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| Public Act 096-0350 |
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AN ACT concerning plain language.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Illinois Plain Language Task Force Act. | ||||
Section 5. Purpose. The mission of the Illinois Plain | ||||
Language Task Force is to conduct a study on, and to propose | ||||
legislative measures designed to realize: | ||||
(1) the potential benefits of incorporating plain | ||||
language in State government documents, statutes, and | ||||
contracts into which the State enters; and | ||||
(2) how plain language principles might be | ||||
incorporated into the statutes governing contracts among | ||||
private parties so as to provide additional protections to | ||||
Illinois consumers, to reduce litigation between private | ||||
parties over the meaning of contractual terms, and to | ||||
foster judicial economy. | ||||
Section 10. Definition. As used in this Act: | ||||
"Plain language" has the same meaning ascribed to it in the | ||||
Executive Memorandum of the President of the United States, | ||||
mandating that Federal Agencies and Federal Administrative | ||||
Rules employ plain language, issued June 1, 1998, namely that | ||||
"plain language" documents have logical organization, | ||
easy-to-read design features, and use: (i) common, everyday | ||
words, except for necessary technical terms; (ii) "you" and | ||
other pronouns; (iii) the active voice; and (iv) short | ||
sentences. | ||
Section 15. Task Force. | ||
(a) The Illinois Plain Language Task Force is hereby | ||
created. The Illinois Plain Language Task Force shall be | ||
chaired by the Governor or his or her designee and shall | ||
consist of the following members: one member appointed by the | ||
Illinois Attorney General; one member appointed by the Senate | ||
President; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the | ||
Senate; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House; one | ||
member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; and 3 | ||
members appointed by the Governor, one of whom represents the | ||
interests of the banking industry, one of whom represents the | ||
interests of the business community, and one of whom represents | ||
the interests of the consumers. | ||
(b) Members of the Task Force must be appointed no later | ||
than 90 days after the effective date of this Act. | ||
(c) If a vacancy occurs on the Task Force, it shall be | ||
filled according to the guidelines of the initial appointment. | ||
(d) At the discretion of the chair, additional individuals | ||
may participate as non-voting members in the meetings of the | ||
Task Force. | ||
(e) Members of the Illinois Plain Language Task Force shall | ||
serve without compensation. The Office of the Governor shall | ||
provide staff and administrative services to the Task Force. | ||
Section 20. Duties. Once all members have been appointed, | ||
the Task Force shall meet not less than once each quarter | ||
following the effective date of this Act to carry out the | ||
duties prescribed in this Act. An initial report delineating | ||
the Task Force's findings, conclusions, and recommendations | ||
shall be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly no later | ||
than 9 months after the effective date of this Act. Thereafter, | ||
the Task Force shall make periodic recommendations on its own | ||
motion or at the urging of the Illinois General Assembly. | ||
Section 25. Guidance. The Task Force shall be guided in its | ||
discussions on the subject of plain language by the guidelines | ||
for plain language drafting promulgated by the President of the | ||
United States on June 1, 1998, which accompanied his plain | ||
language Executive Memorandum issued on the same day.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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