(20 ILCS 3305/23)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2032)

Sec. 23. Access and Functional Needs Advisory Committee.

(a) In this Section, "Advisory Committee" means the Access and Functional Needs Advisory Committee.

(b) The Access and Functional Needs Advisory Committee is created.

(c) The Advisory Committee shall:

(1) Coordinate meetings occurring, at a minimum, 3 times each year, in addition to emergency meetings called by the chairperson of the Advisory Committee.

(2) Research and provide recommendations for identifying and effectively responding to the needs of persons with access and functional needs before, during, and after a disaster using an intersectional lens for equity.

(3) Provide recommendations to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency regarding how to ensure that persons with a disability are included in disaster strategies and emergency management plans, including updates and implementation of disaster strategies and emergency management plans.

(4) Review and provide recommendations for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and all relevant State agencies that are involved in drafting and implementing the Illinois Emergency Operation Plan, to integrate access and functional needs into State and local emergency plans.

(d) The Advisory Committee shall be composed of the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or his or her designee, the Attorney General or his or her designee, the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee, the Director of Aging or his or her designee, and the Director of Public Health or his or her designee, together with the following members appointed by the Governor on or before January 1, 2022:

(1) Two members, either from a municipal or county-level emergency agency or a local emergency management coordinator.

(2) Nine members from the community of persons with a disability who represent persons with different types of disabilities, including, but not limited to, individuals with mobility and physical disabilities, hearing and visual disabilities, deafness or who are hard of hearing, blindness or who have low vision, mental health disabilities, and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Members appointed under this paragraph shall reflect a diversity of age, gender, race, and ethnic background.

(3) Four members who represent first responders from different geographical regions around the State.

(e) Of those members appointed by the Governor, the initial appointments of 6 members shall be for terms of 2 years and the initial appointments of 5 members shall be for terms of 4 years. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for terms of 4 years. A member shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs in the Advisory Committee membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(f) After all the members are appointed, and annually thereafter, they shall elect a chairperson from among the members appointed under paragraph (2) of subsection (d).

(g) The initial meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be convened by the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency no later than February 1, 2022.

(h) Advisory Committee members shall serve without compensation.

(i) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall provide administrative support to the Advisory Committee.

(j) The Advisory Committee shall prepare and deliver a report to the General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency by July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter. The report shall include the following:

(1) Identification of core emergency management services that need to be updated or changed to ensure the needs of persons with a disability are met, and shall include disaster strategies in State and local emergency plans.

(2) Any proposed changes in State policies, laws, rules, or regulations necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Act.

(3) Recommendations on improving the accessibility and effectiveness of disaster and emergency communication.

(4) Recommendations on comprehensive training for first responders and other frontline workers when working with persons with a disability during emergency situations or disasters, as defined in Section 4 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(5) Any additional recommendations regarding emergency management and persons with a disability that the Advisory Committee deems necessary.

(k) The annual report prepared and delivered under subsection (j) shall be annually considered by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency when developing new State and local emergency plans or updating existing State and local emergency plans.

(l) The Advisory Committee is dissolved and this Section is repealed on January 1, 2032.

(Source: P.A. 102-361, eff. 8-13-21; 102-671, eff. 11-30-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)