[ Search ] [ Legislation ] [ Bill Summary ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
90_HJ0053
LRB9011270THpk
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The multiple problems of truant, at-risk,
3 out-of-school, disruptive, and delinquent youth are a growing
4 concern of educators, service providers, and citizens of the
5 State; and
6 WHEREAS, Truancy, dropping out, and delinquency can lead
7 to more serious problems for these youths and their
8 communities; and
9 WHEREAS, Cooperation and coordination between local law
10 enforcement authorities, juvenile courts, and State and local
11 governments and a coordination of the efforts of those
12 agencies that have jurisdiction over or responsibility for
13 truant, at-risk, out-of-school, disruptive, and delinquent
14 youth provide the best chance for ensuring the educational
15 and career success of that population; and
16 WHEREAS, Local communities need to significantly increase
17 their ability to effectively supervise and educate this
18 truant, at-risk, out-of-school, disruptive, and delinquent
19 population and to assist such youth in developing appropriate
20 behavior and achieving academic and career successes; and
21 WHEREAS, Research supports the concept that intervention
22 and prevention programs have long-term benefits and are more
23 cost-effective than detention or incarceration or social
24 dependence; and
25 WHEREAS, There is a significant demand for bed space in
26 detention facilities and a high rate of recidivism among
27 juveniles; and
28 WHEREAS, A standards-based education system requires that
29 all learners be provided with essential support and a range
30 of learning opportunities to meet or exceed State learning
31 goals; and
-2- LRB9011270THpk
1 WHEREAS, Current services for these youth are fragmented,
2 unevenly distributed, and of varying quality; and
3 WHEREAS, A detailed study of systems that impact that
4 population can provide complete information to guide the
5 development and implementation of educational programs
6 beneficial to such youth; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8 NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
9 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, That the Commission on Truant,
10 At-Risk, Out-of-School, Disruptive, and Delinquent Youth
11 (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission" or
12 "Youth-At-Risk Commission") is created, consisting of 23
13 members as follows:
14 One representative of the Department of Public Aid, to be
15 appointed by the Director of Public Aid;
16 One representative of the Department of Human Services,
17 to be appointed by the Secretary of Human Services;
18 One representative of the Office of the Attorney General,
19 to be appointed by the Attorney General;
20 One representative of the Illinois Juvenile Justice
21 Commission, to be appointed by the Chairperson of the
22 Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission;
23 One representative of the Illinois Human Resource
24 Investment Council, to be appointed by the Co-chairpersons of
25 the Illinois Human Resource Investment Council;
26 One representative of the Department of Children and
27 Family Services, to be appointed by the Director of Children
28 and Family Services;
29 One representative of the Department of Corrections, to
30 be appointed by the Director of Corrections;
31 One representative of the State Board of Education, to be
32 appointed by the Chairperson of the State Board of Education;
33 Two members of the Senate, one each to be appointed by
-3- LRB9011270THpk
1 the President and the Minority Leader of the Senate;
2 Two members of the House of Representatives, one each to
3 be appointed by the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the
4 House of Representatives;
5 One regional superintendent of schools, to be appointed
6 by the President of the Illinois Association of Regional
7 Superintendents of Schools;
8 Two teacher's union representatives, one each to be
9 appointed by the Presidents of the Illinois Education
10 Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers;
11 One representative of the Illinois School Management
12 Alliance, to be appointed by the Illinois School Management
13 Alliance;
14 One representative of the public community college
15 system, to be appointed by the Chairman of the Illinois
16 Community College Board;
17 One representative of the Illinois Parent Teacher
18 Association, to be appointed by the President of the Illinois
19 Parent Teacher Association;
20 One representative of the Chicago Public Schools, to be
21 appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago
22 Public Schools;
23 One representative of the Project Success Program, to be
24 appointed by the Governor;
25 One member who shall be appointed by the Governor to
26 serve as the Chairperson of the Commission; and
27 Two experts in the fields of truancy, at-risk youth, or
28 alternative education, to be appointed by the Chairperson of
29 the Commission; and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That the Youth-At-Risk Commission shall meet
31 initially at the call of its Chairperson, provided that the
32 Commission may not hold its first meeting or hearing until at
33 least 11 members, including the Chairperson, have been
34 appointed; and be it further
-4- LRB9011270THpk
1 RESOLVED, That all members of the Commission shall serve
2 without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual
3 expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from
4 funds appropriated for the expenses of joint legislative
5 committees or commissions; and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That the Commission shall study the complicated
7 issues surrounding truant, at-risk, out-of-school,
8 disruptive, and delinquent youth, that study to take into
9 account the following:
10 (1) The current extent of the need in Illinois for
11 services for the social and academic needs of truant,
12 at-risk, out-of-school, disruptive, and delinquent youth;
13 (2) The effectiveness of existing social and
14 academic programs in Illinois that serve these youth
15 populations, and the impact of existing programs on
16 safety and the learning environment of elementary and
17 secondary schools;
18 (3) Nationally recognized programs that have been
19 successful in meeting the social and academic needs of
20 these youth populations;
21 (4) The total cost of providing social and academic
22 services through local schools and communities for these
23 youth populations;
24 (5) The current level of funding provided to State
25 and local entities serving these youth populations; and
26 (6) Recommended strategies for serving the social
27 and academic needs of youth returning from the Department
28 of Corrections or detained in youth detention facilities;
29 and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That the Youth-At-Risk Commission shall file
31 with the Governor and the General Assembly, on or before
32 December 31, 1998, a written report of its findings,
33 recommendations, and proposed legislation concerning truant,
-5- LRB9011270THpk
1 at-risk, out-of-school, disruptive, and delinquent youth; and
2 that upon filing its report the Commission is dissolved.