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Public Act 103-0269
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| HB2831 Enrolled | LRB103 26868 KTG 53232 b |
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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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 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended |
by adding Section 10-75 as follows:
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(20 ILCS 1305/10-75 new) |
Sec. 10-75. Homelessness supports in Illinois. |
(a) The Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (Office) is |
created within the Department of Human Services to facilitate |
the implementation of a strategic plan and initiatives aimed |
at decreasing homelessness and unnecessary |
institutionalization in Illinois, improving health and human |
services outcomes for people who experience homelessness, and |
strengthening the safety nets that contribute to housing |
stability. The Office shall be led by the State Homelessness |
Chief Officer who shall report to the Secretary of the |
Department. The Chief Officer shall also chair the Interagency |
Task Force on Homelessness, co-chair the Community Advisory |
Council on Homelessness, and lead the State's comprehensive |
efforts related to homelessness prevention. The Chief Officer |
shall serve as a policymaker and spokesperson on homelessness |
prevention, including coordinating the multi-agency effort |
through legislation, rules, and budgets and communicating with |
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the General Assembly and federal and local leaders on these |
critical issues. |
(b) The Interagency Task Force on Homelessness is created |
within the Department of Human Services to facilitate and |
implement initiatives related to decreasing homelessness and |
unnecessary institutionalization in this State, improve health |
and human services outcomes for people who experience |
homelessness, and strengthen the safety nets that contribute |
to housing stability. The Task Force shall: |
(1) Implement the State Plan which is aimed at |
addressing homelessness and unnecessary |
institutionalization with the goals of achieving |
functional zero homelessness, improving health and human |
services outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, |
and strengthening the safety nets that contribute to |
housing stability. |
(2) Recommend policy, regulatory, and resource changes |
necessary to accomplish goals and objectives laid out in |
the State Plan. |
(3) Serve within State government and in the State at |
large as an advocate for people experiencing homelessness. |
(4) Provide leadership for and collaborate with those |
developing and implementing local plans to end |
homelessness in Illinois, including, but not limited to, |
the Community Advisory Council and its members. |
(5) Recommend the resources needed for successful |
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implementation and oversee that implementation. |
(6) Recommend and promote effective interagency |
collaboration and system integration to converge related |
efforts, including coordination with the Illinois Youth |
Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee, the Illinois |
Commission on the Elimination of Poverty, and the Illinois |
Commission to End Hunger on drafting policy |
recommendations related to the intersection of |
homelessness and poverty. |
(7) Recommend needed policy, regulatory, and resource |
distribution changes; make oversight recommendations that |
will ensure accountability, results, and sustained |
success; and develop specific proposals and |
recommendations for action to provide to the Governor and |
the General Assembly. |
(d) The Task Force may solicit feedback from stakeholders, |
customers, and advocates to inform Task Force recommendations |
as necessary. |
(e) On or before December 1, 2024, and each year |
thereafter, the Task Force shall submit a report to the |
Governor and General Assembly regarding the Task Force's work |
during the year prior, any new recommendations developed by |
the Task Force, any recommendations made by the Community |
Advisory Council on Homelessness, and any key outcomes and |
measures related to homelessness. |
(f) The Task Force shall include the following members |
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appointed by the Governor: |
(1) The Chief Homelessness Officer, who shall serve as |
Chair. |
(2) The Secretary of Human Services, or his or her |
designee. |
(3) The Executive Director of the Illinois Housing |
Development Authority, or his or her designee. |
(4) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services, or |
his or her designee. |
(5) The Superintendent of the State Board of |
Education, or his or her designee. |
(6) The Executive Director of the Board of Higher |
Education, or his or her designee. |
(7) The Executive Director of the Illinois Community |
College Board, or his or her designee. |
(8) The Director of Corrections, or his or her |
designee. |
(9) The Director of Veterans' Affairs, or his or her |
designee. |
(10) The Director of Children and Family Services, or |
his or her designee. |
(11) The Director of Public Health, or his or her |
designee. |
(12) The Director of Aging, or his or her designee. |
