SJ0035 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0035 LRB101 11618 MST 57707 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois ranked as the fifth worst state in the United States for excessive drinking according to the most recent data; and

WHEREAS, Over 20% of Illinoisans binge drank in 2018 (defined as having four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on one occasion in the past month); and

WHEREAS, Binge drinking in Illinois is higher in rural and suburban areas of the State; and

WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of the State that its citizens be healthy and productive and not suffer from excessive drinking or addictions; and

WHEREAS, Alcohol abuse prevention programs have been proven to reduce problem drinking; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Addiction Prevention Task Force, whose purpose is to study the following:

(1) Evidence of binge drinking trends in rural and suburban communities;

(2) Evidence of chronic drinking trends in rural and suburban communities;

(3) Prevention developments and models;

(4) Effective prevention and treatment collaboration efforts in Illinois and other states; and

(5) Information gained from stakeholders of the relevant communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be comprised of the following members, who shall serve without compensation:

(1) Four members from addiction prevention providers recommended by a statewide organization that represents addiction providers, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) Four members from behavioral health providers recommended by a statewide organization that represents behavioral health providers, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) Four members from private sector child welfare and youth-serving agencies recommended by a statewide organization representing private sector child welfare providers, who shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(4) Four members of local public health departments recommended by a statewide organization representing public health departments, who shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(5) One member from the Department of Public Health, appointed by the Director of Public Health;

(6) One member from a higher education teaching institution that awards degrees in the fields of social work, psychiatry, or psychology appointed by the Chair of the Board of Higher Education;

(7) One member from statewide organization made up of private sector child welfare providers, who shall be appointed by the Governor;

(8) One member from a statewide organization representing suburban area municipalities, who shall be appointed by the Governor;

(9) One member from a statewide organization representing rural healthcare providers, who shall be appointed by the Governor;

(10) One member from a statewide organization representing rural and downstate areas of the State, who shall be appointed by the Governor; and

(11) One member from a statewide organization that represents behavioral health care providers, inclusive of addiction, who shall be appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That if a vacancy occurs on the Task Force, a replacement will be appointed by the Chair; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet no less than four times and select a chairperson at their first meeting; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in addition to whatever policies or procedures it may adopt, all operations of the Task Force will be subject to the provision of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.) and the Illinois Open Meeting Act (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.); and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Human Services shall provide administrative support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall develop recommendations to the General Assembly on strengthening and expanding the statewide addiction prevention system, which shall focus on, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The locations within the State most in need of prevention measures;

(2) Which addiction prevention measures are best for addressing problem drinking in rural and suburban areas;

(3) What steps should be taken by the General Assembly to address problem drinking; and

(4) What level of funding is required to ensure adequate prevention measures are taken to reduce problem drinking by Illinoisans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit its final report to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than June 30, 2020, and upon the filing of its report, is dissolved.