[ Search ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
91_SB1509
LRB9111751JMmb
1 AN ACT to amend the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission
2 Act by changing Sections 15, 20, 25, and 30.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission Act
6 is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, 25, and 30 as
7 follows:
8 (20 ILCS 3932/15)
9 Sec. 15. Commission membership.
10 (a) The Commission shall be composed of 11 voting
11 members appointed by the Governor from residents of the State
12 whose position, knowledge, or experience enables them to
13 reasonably represent the concerns, needs, and recommendations
14 of deaf or hard of hearing persons. At a minimum, 6 voting
15 members of the Commission shall be persons who are deaf or
16 hard of hearing. The Chairperson of the Commission shall be
17 elected from the Commission's membership by a simple majority
18 vote of the total membership of the Commission. The
19 Vice-Chairperson of the Commission shall be elected from the
20 Commission's membership by a simple majority vote of the
21 total membership of the Commission.
22 (b) The Governor shall consider nominations made by
23 advocacy groups for the deaf and hard of hearing and
24 community-based organizations.
25 (c) Of the initial members appointed by the Governor, 3
26 shall be appointed to terms of one year, 4 shall be appointed
27 to terms of 2 years, and 4 shall be appointed to terms of 3
28 years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for terms
29 of 3 years. No member shall serve more than 2 consecutive
30 terms. A member of the Commission shall serve until his or
31 her successor is appointed and qualified.
-2- LRB9111751JMmb
1 (d) Initial members' terms of office shall be chosen by
2 lot at the initial meeting of the Commission.
3 (e) Vacancies in Commission membership shall be filled
4 in the same manner as initial appointments. Appointments to
5 fill vacancies occurring before the expiration of a term
6 shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
7 (f) Members shall not receive compensation for their
8 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses
9 incurred in the performance of their duties plus up to $50
10 per day for any actual loss of wages incurred in the
11 performance of their duties.
12 (g) Total membership consists of the number of voting
13 members, as defined in this Section, excluding any vacant
14 positions. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of
15 total membership and shall be sufficient to conduct the
16 transaction of business of the Commission unless stipulated
17 otherwise in the by-laws of the Commission.
18 (h) The Commission shall meet at least quarterly.
19 (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)
20 (20 ILCS 3932/20)
21 Sec. 20. Director. The Director of the Commission shall
22 be hired, supervised, evaluated, and terminated by the
23 Commission. The Director shall carry out the policies,
24 programs, and activities of the Commission. The Director
25 shall employ, in accordance with the provisions of the
26 Personnel Code, manage, and organize staff of the Commission
27 as he or she may deem appropriate.
28 (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)
29 (20 ILCS 3932/25)
30 Sec. 25. Powers and duties of the Commission. The
31 Commission shall be a coordinating and advocating body that
32 acts on behalf of the interests of persons in Illinois who
-3- LRB9111751JMmb
1 are deaf or hard of hearing. The Commission shall submit an
2 annual report of its activities to the Governor and the
3 General Assembly on January 1st of each year. The
4 Commission shall:
5 (1) Make available and provide an educational and
6 informational program through printed materials, workshop
7 and training sessions, presentations, demonstrations, or
8 public awareness events about hearing loss for citizens
9 in Illinois and public and private entities that includes
10 but is not limited to: information and referral; lending
11 library; service or resource availability; interpreter
12 registry; accessibility and accommodation issues;
13 assistive technology; empowerment issues; obligations of
14 service providers and employers; educational options; and
15 current federal and State statutes, regulations, and
16 policies regarding hearing loss. Develop a program to
17 inform persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and the
18 public of the State and local services available for the
19 deaf and hard of hearing and make available other
20 information of value to families, professionals, and
21 citizens working or involved with persons who are deaf or
22 hard of hearing.
23 (2) Cooperate with public and private agencies and
24 local, State, and federal governments to coordinate
25 programs for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
26 (3) Provide technical assistance and training
27 support to start and enhance existing programs and
28 services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
29 (4) Evaluate State programs delivering services to
30 deaf and hard of hearing persons to determine their
31 effectiveness and make recommendations to public
32 officials about future financial support to continue
33 existing programs and establish new programs.
34 (5) Appoint task forces or committees when
-4- LRB9111751JMmb
1 appropriate for in-depth investigations and study of
2 particular problems relating to deafness and receive
3 reports of findings and recommendations. Monitor State
4 funded programs delivering services to persons who are
5 deaf or hard of hearing to determine the extent that
6 promised and mandated services are delivered.
7 (6) Review, evaluate, or participate in the
8 development of proposed and amended statutes, rules,
9 regulations, and policies relating to services,
10 programs, and activities for deaf and hard of hearing
11 persons; make recommendations on existing statutes,
12 rules, regulations, and policies to the Governor, General
13 Assembly, and State agencies. Recommend legislative
14 changes to the Governor and General Assembly and follow
15 and evaluate laws affecting persons who are deaf or hard
16 of hearing.
17 (7) Provide awards, grants, contracts, and
18 sponsorships to any person or agency, public or private,
19 to provide services or programs that are identified as a
20 service or program gap or that promote an innovative and
21 creative approach to strengthen, expand, or improve
22 services and programs for deaf and hard of hearing
23 persons. Promote cooperation among State and local
24 agencies providing educational programs for deaf and hard
25 of hearing individuals.
26 (8) Establish rules policy related to evaluation,
27 certification, licensure, and training standards of sign
28 language interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing
29 persons.; monitor the courts' use of interpreters
30 provided from an approved list; and serve as a resource
31 by providing a listing of qualified interpreters upon
32 request to legislative bodies, public and private
33 agencies, and persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.
34 (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)
-5- LRB9111751JMmb
1 (20 ILCS 3932/30)
2 Sec. 30. Rules. The Commission shall promulgate rules to
3 implement this Act in accordance with the Illinois
4 Administrative Procedure Act. Powers and duties of the
5 Director. The Director of the Commission shall carry out the
6 policies and programs of the Commission. The Director shall
7 organize and administer the staff of the Commission to meet
8 the requirements of this Act.
9 (Source: P.A. 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)