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.



LRB097 18528 KTG 63759 b


FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 


HB5591LRB097 18528 KTG 63759 b



1 AN ACT concerning State government.


2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3represented in the General Assembly:



4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Illinois Human Services Commission Act.

6 Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly 
7finds that:
8 (1) The State of Illinois depends upon public and private 
9service providers to deliver many critical human services 
10necessary to protect and enhance the welfare of its citizens, 
11including its most vulnerable populations.
12 (2) The citizens of Illinois and their communities depend 
13upon these services to protect public health, create individual 
14and family well-being, improve public safety, revitalize local 
15economies, and enhance learning.
16 (3) Human services play a vital role in every community and 
17legislative district across the State, providing jobs and 
18revenue in addition to services and supports to children and 
19youth, families, workers, the elderly, people with 
20disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.
21 (4) A strong and well-managed network of public and private 
22human services is integral to the achievement of other State 
23goals in the areas of health and wellness, educational 
 
 
HB5591- 2 -LRB097 18528 KTG 63759 b


1outcomes, workforce development, and an improved business 
2climate.
3 (5) A lack of adequate appropriations, clear goals, 
4spending priorities, and measurable outcomes along with delays 
5in payments, inadequate rates, duplicative reporting 
6requirements, and other systemic barriers prevent private 
7entities from achieving the goal of a strong and effective 
8network of well managed public and private service providers.
9 (6) The maintenance of a strong and well managed network of 
10human services requires a joint planning process that brings 
11together public and private experts in human services to 
12identify best practices and strategies.


13 Section 10. Illinois Human Services Commission. The 
14Illinois Human Services Commission is created to undertake a 
15systematic review of human services programs with the goal of 
16ensuring their consistent delivery in the State.

17 Section 15. Duties.
18 (a) The Commission shall review all State human services 
19programs and make recommendations for achieving a system that 
20will provide for the efficient and effective delivery of high 
21quality human services. These recommendations shall include 
22the following elements:

23  (1) Ensuring adequate appropriations for the provision 
24 of human services.

 
 
HB5591- 3 -LRB097 18528 KTG 63759 b


1  (2) Establishing processes for determining fair, 
2 adequate, and timely reimbursement.

3  (3) Maintaining efficient management of 
4 publicly-funded programs and services.

5  (4) Implementing best practices within the human 
6 services field.

7  (5) Creating outcome measures and accountability 
8 mechanisms.

9  (6) Developing projections for future human services 
10 needs based on demographic trends and other related 
11 variables.
12 (b) The Commission shall make best efforts to:
13  (1) Use existing reports, research, and planning 
14 efforts and call for additional reports and research to 
15 support its work.
16  (2) Seek input from existing advisory councils and task 
17 forces that address human services delivery, as well as 
18 other human services experts and the public-at-large 
19 including one or more public hearings to take and consider 
20 public comment.
21  (3) Identify opportunities for increased efficiency or 
22 cross-agency collaboration regarding human services 
23 delivery.

24 Section 20. Membership; appointments; meetings; support. 
25 (a) The Commission shall include representation from both 
 
 
HB5591- 4 -LRB097 18528 KTG 63759 b


1public and private organizations, and its membership shall 
2reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to ensure 
3representation of the needs of all Illinois citizens.

4Commission members shall include one
member appointed by the 
5President of the Senate, one
member appointed by the Minority 
6Leader of the Senate, one
member appointed by the Speaker of 
7the House of
Representatives, one member appointed by the 
8Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives, and other 
9members appointed
by the Governor. The Governor's appointments 
10shall include,
without limitation, the following:

11  (1) A co-chair from the Office of the Governor and a 
12 co-chair not employed by a governmental entity to represent 
13 the interests of non-governmental organizations.
14  (2) Eight members of the General Assembly representing 
15 each of the majority and minority caucuses of each chamber.
16  (3) The Directors or Secretaries of the following State 
17 agencies or their designees:
18   (A) Department of Human Services.
19   (B) Department of Children and Family Services.
20   (C) Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
21   (D) State Board of Education.
22   (E) Department on Aging.
23   (F) Department of Juvenile Justice.
24   (G) Department of Corrections.
25   (H) Department of Public Health.
26  (4) Local government stakeholders and nongovernmental 
 
 
HB5591- 5 -LRB097 18528 KTG 63759 b


1 stakeholders with an interest in human services, including 
2 representation among the following private-sector fields 
3 and constituencies: 
4   (A) Early childhood education and development.
5   (B) Child care.
6   (C) Child welfare.
7   (D) Youth services.
8   (E) Developmental disabilities.
9   (F) Mental health.
10   (H) Employment and training.
11   (I) Sexual and domestic violence.
12   (J) Alcohol and substance abuse.
13   (K) Local community collaborations among human 
14 services programs.
15   (L) Immigrant services.
16   (M) Affordable housing.
17   (N) Re-entry.
18   (O) Food and nutrition.
19   (P) Homelessness.
20   (Q) Older adults.
21   (R) Physical disabilities.
22   (S) Business.
23   (T) Philanthropy.
24   (U) Labor.
25   (V) Law enforcement.
26 (b) Members shall serve without compensation for the 
 
 
HB5591- 6 -LRB097 18528 KTG 63759 b


1duration of the Commission.
2 (c) In the event of a vacancy, the appointment to fill the 
3vacancy shall be made in the same manner as the original

4appointment.
5 (d) The Commission shall convene within 60 days after the 
6effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General 
7Assembly. The initial meeting of the Commission shall be 
8convened by the co-chair selected by the Governor. Subsequent 
9meetings shall convene at the call of the co-chairs. The 
10Commission shall meet on a quarterly basis, or more often if 
11necessary.
12 (e) The Department of Human Services shall provide 
13administrative support to the Commission.

14 Section 25. Report. The Commission shall report to the 
15Governor and the General Assembly on the Commission's progress 
16toward its goals and objectives by June 30, 2013, and every 
17June 30 thereafter. A final report shall be due no later than 2 
18years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 
1997th General Assembly. The Commission and the terms of its 
20members shall expire upon delivery of the final report.


21 Section 30. Transparency. In addition to whatever policies 
22or procedures it may adopt, all operations of the Commission 
23shall be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of 
24Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. This Section shall 
 
 
HB5591- 7 -LRB097 18528 KTG 63759 b


1not be construed so as to preclude other State laws from 
2applying to the Commission and its activities.