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Public Act 098-0693
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SB0121 Enrolled | LRB098 04333 JDS 34361 b |
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AN ACT concerning government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, |
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Illinois African-American Family Commission |
Act is amended by changing Sections 5, 15, 20, and 25 as |
follows:
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(20 ILCS 3903/5)
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Sec. 5. Legislative findings. It is the policy of this |
State to promote family preservation and to preserve and |
strengthen families. |
(a) Over 12 million people live in Illinois. |
African-Americans represent 15% of the population and 26% of |
the residents living in Cook County. Despite some progress over |
the last few decades, African-Americans in Illinois continue to |
lag behind other racial groups relative to indicators of |
well-being in education, employment, income, and health. |
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, just 26% of the |
African-American population over 25 years of age in Illinois |
completed their high school education; 6% held an associate's |
degree; less than 10% (9%) held a bachelor's degree; less than |
5% (3%) held a master's degree; and less than one percent held |
either a professional (.8%) or doctoral (.4%) degree.
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These levels of education attainment reflect more |
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fundamental problems with retaining African-Americans in |
school. The Illinois State Board of Education reported that for |
the 2001-2002 school year, 36,373, or 6%, of students enrolled |
in public high schools dropped out. Thirty-nine percent of |
these students were African-Americans; 38% were White; 21% were |
Hispanic; and 2% were classified as Other.
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Although African-Americans make up 18% of the high school |
population, they are disproportionately represented in the |
number of students who are suspended and expelled. In the |
2001-2002 school year, 29,068 students were suspended from |
school. Forty-seven percent were White, 37% were |
African-American, 14% were Hispanic, and 1% were classified as |
Other. In regards to expulsions Statewide, the total number of |
high school students expelled was 1,651. Forty-three percent |
were African-American, 41% were White, 14% were Hispanic, and |
2% were classified as Other. Within Chicago public schools, 448 |
students were expelled. Seventy-seven of these students were |
African-American; 27% were White; 14% were Hispanic; and 4% |
were classified as Other. The fact that African-Americans are |
more likely to be suspended or expelled from school also |
contributes to the high dropout rate among African-American |
high school students.
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In addition to educational challenges, African-Americans |
face challenges in the areas of employment and income. In the |
year 2000, the unemployment rate for African-Americans age 16 |
years or older was 15% compared to only 6% for the total |
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Illinois population. Moreover, the median household income of |
African-Americans in Illinois was $31,699 compared to $46,590 |
for the total Illinois population, and the percentage of |
African-American families below the poverty level in Illinois |
was 26% percent in 1999 compared to 10.7% for the total |
Illinois population in that same year.
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Indicators of child welfare and criminal justice reveal |
still more challenges that African-American families face in |
Illinois. In 2000, African-American children represented 18% |
of children 18 years of age and under, but comprised 73% of |
children in substitute care. African-Americans are also |
overrepresented in the criminal justice population. Of the |
total Illinois adult inmate population in the year 2000, 65% |
were African-American. During this same time period, |
African-American youth represented 58% of the juvenile inmate |
population in Illinois.
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While the leading causes of death among African-Americans |
are the same as those for the general population in Illinois, |
African-Americans have a higher rate of death per 100,000 |
residents. The rate of overall deaths per 100,000 residents |
among African-Americans in the year 2000 was 1,181; 847 for |
Whites; and 411 for those classified as Other. The rate of |
cancer-related deaths per 100,000 residents by racial or ethnic |
groups in 2000 was: 278 African-Americans; 206 Whites; and 110 |
of those classified as Other. The rate of diabetes-related |
deaths per 100,000 residents among African-Americans in 2000 |
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was 41 compared to 23 for Whites and 13 for those classified as |
Other. The rate of deaths per 100,000 residents by heart |
disease among African-Americans in 2000 was 352 compared
to 257 |
for Whites and 120 for those classified as Other. The rate of |
deaths per 100,000 residents by stroke among African-Americans |
in 2000 was 75; 60 for Whites; and 35 for those classified as |
Other.
