations in African American communities;

(3) to create a grant funding program;

(4) to work with the National Park Service's Network to Freedom program and serve as a liaison between the National Park Service and local entities;

(5) to explore heritage tourism opportunities connecting the locations of freedom seeker journeys and Underground Railroad sites, working with the Illinois Office of Tourism and regional tourism agencies; and

(6) to connect freedom seekers and Underground Railroad stories to the range of freedom stories across and throughout the history of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 104-113, eff. 8-1-25.)