Public Act 93-0464

SB680 Enrolled                       LRB093 10747 RCE 11140 b

    AN ACT concerning immigrant assistance.

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

    Section  5. The Attorney General Act is amended by adding
Section 6.6 as follows:

    (15 ILCS 205/6.6 new)
    Sec. 6.6. Immigrant Assistance Program.
    (a)  Purpose and policy. The immigrant population of  the
State  of  Illinois  constitutes a significant portion of the
population of  the  State.  These  immigrants  often  require
assistance  in  order  to  obtain  the government services to
which they are entitled under the law. It is imperative  that
State  government  is  aware  of  the  needs  of  the State's
immigrant community and sensitive to the  barriers  that  may
prevent  them from seeking and obtaining services. The Office
of  the  Attorney  General  should  be  equipped  to   assist
immigrants  by  increasing  accessibility  to  the Office and
providing outreach services  to  the  community,  which  will
serve   to   educate   immigrants  as  to  their  rights  and
responsibilities as residents of the State.
    (b)  Immigrant Assistance Program. Within the  Office  of
the Attorney General, there shall be established an Immigrant
Assistance   Program,   which   shall  be  charged  with  the
responsibility  of  assessing  the  needs  of   the   State's
immigrant  community  with regard to access to government and
other services. In addition, the Immigrant Assistance Program
shall be empowered to provide education and outreach services
to the immigrant community of the State, subject  to  funding
availability. These services may include, but are not limited
to,  consumer  issues,  civil rights issues, employee rights,
and other issues of  particular  interest  to  the  immigrant
communities in the State.

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