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African-Americans had higher rates of smoking and obesity |
than other racial groups in Illinois in 2001. African-Americans |
accounted for more of the new adult/adolescent AIDS cases, |
cumulative adult/adolescent AIDS cases, and number of people |
living with AIDS than other racial groups in Illinois in the |
year 2002. Still, 23% of uninsured persons in Illinois are |
African-American.
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(b) The Illinois African-American Family Commission |
continues to be an essential key to promoting the preservation |
and strengthening of families. As of the effective date of this |
amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, just under 13 |
million people live in Illinois. African-Americans represent |
15% of the population and 25% of the residents living in Cook |
County. Despite some progress over the last few decades, |
African-Americans in Illinois continue to lag behind other |
racial groups relative to indicators of well-being in |
education, employment, income, and health. According to the |
2010 federal decennial census: just 28% of the African-American |
population over 25 years of age in Illinois completed their |
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high school education; 36% had some college or an associate's |
degree; less than 12% held a bachelor's degree; less than 8% |
held either a graduate or professional degree. |
These levels of education attainment reflect more |
fundamental problems with retaining African-Americans in |
school. The State Board of Education reported that for the |
2010-2011 school year, 18,210, or 2.77%, of students enrolled |
in public high schools dropped out. 39.3% of these students |
were African-Americans; 32.6% were White; 24.2% were Hispanic; |
and 2% were classified as Other. |
Although African-Americans make up 20% of the high school |
population, they are disproportionately represented in the |
number of students who are suspended and expelled. In the |
2011-2012 school year, 29,928 students were suspended from |
school. 36% were White, 34% were African-American, 26% were |
Hispanic, and 4% were classified as Other. With regard to |
expulsions statewide, the total number of high school students |
expelled was 982. 37% were African-American, 41% were White, |
21% were Hispanic, and 2% were classified as Other. Within |
Chicago public schools, 294 students were expelled. 80% of |
these students were African-American; none were White; 17% were |
Hispanic; and 3% were classified as Other. The fact that |
African-Americans are more likely to be suspended or expelled |
from school also contributes to the high dropout rate among |
African-American high school students. |
In addition to educational challenges, African-Americans |
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face challenges in the areas of employment and income. In the |
year 2010, the unemployment rate for African-Americans age 16 |
years or older was 16% compared to only 9% for the total |
Illinois population. Moreover, the median household income of |
African-Americans in Illinois was $34,874 compared to $60,433 |
for the total Illinois population, and the percentage of |
African-American families below the poverty level in Illinois |
was 32% percent in 2012 compared to 15% for the total Illinois |
population in that same year. |
Indicators of child welfare and criminal justice reveal |
still more challenges that African-American families face in |
Illinois. In 2010, African-American children represented 14% |
of children 18 years of age and under, but comprised 56% of |
children in substitute care. African-Americans are also |
overrepresented in the criminal justice population. Of the |
total Illinois adult inmate population in the year 2012, 57% |
were African-American. During this same time period, |
African-American youth represented 66% of the juvenile inmate |
population in Illinois. |
While the leading causes of death among African-Americans |
are the same as those for the general population in Illinois, |
African-Americans have a higher rate of death per 100,000 |
residents. The rate of overall deaths per 100,000 residents |
among African-Americans in the year 2010 was 898; 741 for |
Whites; and 458 for those classified as Other. The rate of |
cancer-related deaths per 100,000 residents by racial or ethnic |
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groups in 2010 was 216 for African-Americans; 179 for Whites; |
and 124 for those classified as Other. The rate of |
diabetes-related deaths per 100,000 residents among |
African-Americans in 2010 was 114 compared to 66 for Whites and |
75 for those classified as Other. The rate of deaths per |
100,000 residents by heart disease among African-Americans in |
2010 was 232 compared to 179 for Whites and 121 for those |
classified as Other. The rate of deaths per 100,000 residents |
by stroke among African-Americans in 2010 was 108; 73 for |
Whites; and 56 for those classified as Other. |
African-Americans had higher rates of smoking and obesity |
than other racial groups in Illinois in 2013. African-Americans |
accounted for more of the new adult/adolescent AIDS cases, |
cumulative adult/adolescent AIDS cases, and number of people |
living with AIDS than other racial groups in Illinois in the |
year 2013. Still, 24% of uninsured persons in Illinois are |
African-American. |
(c) These huge disparities in education, employment, |
income, child welfare, criminal justice, and health |
demonstrate the tremendous challenges facing the |
African-American family in Illinois. These challenges are |
severe. There is a need for government, child and family |
advocates, and other key stakeholders to create and implement |
public policies to address the health and social crises facing |
African-American families. The development of given solutions |
clearly transcends any one State agency and requires a |
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coordinated effort. The Illinois African-American Family |
Commission shall assist State agencies with this task.
