Public Act 102-1058
 
HB4070 EnrolledLRB102 18093 RJF 25232 b

    AN ACT concerning State 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 Indian American Advisory Council Act.
 
    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
    "Indian" means a person descended from any of the
countries of the subcontinent that are not primarily Muslim in
character, including India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
    "Council" means the Illinois Indian American Advisory
Council created by this Act.
 
    Section 10. Illinois Indian American Advisory Council.
There is hereby created the Illinois Indian American Advisory
Council. The purpose of the Council is to advise the Governor
and the General Assembly on policy issues impacting Indian
Americans and immigrants; to advance the role and civic
participation of Indian Americans in this State; to enhance
trade and cooperation between Indian-majority countries and
this State; and, in cooperation with State agencies, boards,
and commissions, to build relationships with and disseminate
information to Indian American and immigrant communities
across this State.
 
    Section 15. Council members.
    (a) The Council shall consist of 21 voting members. The
Governor shall appoint one voting member, who shall act as the
chairperson of the Council and serve as 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 each appoint 4 members of the
public to the Council, who shall also serve as voting 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 health care.
    (d) Appointed 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,
nonvoting members of the Council: 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.
    The following State agencies shall also each appoint a
liaison to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the
Council: the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity,
the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the
Department of Human Services, 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
Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Board of
Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board.
    (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 20. Meetings. The Council shall meet at least once
per each calendar quarter. 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 25. Reports.
    (a) The Council shall issue semi-annual reports on its
policy recommendations to the Governor and the General
Assembly by June 30th and December 31st of each year.
    (b) The reports on policy recommendations shall focus on,
but are not limited to, the following: (i) policy issues
impacting Indian Americans and immigrants; (ii) advancement of
the role and civic participation of Indian Americans in this
State; (iii) enhancement of trade and cooperation between
Indian-majority countries and this State; and (iv) building
relationships with and disseminating information to, in
cooperation with State agencies, boards, and commissions,
Indian American and immigrant communities across this State.