Public Act 103-0269
 
HB2831 EnrolledLRB103 26868 KTG 53232 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended
by adding Section 10-75 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 1305/10-75 new)
    Sec. 10-75. Homelessness supports in Illinois.
    (a) The Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (Office) is
created within the Department of Human Services to facilitate
the implementation of a strategic plan and initiatives aimed
at decreasing homelessness and unnecessary
institutionalization in Illinois, improving health and human
services outcomes for people who experience homelessness, and
strengthening the safety nets that contribute to housing
stability. The Office shall be led by the State Homelessness
Chief Officer who shall report to the Secretary of the
Department. The Chief Officer shall also chair the Interagency
Task Force on Homelessness, co-chair the Community Advisory
Council on Homelessness, and lead the State's comprehensive
efforts related to homelessness prevention. The Chief Officer
shall serve as a policymaker and spokesperson on homelessness
prevention, including coordinating the multi-agency effort
through legislation, rules, and budgets and communicating with
the General Assembly and federal and local leaders on these
critical issues.
    (b) The Interagency Task Force on Homelessness is created
within the Department of Human Services to facilitate and
implement initiatives related to decreasing homelessness and
unnecessary institutionalization in this State, improve health
and human services outcomes for people who experience
homelessness, and strengthen the safety nets that contribute
to housing stability. The Task Force shall:
        (1) Implement the State Plan which is aimed at
    addressing homelessness and unnecessary
    institutionalization with the goals of achieving
    functional zero homelessness, improving health and human
    services outcomes for people experiencing homelessness,
    and strengthening the safety nets that contribute to
    housing stability.
        (2) Recommend policy, regulatory, and resource changes
    necessary to accomplish goals and objectives laid out in
    the State Plan.
        (3) Serve within State government and in the State at
    large as an advocate for people experiencing homelessness.
        (4) Provide leadership for and collaborate with those
    developing and implementing local plans to end
    homelessness in Illinois, including, but not limited to,
    the Community Advisory Council and its members.
        (5) Recommend the resources needed for successful
    implementation and oversee that implementation.
        (6) Recommend and promote effective interagency
    collaboration and system integration to converge related
    efforts, including coordination with the Illinois Youth
    Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee, the Illinois
    Commission on the Elimination of Poverty, and the Illinois
    Commission to End Hunger on drafting policy
    recommendations related to the intersection of
    homelessness and poverty.
        (7) Recommend needed policy, regulatory, and resource
    distribution changes; make oversight recommendations that
    will ensure accountability, results, and sustained
    success; and develop specific proposals and
    recommendations for action to provide to the Governor and
    the General Assembly.
    (d) The Task Force may solicit feedback from stakeholders,
customers, and advocates to inform Task Force recommendations
as necessary.
    (e) On or before December 1, 2024, and each year
thereafter, the Task Force shall submit a report to the
Governor and General Assembly regarding the Task Force's work
during the year prior, any new recommendations developed by
the Task Force, any recommendations made by the Community
Advisory Council on Homelessness, and any key outcomes and
measures related to homelessness.
    (f) The Task Force shall include the following members
appointed by the Governor:
        (1) The Chief Homelessness Officer, who shall serve as
    Chair.
        (2) The Secretary of Human Services, or his or her
    designee.
        (3) The Executive Director of the Illinois Housing
    Development Authority, or his or her designee.
        (4) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services, or
    his or her designee.
        (5) The Superintendent of the State Board of
    Education, or his or her designee.
        (6) The Executive Director of the Board of Higher
    Education, or his or her designee.
        (7) The Executive Director of the Illinois Community
    College Board, or his or her designee.
        (8) The Director of Corrections, or his or her
    designee.
        (9) The Director of Veterans' Affairs, or his or her
    designee.
        (10) The Director of Children and Family Services, or
    his or her designee.
        (11) The Director of Public Health, or his or her
    designee.
        (12) The Director of Aging, or his or her designee.
