Public Act 097-1077
 
SB0278 EnrolledLRB097 04890 HLH 44930 b



    AN ACT concerning State government.

 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly: 



 
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
Illinois Human Services Commission Act.
 
    Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly 
finds that:
    (1) The State of Illinois depends upon public and private 
service providers to deliver many critical human services 
necessary to protect and enhance the welfare of its citizens, 
including its most vulnerable populations.
    (2) The citizens of Illinois and their communities depend 
upon these services to protect public health, create individual 
and family well-being, improve public safety, revitalize local 
economies, and enhance learning.
    (3) Human services play a vital role in every community and 
legislative district across the State, providing jobs and 
revenue in addition to services and supports to children and 
youth, families, workers, the elderly, people with 
disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.
    (4) A strong and well-managed network of public and private 
human services is integral to the achievement of other State 
goals in the areas of health and wellness, educational 
outcomes, workforce development, and an improved business 
climate.
    (5) A lack of adequate appropriations, clear goals, 
spending priorities, and measurable outcomes along with delays 
in payments, inadequate rates, duplicative reporting 
requirements, and other systemic barriers prevent private 
entities from achieving the goal of a strong and effective 
network of well-managed public and private service providers.
    (6) The maintenance of a strong and well-managed network of 
human services requires a joint planning process that brings 
together public and private experts in human services to 
identify best practices and strategies.


 
    Section 10. Illinois Human Services Commission. The 
Illinois Human Services Commission is created to undertake a 
systematic review of human services programs with the goal of 
ensuring their consistent delivery in the State.
 
    Section 15. Duties.
    (a) The Commission shall review all State human services 
programs and make recommendations for achieving a system that 
will provide for the efficient and effective delivery of high 
quality human services. These recommendations shall include 
the following elements:


        (1) Ensuring adequate appropriations for the provision 
    of human services.

        (2) Establishing processes for determining fair, 
    adequate, and timely reimbursement.

        (3) Maintaining efficient management of publicly 
    funded programs and services.

        (4) Implementing best practices within the human 
    services field.

        (5) Creating outcome measures and accountability 
    mechanisms.

        (6) Developing projections for future human services 
    needs based on demographic trends and other related 
    variables.
    (b) The Commission shall make best efforts to:
        (1) Use existing reports, research, and planning 
    efforts and call for additional reports and research to 
    support its work.
        (2) Seek input from existing advisory councils and task 
    forces that address human services delivery, as well as 
    other human services experts and the public at large, 
    including one or more public hearings to take and consider 
    public comment.
        (3) Identify opportunities for increased efficiency or 
    cross-agency collaboration regarding human services 
    delivery.
 
    Section 20. Membership; appointments; meetings; support. 
    (a) The Commission shall include representation from both 
public and private organizations, and its membership shall 
reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to ensure 
representation of the needs of all Illinois citizens.


Commission members shall include one
member appointed by the 
President of the Senate, one
member appointed by the Minority 
Leader of  the  Senate,  one
member   appointed   by   the   Speaker   of   
the  House  of
Representatives, one member appointed by the 
Minority  Leader
of  the House of Representatives, and other 
members appointed
by the Governor. The Governor's  appointments  
shall  include,
without limitation, the following:

        (1) A co-chair from the Office of the Governor and a 
    co-chair not employed by a governmental entity to represent 
    the interests of nongovernmental organizations.
        (2) Eight members of the General Assembly representing 
    each of the majority and minority caucuses of each chamber.
        (3) The Directors or Secretaries of the following State 
    agencies or their designees:
            (A) Department of Human Services.
            (B) Department of Children and Family Services.
            (C) Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
            (D) State Board of Education.
            (E) Department on Aging.
            (F) Department of Juvenile Justice.
            (G) Department of Corrections.
            (H) Department of Public Health.
        (4) Local government stakeholders and nongovernmental 
    stakeholders with an interest in human services, including 
    representation among the following private-sector fields 
    and constituencies: 
            (A) Early childhood education and development.
            (B) Child care.
            (C) Child welfare.
            (D) Youth services.
            (E) Developmental disabilities.
            (F) Mental health.
            (H) Employment and training.
            (I) Sexual and domestic violence.
            (J) Alcohol and substance abuse.
            (K) Local community collaborations among human 
        services programs.
            (L) Immigrant services.
            (M) Affordable housing.
            (N) Re-entry.
            (O) Food and nutrition.
            (P) Homelessness.
            (Q) Older adults.
            (R) Physical disabilities.
            (S) Business.
            (T) Philanthropy.
            (U) Labor.
            (V) Law enforcement.
            (W) Maternal and child health.
        (5) A representative of a maternal and child health 
    training program at a public university in the State.
    (b) Members shall serve without compensation for the 
duration of the Commission.
    (c) In the event of a vacancy, the appointment to fill the 
vacancy shall be made in the same manner as the original

appointment.
    (d) The Commission shall convene within 60 days after the 
effective date of this Act.  The initial meeting of the 
Commission shall be convened by the co-chair selected by the 
Governor.  Subsequent meetings shall convene at the call of the 
co-chairs.  The Commission shall meet on a quarterly basis, or 
more often if necessary.
    (e) The Department of Human Services shall provide 
administrative support to the Commission.
 
    Section 25. Report. The Commission shall report to the 
Governor and the General Assembly on the Commission's progress 
toward its goals and objectives by June 30, 2013, and every 
June 30 thereafter.
 
    Section 30. Transparency. In addition to whatever policies 
or procedures it may adopt, all operations of the Commission 
shall be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of 
Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.  This Section shall 
not be construed so as to preclude other State laws from 
applying to the Commission and its activities.


Effective Date:  1/1/2013