HB2313 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 07454 KTG 52496 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2313

Introduced , by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Illinois Violence Reduction Funding Act of 2019. Requires the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to make grants to community-based organizations for the purpose of carrying out community-based violence reduction programs. Provides that the programs shall reflect strong community involvement and provide specified services including: (i) youth services; (ii) trauma-informed counseling services; (iii) public awareness campaigns; and (iv) job readiness training programs. Contains provisions concerning eligible activities; selection criteria; eligible entities; application requirements; and reporting requirements. Effective July 1, 2019.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning violence reduction.

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 Violence Reduction Funding Act of 2019.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to establish a program within the Department of Human Services to administer competitively awarded grants to community-based organizations to reduce violent crime within the State of Illinois.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Community-based organization" means a private not-for-profit organization that is capable of addressing violence prevention and reduction within the State of Illinois by using a culturally competent approach, and that is located within a community:

(1) with an unemployment rate that is at least 26% higher than the State's average unemployment rate according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, adjusted yearly;

(2) that has a violent crimes rate that is at least 10% higher than the State's average per capita violent crimes rate; and

(3) that is representative of very low-income populations.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.

"Very low-income" means a person or household whose income is at or below 50% of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the household is located.

Section 15. Program requirements. The Secretary shall, subject to appropriations, make grants to community-based organizations for the purpose of carrying out community-based violence reduction programs as provided under this Act. All programs funded in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall reflect strong community involvement. In addition, funding provided under this Act shall be used by each community-based violence reduction program to provide, at a minimum, one of the following services:

(1) violence prevention;

(2) youth services;

(3) after school programming;

(4) trauma-informed counseling services;

(5) youth work experiences;

(6) job readiness training programs;

(7) public awareness campaigns;

(8) services for disconnected youth;

(9) capacity building;

(10) grant management;

(11) writing and development;

(12) organizational structure and sustainability;

(13) street-level outreach; and

(14) other priority areas.

Section 20. Eligible activities. Implementation grants may be used to carry out the activities listed in Section 15. Other eligible activities include administrative costs of the community-based organization which may not exceed a specified percentage of the amount of assistance provided, as determined by the Secretary, that is necessary to support the capacity development of the community-based organization.

Section 25. Selection criteria. Priority in the awarding of grants under this Act shall be given to community-based organizations with experience operating violence reduction programs in accordance with this Act.

Section 30. Eligible entities. Community-based organizations or public agencies with experience using a culturally competent approach to reduce neighborhood violence shall also be eligible for grants under this Act.

Section 35. Application requirements. The Secretary shall require that an application for grants under this Act contain, at a minimum:

(1) a request for an implementation grant, specifying the amount of the grant requested and its proposed uses;

(2) a description of the applicant and a statement of the applicant's qualifications, including a description of the applicant's experience operating a violence reduction program in accordance with this Act;

(3) a description of the educational and job training activities, work opportunities, and other services that will be provided to program participants;

(4) a detailed budget and a description of the system of fiscal controls and auditing and accountability procedures that will be used to ensure fiscal soundness;

(5) a description of any contracts and arrangements entered into between the applicant and other agencies and entities, including all in-kind donations and grants from both public and private entities that will serve to augment funds provided under this Act.

Section 40. Annual report. The Department of Human Services shall prepare an annual report summarizing costs and outcome data associated with the violence reduction programs implemented in accordance with this Act. The report must include, but not be limited to, the following information: the number of participants in each program and the average cost per participant. The Department must submit its report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2019 and by December 31 of each year thereafter.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2019.