SB0278eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0278 Engrossed LRB097 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.

(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.