SB1696eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1696 Engrossed LRB100 10202 RJF 20384 b

AN ACT concerning 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 Muslim American Advisory Council Act.

Section 5. Findings and declaration of policy. The General Assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares:

(a) The State of Illinois is home to over 500,000 Muslims and over 300 mosques, representing various races and ethnicities, including but not limited to African Americans, West and East African Americans, South Asian Americans, Arab Americans, Latin Americans, and Caucasian Americans. They also represent a variety of professions, including, but not limited to, lawyers, business owners, professors, and community activists.

(b) Muslims are the third largest religious group in the State of Illinois after Roman Catholics and independent Evangelical Christians.

(c) It is the public policy of the State of Illinois to promote diversity and to ensure inclusion of all religious, racial, and ethnic groups within this State.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Council" means the Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council created by this Act.

"Muslim" means an individual who practices the religion of Islam.

Section 15. The Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council. There is hereby created the Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council. The purpose of the Council is to advise the Governor and the General Assembly on policy issues impacting Muslim Americans and immigrants; to advance the role and civic participation of Muslim Americans in this State; to enhance trade and cooperation between Muslim-majority countries and this State; and to build relationships with and disseminate information to, in cooperation with State agencies, boards, and commissions, Muslim American and immigrant communities across this State.

Section 20. Council members.

(a) The Council shall consist of 21 members. The Governor shall appoint one member to be 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 also each appoint 4 public members to the Council. The Governor shall select the chairperson of the Council from among the 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 healthcare.

(d) 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 members: 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. In addition, 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 Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and the Community College Board shall each appoint a liaison to serve as an ex-officio member of the Council.

(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 25. Meetings. The Council shall meet at least once per month. 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 30. Reports. The Council shall issue semi-annual reports on its policy recommendations by June 30th and December 31st of each year to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.