093_SB1523enr
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1 AN ACT concerning the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2 Commission.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission Act
6 is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, 25, and 30 as
7 follows:
8 (20 ILCS 3932/15)
9 Sec. 15. Commission membership.
10 (a) The Commission shall be composed of 11 voting
11 members appointed by the Governor from residents of the State
12 whose position, knowledge, or experience enables them to
13 reasonably represent the concerns, needs, and recommendations
14 of deaf or hard of hearing persons. At a minimum, 6 voting
15 members of the Commission shall be persons who are deaf or
16 hard of hearing. The Chairperson of the Commission shall be
17 elected from the Commission's membership by a simple majority
18 vote of the total membership of the Commission. The
19 Vice-Chairperson of the Commission shall be elected from the
20 Commission's membership by a simple majority vote of the
21 total membership of the Commission.
22 (b) The Governor shall consider nominations made by
23 advocacy groups for the deaf and hard of hearing and
24 community-based organizations.
25 (c) Of the initial members appointed by the Governor, 3
26 shall be appointed to terms of one year, 4 shall be appointed
27 to terms of 2 years, and 4 shall be appointed to terms of 3
28 years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for terms
29 of 3 years. No member shall serve more than 2 consecutive
30 terms. A member shall serve until his or her successor is
31 appointed and qualified.
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1 (d) Initial members' terms of office shall be chosen by
2 lot at the initial meeting of the Commission.
3 (e) Vacancies in Commission membership shall be filled
4 in the same manner as initial appointments. Appointments to
5 fill vacancies occurring before the expiration of a term
6 shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
7 (f) Members shall not receive compensation for their
8 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses
9 incurred in the performance of their duties plus up to $50
10 per day for any actual loss of wages incurred in the
11 performance of their duties.
12 (g) Total membership consists of the number of voting
13 members, as defined in this Section, excluding any vacant
14 positions. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of
15 total membership and shall be sufficient to conduct the
16 transaction of business of the Commission unless stipulated
17 otherwise in the by-laws of the Commission.
18 (h) The Commission shall meet at least quarterly.
19 (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)
20 (20 ILCS 3932/20)
21 Sec. 20. Director. The Director of the Commission shall
22 be hired, supervised, evaluated, and terminated by the
23 Commission. The Director shall carry out the policies,
24 programs, and activities of the Commission. The Director
25 shall employ, in accordance with the provisions of the
26 Illinois Personnel Code, manage, and organize the staff of
27 the Commission as he or she deems appropriate.
28 (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)
29 (20 ILCS 3932/25)
30 Sec. 25. Powers and duties of the Commission. The
31 Commission shall be a coordinating and advocating body that
32 acts on behalf of the interests of persons in Illinois who
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1 are deaf or hard of hearing, including children, adults,
2 senior citizens, and those with any additional disability.
3 The Commission shall submit an annual report of its
4 activities to the Governor and the General Assembly on
5 January 1st of each year. The Commission shall:
6 (1) Make available and provide an educational and
7 informational program through printed materials, workshop
8 and training sessions, presentations, demonstrations, and
9 public awareness events about hearing loss for citizens
10 in Illinois and for public and private entities. The
11 program shall include, but not be limited to, information
12 concerning information and referral services, lending
13 libraries, service and resource availability, the
14 interpreter registry, accessibility and accommodation
15 issues, assistive technology, empowerment issues,
16 obligations of service providers and employers,
17 educational options, and current federal and State
18 statutes, regulations, and policies regarding hearing
19 loss Develop a program to inform persons who are deaf or
20 hard of hearing and the public of the State and local
21 services available for the deaf and hard of hearing and
22 make available other information of value to families,
23 professionals, and citizens working or involved with
24 persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
25 (2) Cooperate with public and private agencies and
26 local, State, and federal governments to coordinate
27 programs for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
28 (3) Provide technical assistance, consultation, and
29 training support to start and enhance existing programs
30 and services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
31 (4) Evaluate and monitor State programs delivering
32 services to deaf and hard of hearing persons to determine
33 that promised and mandated services are delivered and to
34 assure their effectiveness; identify and promote new
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1 services or programs whenever necessary; and make
2 recommendations to public officials about changes
3 necessary to improve the quality and delivery of
4 services, programs, and activities and about future
5 financial support to continue existing programs and
6 establish new programs.
7 (5) Appoint task forces and committees when
8 appropriate for in-depth investigations and studies of
9 particular problems relating to deafness and receive
10 reports of findings and recommendations from the task
11 forces and committees Monitor State funded programs
12 delivering services to persons who are deaf or hard of
13 hearing to determine the extent that promised and
14 mandated services are delivered.
15 (6) Review, evaluate, and participate in the
16 development of proposed and amended statutes, rules,
17 regulations, and policies relating to services, programs,
18 and activities for deaf and hard of hearing persons and
19 make recommendations on existing statutes, rules,
20 regulations, and policies to the Governor, General
21 Assembly, and State agencies Recommend legislative
22 changes to the Governor and General Assembly and follow
23 and evaluate laws affecting persons who are deaf or hard
24 of hearing.
25 (7) Provide awards, grants, contracts, and
26 sponsorships to any person or public or private agency to
27 provide services or programs that are identified as a
28 service or program gap or that promote an innovative and
29 creative approach to strengthen, expand, or improve
30 services and programs for deaf and hard of hearing
31 persons Promote cooperation among State and local
32 agencies providing educational programs for deaf and hard
33 of hearing individuals.
34 (8) Establish rules and regulations policy related
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1 to evaluation, certification, licensure, and training
2 standards of sign language interpreters for deaf and hard
3 of hearing persons; monitor the courts' use of
4 interpreters provided from an approved list; and serve as
5 a resource by providing a listing of qualified
6 interpreters upon request to legislative bodies, public
7 and private agencies, and persons who are deaf and hard
8 of hearing.
9 (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)
10 (20 ILCS 3932/30)
11 Sec. 30. Rules and regulations. The Commission shall
12 promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Act in
13 accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
14 Powers and duties of the Director. The Director of the
15 Commission shall carry out the policies and programs of the
16 Commission. The Director shall organize and administer the
17 staff of the Commission to meet the requirements of this Act.
18 (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)