(105 ILCS 435/2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 697.1)

Sec. 2.1. Gender Equity Advisory Committee.

(a) The Superintendent of the State Board of Education shall appoint a Gender Equity Advisory Committee of at least 9 members to advise and consult with the State Board of Education and the gender equity coordinator in all aspects relating to ensuring that all students have equal educational opportunities to pursue high wage, high skill occupations leading to economic self-sufficiency.

(b) Membership shall include without limitation one regional gender equity coordinator, 2 State Board of Education employees, an appointee of the Director of Labor, and 5 citizen appointees who have expertise in one or more of the following areas: nontraditional training and placement, service delivery to single parents, service delivery to displaced homemakers, service delivery to female teens, business and industry experience, and Education-to-Careers experience. Membership also may include employees from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Human Services, and the Illinois Community College Board who have expertise in one or more of the areas listed in this subsection (b) for the citizen appointees. Appointments shall be made taking into consideration expertise of services provided in secondary, postsecondary and community based programs.

(c) Members shall initially be appointed to one year terms commencing in January 1, 1990, and thereafter to two year terms commencing on January 1 of each odd numbered year. Vacancies shall be filled as prescribed in subsection (b) for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(d) Each newly appointed committee shall elect a Chair and Secretary from its members. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The Committee shall meet at least bi-annually and at other times at the call of the Chair or at the request of the gender equity coordinator.

(e) On or before December 15, 2023, the Committee shall submit recommendations to the Governor, General Assembly, and State Board of Education regarding how school districts and the State Board of Education can better support historically disadvantaged males, including African American students and other students of color, to ensure educational equity.

(f) On and after December 31, 2023, subsection (e) is inoperative.

(Source: P.A. 102-863, eff. 1-1-23.)