        (13) The Director of Juvenile Justice, or his or her
    designee.
        (14) The Director of Commerce and Economic
    Opportunity, or his or her designee.
        (15) The Director of Employment Security, or his or
    her designee.
        (16) The Director of the Illinois State Police, or his
    or her designee.
        (17) The Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal
    Justice Authority, or his or her designee.
        (18) The Director of the Office of Management and
    Budget, or his or her designee.
    (g) The Task Force shall also include the following
members:
        (1) One member appointed by the President of the
    Senate.
        (2) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
    Senate.
        (3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House
    of Representatives.
        (4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
    House of Representatives.
    (h) The Chair of the Task Force may appoint additional
representatives from State agencies as needed.
    (i) The Task Force shall meet at the call of the chair, at
least 4 times per year. Members shall serve without
compensation.
    (j) The Task Force may establish subcommittees to address
specific issues or populations and may collaborate with
individuals with relevant expertise who are not members of the
Task Force to assist the subcommittee in carrying out its
duties.
    (k) The Department of Human Services shall provide
administrative support to the Task Force.
    (l) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to contravene
any federal or State law or regulation. Unless specifically
referenced in this Act, nothing in this Act shall affect or
alter the existing statutory powers of any State agency or be
construed as a reassignment or reorganization of any State
agency.
    (m) Community Advisory Council. The Community Advisory
Council on Homelessness is created within the Department of
Human Services to make recommendations to the Interagency Task
Force on Homelessness regarding homelessness and unnecessary
institutionalization with the goals of achieving functional
zero homelessness, improving health and human services
outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and
strengthening the safety nets that contribute to housing
stability.
        (1) The Advisory Council shall be co-chaired by the
    Chief Homelessness Officer and a member of the Advisory
    Council designated by the Governor. The Advisory Council
    shall consist of all of the following members appointed by
    the Governor. Members appointed to the Advisory Council
    must reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity
    of this State. The Chief may include any State agency
    staff that they deem necessary as ex officio, nonvoting
    members of the Community Advisory Council.
            (A) Three members with lived experience of
        homelessness or housing insecurity, which may include,
        but are not limited to, formerly incarcerated persons,
        veterans, and youth (16 to 25 years old).
            (B) One member representing individuals with
        disabilities.
            (C) Two members representing the philanthropic
        private funding sector.
            (D) One member representing a statewide behavioral
        health advocacy organization.
            (E) One member representing a statewide housing
        advocacy organization.
            (F) At least 2 members representing local
        Continuums of Care.
            (G) At least 3 members representing local units of
        government (municipal, county, or township).
            (H) One member representing an organization that
        supports victims of domestic violence.
            (I) A minimum of 4 members representing providers
        of the homeless response system inclusive of, but not
        limited to, emergency supportive housing, rapid
        rehousing, permanent supportive housing, homeless
        youth programs, and homeless prevention.
            (J) Two members, who may or may not meet the
        qualification requirements for the other appointees.
    The Advisory Council shall meet at least 4 times per year.
        (2) Members shall serve without compensation, but
    public members may be reimbursed for reasonable and
    necessary travel expenses connected to Task Force
    business. Persons with lived experience of homelessness
    and housing insecurity, who are not otherwise compensated
    by employers to attend the Community Advisory Council,
    shall receive compensation for each quarterly Council
    meeting attended.
        (3) The meetings of the Advisory Council shall be
    conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 2
    of the Open Meetings Act. The Department of Human Services
    shall provide staff and administrative support to assist
    the Advisory Council in carrying out its duties.
        (4) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
    contravene any federal or State law or regulation. Unless
    specifically referenced in this Act, nothing in this Act
    shall affect or alter the existing statutory powers of any
    State agency or be construed as a reassignment or
    reorganization of any State agency.
        (5) On or before November 15, 2023, and each year
    thereafter, the Advisory Council shall submit
    recommendations to the Interagency Task Force on
    Homelessness.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.