20 ILCS 2310/2310-420

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-420) (was 20 ILCS 2310/55.74)

Sec. 2310-420. Violence and homicide; injury prevention.

(a) Utilizing existing resources, the Department may examine the impact of violence and homicide on the public health and safety of Illinois residents, especially children. Based on their findings, the Department shall, if warranted, declare violence and homicide a public health epidemic and recommend anti-violence and homicide prevention programs to the Illinois General Assembly.

(b) The Section on Injury Prevention is created within the Department. The Section on Injury Prevention is charged with coordination and expansion of prevention and control activities related to intentional and unintentional injuries. The duties of the Section on Injury Prevention may include, but may not be limited to, the following:

(1) To serve as a data coordinator and analysis source of mortality and injury statistics for other State agencies.

(2) To integrate an injury and violence prevention focus within the Department.

(3) To develop collaborative relationships with other State agencies and private and community organizations to establish programs promoting injury prevention, awareness, and education to reduce automobile, motorcycle, and bicycle injuries and interpersonal violence, including homicide, child abuse, youth violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and elderly abuse.

(4) To support the development of comprehensive community-based injury and violence prevention initiatives within municipalities of this State.

(5) To identify possible sources of funding to establish and continue programs to promote prevention of intentional and unintentional injuries.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)