HB2983eng 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2983 Engrossed LRB101 08994 KTG 54087 b

AN ACT concerning homeless youth.

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 Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee Act.

Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds that 1 in 10 young people ages 18-25 experience a form of homelessness over a 12-month period. Also 1 in 30 youths ages 13-17 experience a form of homelessness over a 12-month period. Homelessness disproportionately impacts African-American youth and mirrors the racial disparities in school suspensions, incarceration rates, and foster care placement. Youth who have interacted with State systems of care, such as the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health, and the Department of Corrections, and youth who have been hospitalized for mental health problems are disproportionately overrepresented in the population of people experiencing homelessness. The U.S. Department of Education classifies youth living "doubled up" as homeless. "Doubled up" is a term that refers to a situation where individuals are unable to maintain their own housing situation and are forced to stay with a series of friends or extended family members. The individual has no right or authority over the housing. The "homes" of such individuals are often unstable, not permanent, and can be as dangerous as living on the streets. As a result, doubled up housing situations are potentially detrimental to the health and well-being of these homeless youth. A study conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 12% of prisoners were homeless at the time of their arrest. Similarly, a national survey of jail inmates concluded that more than 15% of the jail population had been homeless at some point in the preceding year, a rate 8 to 11 times the national average. Illinois needs a cohesive strategy across our child welfare, mental health, corrections, and human services agencies that is designed to reduce the rates of homelessness among youth and to lessen the likelihood of youth experiencing chronic homelessness into adulthood.

Section 10. Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee. In 2016 the Governor, by Executive Order, created a Governor's Cabinet on Children and Youth to ensure that all children and youth in Illinois are healthy, safe, well-educated, and successfully launched into self-sufficiency. To better serve youth leaving State systems of care and to bring Illinois in line with the national goal of ending youth homelessness by 2020, the Cabinet on Children and Youth shall create a subcommittee to drive the State's strategic vision for preventing homelessness among youth leaving State systems of care. The subcommittee shall be known as the Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee.

Section 15. Duties. The Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee shall:

(1) Review the discharge planning, service plans, and discharge procedures for youth leaving the custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health, and the Department of Corrections to determine whether such discharge planning and procedures ensure housing stability for youth leaving State systems of care.

(2) Collect data on the housing stability of youth for one year after they are released from the custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health, or the Department of Corrections.

(3) Based on data collected under paragraph (2) regarding youth experiencing homelessness after leaving State systems of care, create a plan to improve discharge policies and procedures to ensure housing stability for youth leaving State systems of care.

(4) Provide recommendations on community plans for sustainable housing; create education and employment plans for homeless youth; and create strategic collaborations between the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health, and the Department of Corrections with respect to youth leaving State systems of care.

Section 20. Membership. The Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee shall include the following members:

(1) One representative from the Governor's office.

(2) The Director of the Department of Children and Family Services.

(3) The Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(4) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services.

(5) The Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

(6) The Director of the Department of Corrections.

(7) The Director of the Department of Public Health.

(8) The Director of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.

(9) Four representatives from agencies serving homeless youth.

(10) One representative from a homeless advocacy organization.

(11) One representative from a juvenile justice advocacy organization.

(12) Four youth who have a lived experience with homelessness.

Section 25. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Subcommittee shall constitute a quorum, and all recommendations of the Subcommittee shall require approval of a majority of the total members of the Subcommittee.

Section 30. Administrative support. The Governor's Office shall provide administrative support to the Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee as needed, including with respect to compliance with State ethics laws, the Open Meetings Act, and the Freedom of Information Act.

Section 35. Meetings. The Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee shall hold at least 6 meetings each year, but otherwise shall meet at the call of the chair.

Section 40. Reports. The Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee shall submit an interim report to the Governor every 6 months and an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly.