SB2074 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 15574 RCE 41573 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB2074

Introduced 2/14/2008, by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs - Jacqueline Y. Collins

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Commission on the Eradication of Poverty Act. Provides for appointments and terms of members. Provides for funding through the Department of Human Rights. Requires meetings and reports. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning people living in poverty.

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 Commission on the Eradication of Poverty Act.

Section 5. Legislative Findings. It is the policy of this State to eradicate poverty in Illinois.

Freedom from poverty is a human right. The preamble to the Constitution of the State of Illinois states that the elimination of poverty is one of the fundamental goals of our State government. The Illinois Human Rights Act states that the public policy of the State of Illinois is "to promote the public health, welfare and safety by protecting the interest of all people in Illinois in maintaining personal dignity, in realizing their full productive capacities, and in furthering their interests, rights and privileges as citizens of this State". The State of Illinois is a party to all international human rights treaties signed and ratified by the United States.

Illinois is one of the wealthiest states in the United States, yet it has one of the highest rates of extreme poverty in the Midwest. People living in extreme poverty have incomes at or below 50% of the Federal Poverty Level or $10,310 per year or lower for a family of 4 in 2007. In 2006 over 678,000 people residing in Illinois were living in extreme poverty. There are people living in extreme poverty in every Illinois county.

Full participation in civic life cannot be achieved without those things that protect and preserve human dignity and make for a healthy life, including adequate nutrition and housing, meaningful work, safe communities, health care, and education.

Illinois has no comprehensive plan for the elimination of extreme poverty.

Section 10. Commission on Poverty Eradication. The Commission on the Eradication of Poverty is created. The purpose of the Commission is to develop a comprehensive poverty eradication strategic plan for Illinois consistent with international human rights standards. The initial goal of the Commission is to reduce extreme poverty in Illinois by 50% or more by 2015. In developing the overall strategic plan, and in working toward the goal of reducing extreme poverty in Illinois by 2015, the Commission shall address, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) Access to safe, decent and affordable housing.

(2) Access to adequate food and nutrition.

(3) Access to affordable and quality healthcare.

(4) Equal access to quality education and training.

(5) Dependable and affordable transportation.

(6) Access to quality and affordable child care.

(7) Opportunities to engage in meaningful and sustainable work that pays a living wage.

(8) The availability of adequate income supports.

The strategic plan shall include specific policy and fiscal recommendations and a timeline for each stage of implementation for every specific recommendation. For each specific recommendation, the Commission shall identify in measurable terms the actual or potential impact of each recommendation. The Commission may review and may make comments and recommendations on existing or proposed programs, policies, administrative rules, and statutes that have an impact on poverty in Illinois and, in particular, people living in extreme poverty.

Section 15. Members; terms. The Commission on Poverty Eradication shall be composed of no more than 22 voting members including 2 members of the Illinois House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House and one appointed by the House Minority Leader; 2 members of the Illinois Senate, one appointed by the Senate President and one appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; one representative of the Office of the Governor appointed by the Governor; one representative of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; and 20 public members, 5 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the House Minority Leader, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the Senate President, and 3 of whom shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader. It shall be determined by lot who will select which public members of the Commission. The public members shall include 2 representatives from anti-poverty organizations, including one that focuses on rural poverty; 2 individuals who have experienced extreme poverty; a representative of an organization that advocates for affordable housing; a representative of an organization that advocates for healthcare access, affordability and availability; an advocate for persons with mental illness; an advocate for children and youth; a representative of an organization that advocates for equality and quality in education; a representative of an organization that advocates people who are homeless; a representative of a statewide anti-hunger organization; a person with a disability; an advocate for persons with disabilities; a representative of a statewide faith-based organization that provides direct social services in Illinois communities; a representative of a statewide organization that advocates for children; a representative of an organization that advocates for economic security for women; a representative of an organization that advocates for older adults; a representative of an organization that advocates for employers; a representative of a labor organization that represents primarily low and middle-income wage earners; a representative of municipal or county government; and a representative of township government. The appointed members shall reflect the racial, gender, and geographic diversity of the State.

The following officials shall serve as ex-officio non-voting members: the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee; the Director of Corrections or his or her designee; the Director of Healthcare and Family Services or his or her designee; the Director of Human Rights or his or her designee; the Director of Children and Family Services or his or her designee; the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee; the State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee; the Director of Aging or his or her designee; the Director of Public Health or his or her designee; and the Director of Employment Security or his or her designee. The State Workforce Investment Act Board, the African-American Family Commission, and the Latino Family Commission shall each designate a liaison to serve ex-officio on the Commission.

Public members shall serve 3-year terms, except for the initial appointments. Six initial public members shall be appointed to 1-year terms, 6 initial public members shall be appointed to 2-year terms, and 6 initial public members shall be appointed to 3-year terms, as determined by lot.

Members shall serve without compensation, but, subject to the availability of funds, may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary travel expenses.

Commission members shall be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of this Act. The Commission shall hold its initial meeting within 30 days after at least 50% of the voting members have been appointed.

The Department of Human Rights shall provide administrative support to the Commission.

Section 20. Funding. The Commission on the Eradication of Poverty may be funded through a specific appropriation to the Department of Human Rights.

Section 25. Meetings; reports. The Commission shall meet at least quarterly. In addition, it may hold up to 4 public hearings each year to assist in the development of the strategic plan. The Commission shall also consider written comments for the purpose of developing the strategic plan.

The Commission shall issue an interim report on its activities and recommendations on March 1, 2009. The strategic plan shall be sent to the all constitutional officers and members of the General Assembly. The strategic plan shall be adopted not later than January 1, 2010. Following the adoption of the strategic plan, the Commission shall continue to meet and issue annual reports by March 1st of each year on the implementation of the strategic plan.

The Commission shall hold at least one public hearing prior to the issuance of annual report.

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