Public Act 095-0062
 		





SB0776 Enrolled
LRB095 05426 RCE 25516 b






    AN ACT concerning State government.

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


 
    Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended  
by adding Section 10-32 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 1305/10-32  new)
    Sec. 10-32. Task Force on the Condition of African American 
Men in Illinois.
    (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that African 
American men: (1) are disproportionately less likely to 
complete high school and to obtain a post-secondary education; 
(2) are more likely to be incarcerated or on parole; (3) are 
more likely to have lower lifetime economic earnings; (4)  are 
more likely to have been a part of the child welfare 
population; (5) are more likely to have a shorter life 
expectancy; and (6) are more likely to have health problems, 
such as HIV/AIDS, drug dependency, heart disease, obesity, and 
diabetes. The General Assembly further finds and declares that 
the State of Illinois has a compelling interest in determining 
the causes of these problems and in developing appropriate 
remedies.
    (b) The Task Force on the Condition of African American Men 
in Illinois is created within the Department of Human Services. 
Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act 
of the 95th General Assembly, the President of the Senate, the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of 
the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of 
Representatives shall each appoint 2 members to the Task Force. 
In addition, the Director or Secretary of each of the 
following, or his or her designee, are  members: the Department 
of Human Services, the Department of Corrections, the 
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the 
Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of 
Human Rights, the Illinois State Board of Education, the 
Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community 
College Board. Members shall not receive compensation, but 
shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses from 
appropriations made for that purpose. The Department of Human 
Services shall provide staff and other assistance to the Task 
Force.
    (c) The purposes of the Task Force are as follows: to 
determine the causal factors for the condition of African 
American men; to inventory State programs and initiatives that 
serve to improve the condition of African American men; to 
identify gaps in services to African American men; and to 
develop strategies to reduce duplication of services and to  
maximize coordination between State agencies, providers, and 
educational institutions, including developing benchmarks to 
measure progress.
    (d) The Task Force shall report its findings and 
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by 
December 31, 2008.
 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.