Bill Text: IL HB5591 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Illinois Human Services Commission Act. Provides that the General Assembly finds that the State 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; that 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; and that 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. Creates the Illinois Human Services Commission to undertake a systematic review of human services programs with the goal of ensuring their consistent delivery in the State. Requires the Commission to make recommendations for achieving a system that will provide for the efficient and effective delivery of high quality human services. Contains provisions concerning Commission recommendations and best efforts; Commission membership and appointments; reporting requirements; and transparency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Failed) 2013-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB5591 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HB5591-Introduced.html

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97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2011 and 2012 HB5591 Introduced , by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Illinois Human Services Commission Act. Provides that the General Assembly finds that the State 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; that 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; and that 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. Creates the Illinois Human Services Commission to undertake a systematic review of human services programs with the goal of ensuring their consistent delivery in the State. Requires the Commission to make recommendations for achieving a system that will provide for the efficient and effective delivery of high quality human services. Contains provisions concerning Commission recommendations and best efforts; Commission membership and appointments; reporting requirements; and transparency.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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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

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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.

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(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

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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 non-governmental 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

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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

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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 amendatory Act of the 97th General
Assembly. 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. A final report shall be due no later than 2
years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
97th General Assembly. The Commission and the terms of its
members shall expire upon delivery of the final report.
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

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not be construed so as to preclude other State laws from
applying to the Commission and its activities.