HB5715 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 16005 AJO 61156 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5715

Introduced 2/16/2012, by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Veterans State Employment Plan Act. Provides that the Act concerns veterans as to: delivery of State services; State employment; State agencies' goals; and a Veterans State Employment Plan. Provides that "veteran" means an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or State active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or a member of the United States Reserve Forces and who has received an honorable discharge. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall: develop and implement plans to increase the number of veterans employed by the State; prepare a Veterans State Employment Plan; annually report to the General Assembly State agency activities under the Plan; and assist State agencies with training programs. Provides that each State agency shall implement the Plan and provide a Plan report annually to the Department. Creates the Veterans State Employment Plan Advisory Council, with 11 members (each a subject matter expert on the employment of veterans), appointed by the Governor, who shall serve without compensation, but be reimbursed for reasonable expenses from appropriated funds. Includes other provisions. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State 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 Veterans State Employment Plan Act.

Section 5. Purposes. The purposes of this Act are as follows:

(a) improve the delivery of State services to Illinois' veterans by increasing the number of veterans who are State employees and the number of veterans who are State employees serving in supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial positions;

(b) identify State agencies' staffing needs and qualification requirements;

(c) track hiring practices and promotions of veterans who are employed by State agencies;

(d) increase the number of veterans employed by State agencies;

(e) increase the number of veterans who are State employees who are promoted;

(f) increase the number of veterans hired by State agencies;

(g) assist State agencies to meet their goals established pursuant to the Veterans State Employment Plan;

(h) establish the Veterans State Employment Plan Advisory Council; and

(i) coordinate any State activity or program, as appropriate, with any federal veterans program.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Central Management Services.

"State agency" or "agency", whether used in the singular or plural, means all departments, officers, commissions, boards, institutions, and bodies politic and corporate of the State. The term, however, does not mean the judicial branch, including, without limitation, the several courts of the State, the offices of the clerk of the supreme court and the clerks of the appellate court, and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, nor does it mean the legislature or its committees or commissions.

"Veteran" means an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or State active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or a member of the United States Reserve Forces and who has received an honorable discharge.

Section 15. Veterans State Employment Plan.

(a) The Department shall have a full-time position designated as the Veterans State Employment Coordinator to monitor compliance with the Veterans State Employment Plan.

(b) The Department shall develop and implement plans to increase the number of veterans employed by State agencies and the number of veterans employed by State agencies at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels.

(c) The Department shall prepare and revise annually a Veterans State Employment Plan in consultation with individuals and organizations knowledgeable on this subject and with the Veterans State Employment Plan Advisory Council. The Department shall report to the General Assembly by February 1 of each year, beginning with February 1, 2013, each State agency's activities that implement the Veterans State Employment Plan. The Department shall coordinate the development and implementation of the Plan, as appropriate, with any federal program that is designed to assist veterans.

Section 20. State agency affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals.

(a) Each State agency shall implement strategies and programs in accordance with the Veterans State Employment Plan to increase the number of veterans employed by that State agency and the number of veterans employed by that State agency at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels.

(b) Each State agency shall report annually to the Department and the Department of Human Rights, in a format prescribed by the Department, all of the agency's activities in implementing the Veterans State Employment Plan. Each agency's annual report shall include reports or information related to the agency's community employment strategies and programs that the agency has received from the Department, the Department of Human Rights, or the Auditor General, pursuant to their periodic review responsibilities; findings made by the Governor in his or her report to the General Assembly; assessments of service needs based upon the agency's service populations; information on the agency's studies and monitoring success concerning the number of veterans employed by the agency at the supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels and any increases in those categories from the prior year; and information concerning the agency's veterans employment budget allocations.

(c) The Department shall assist State agencies establish programs to meet goals established pursuant to the Veterans State Employment Plan. The Department shall survey State agencies to identify effective existing training programs and shall serve as a resource to other State agencies. The Department shall assist agencies in the development and modification of training programs to enable them to meet their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals and shall provide information regarding other existing training and educational resources, such as the Upward Mobility Program, the Illinois Institute for Training and Development, the Central Management Services Training Center, Executive Recruitment Internships, and Graduate Public Service Internships.

Section 25. Veterans State Employment Plan Advisory Council.

(a) The Veterans State Employment Plan Advisory Council is created, consisting of 11 members, each of whom shall be a subject matter expert on the employment of veterans, appointed by the Governor.

(b) All members of the Veterans State Employment Plan Advisory Council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(c) The Veterans State Employment Plan Advisory Council shall examine: (1) the prevalence and impact of veterans employed by State government; (2) the barriers faced by veterans who seek employment or promotional opportunities in State government; and (3) possible incentives that could be offered to foster the employment of and the promotion of veterans in State government.

(d) The Council shall meet quarterly to provide consultation to State agencies and the Veterans State Employment Coordinator.

(e) The Veterans State Employment Plan Advisory Council shall receive administrative support from the Department of Central Management Services and shall issue an annual report of its activities each year on or before December 1, beginning with December 1, 2013.

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