(13) The Director of Juvenile Justice, or his or her |
designee. |
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(14) The Director of Commerce and Economic |
Opportunity, or his or her designee. |
(15) The Director of Employment Security, or his or |
her designee. |
(16) The Director of the Illinois State Police, or his |
or her designee. |
(17) The Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal |
Justice Authority, or his or her designee. |
(18) The Director of the Office of Management and |
Budget, or his or her designee. |
(g) The Task Force shall also include the following |
members: |
(1) One member appointed by the President of the |
Senate. |
(2) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the |
Senate. |
(3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House |
of Representatives. |
(4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the |
House of Representatives. |
(h) The Chair of the Task Force may appoint additional |
representatives from State agencies as needed. |
(i)
The Task Force shall meet at the call of the chair, at |
least 4 times per year. Members shall serve without |
compensation. |
(j) The Task Force may establish subcommittees to address |
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specific issues or populations and may collaborate with |
individuals with relevant expertise who are not members of the |
Task Force to assist the subcommittee in carrying out its |
duties. |
(k) The Department of Human Services shall provide |
administrative support to the Task Force. |
(l) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to contravene |
any federal or State law or regulation. Unless specifically |
referenced in this Act, nothing in this Act shall affect or |
alter the existing statutory powers of any State agency or be |
construed as a reassignment or reorganization of any State |
agency. |
(m) Community Advisory Council. The Community Advisory |
Council on Homelessness is created within the Department of |
Human Services to make recommendations to the Interagency Task |
Force on Homelessness regarding homelessness and unnecessary |
institutionalization with the goals of achieving functional |
zero homelessness, improving health and human services |
outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and |
strengthening the safety nets that contribute to housing |
stability. |
(1) The Advisory Council shall be co-chaired by the |
Chief Homelessness Officer and a member of the Advisory |
Council designated by the Governor. The Advisory Council |
shall consist of all of the following members appointed by |
the Governor. Members appointed to the Advisory Council |
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must reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity |
of this State. The Chief may include any State agency |
staff that they deem necessary as ex officio, nonvoting |
members of the Community Advisory Council. |
(A) Three members with lived experience of |
homelessness or housing insecurity, which may include, |
but are not limited to, formerly incarcerated persons, |
veterans, and youth (16 to 25 years old). |
(B) One member representing individuals with |
disabilities. |
(C) Two members representing the philanthropic |
private funding sector. |
(D) One member representing a statewide behavioral |
health advocacy organization. |
(E) One member representing a statewide housing |
advocacy organization. |
(F) At least 2 members representing local |
Continuums of Care. |
(G) At least 3 members representing local units of |
government (municipal, county, or township). |
(H) One member representing an organization that |
supports victims of domestic violence. |
(I) A minimum of 4 members representing providers |
of the homeless response system inclusive of, but not |
limited to, emergency supportive housing, rapid |
rehousing, permanent supportive housing, homeless |
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youth programs, and homeless prevention. |
(J) Two members, who may or may not meet the |
qualification requirements for the other appointees. |
The Advisory Council shall meet at least 4 times per year. |
(2) Members shall serve without compensation, but |
public members may be reimbursed for reasonable and |
necessary travel expenses connected to Task Force |
business. Persons with lived experience of homelessness |
and housing insecurity, who are not otherwise compensated |
by employers to attend the Community Advisory Council, |
shall receive compensation for each quarterly Council |
meeting attended. |
(3) The meetings of the Advisory Council shall be |
conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 |
of the Open Meetings Act. The Department of Human Services |
shall provide staff and administrative support to assist |
the Advisory Council in carrying out its duties. |
(4) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to |
contravene any federal or State law or regulation. Unless |
specifically referenced in this Act, nothing in this Act |
shall affect or alter the existing statutory powers of any |
State agency or be construed as a reassignment or |
reorganization of any State agency. |
(5) On or before November 15, 2023, and each year |
thereafter, the Advisory Council shall submit |
recommendations to the Interagency Task Force on |