093_SB0680enr
SB680 Enrolled LRB093 10747 RCE 11140 b
1 AN ACT concerning immigrant assistance.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Attorney General Act is amended by adding
5 Section 6.6 as follows:
6 (15 ILCS 205/6.6 new)
7 Sec. 6.6. Immigrant Assistance Program.
8 (a) Purpose and policy. The immigrant population of the
9 State of Illinois constitutes a significant portion of the
10 population of the State. These immigrants often require
11 assistance in order to obtain the government services to
12 which they are entitled under the law. It is imperative that
13 State government is aware of the needs of the State's
14 immigrant community and sensitive to the barriers that may
15 prevent them from seeking and obtaining services. The Office
16 of the Attorney General should be equipped to assist
17 immigrants by increasing accessibility to the Office and
18 providing outreach services to the community, which will
19 serve to educate immigrants as to their rights and
20 responsibilities as residents of the State.
21 (b) Immigrant Assistance Program. Within the Office of
22 the Attorney General, there shall be established an Immigrant
23 Assistance Program, which shall be charged with the
24 responsibility of assessing the needs of the State's
25 immigrant community with regard to access to government and
26 other services. In addition, the Immigrant Assistance Program
27 shall be empowered to provide education and outreach services
28 to the immigrant community of the State, subject to funding
29 availability. These services may include, but are not limited
30 to, consumer issues, civil rights issues, employee rights,
31 and other issues of particular interest to the immigrant
SB680 Enrolled -2- LRB093 10747 RCE 11140 b
1 communities in the State.
2 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3 becoming law.