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The African-American Family Commission was created in |
October 1994 by Executive Order to assist the Illinois |
Department of Children and Family Services in developing and |
implementing programs and public policies that affect the |
State's child welfare system. The Commission has a proven track |
record of bringing State agencies, community providers, and |
consumers together to address child welfare issues. The ability |
of the Commission to address the above-mentioned health issues, |
community factors, and the personal well-being of |
African-American families and children has been limited due to |
the Executive Order's focus on child welfare. It is apparent |
that broader issues of health, mental health, criminal justice, |
education, and economic development also directly affect the |
health and well-being of African-American families and |
children. Accordingly, the role of the Illinois |
African-American Family Commission is hereby expanded to |
encompass working relationships with every department, agency, |
and commission within State government if any of its activities |
impact African-American children and families. The focus of the |
Commission is hereby restructured and shall exist by |
legislative mandate to engage State agencies in its efforts to |
preserve and strengthen African-American families.
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(Source: P.A. 93-867, eff. 8-5-04.)
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(20 ILCS 3903/15)
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Sec. 15. Purpose and objectives.
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(a) The purpose of the Illinois African-American Family |
Commission is to advise the Governor and General Assembly, as |
well as work directly with State agencies, to improve and |
expand existing policies, services, programs, and |
opportunities for African-American families. The Illinois |
African-American Family Commission shall guide the efforts of |
and collaborate with State agencies, including: the Department |
on Aging, the Department of Children and Family Services, the |
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the |
Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services, |
the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the |
Department of Public Health, the Department of Transportation, |
the Department of Employment Security, and others . This shall |
be achieved primarily by: to improve and expand existing human |
services and educational and community development programs |
for African-Americans. This will be achieved by:
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(1) Monitoring and commenting on existing and proposed |
legislation and programs designed to address the needs of |
African-Americans in Illinois;
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(2) Assisting State agencies in developing programs, |
services, public policies, and research strategies that |
will expand and enhance the social and economic well-being |
of African-American children and families; and
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(3) Facilitating the participation of and |
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representation of African-Americans in the development, |
implementation, and planning of policies, programs, and |
community-based services ; and .
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(4) Promoting research efforts to document the impact |
of policies and programs on African-American families. |
The work of the Illinois African-American Family |
Commission shall include the use of existing reports, research |
and planning efforts, procedures, and programs.
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(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
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(20 ILCS 3903/20)
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Sec. 20. Appointment; terms. The Illinois African-American |
Family Commission shall be comprised of 15 members . |
For those seats on the Commission with terms that expire in |
2015, and for subsequent appointments to those seats, the |
Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of |
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and |
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each |
appoint one member to the Commission. |
For those seats on the Commission with terms that expire in |
2016, and for subsequent appointments to those seats, the |
Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of |
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and |
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each |
appoint one member to the Commission. |
For those seats on the Commission with terms that expire in |
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2017, and for subsequent appointments to those seats, the |
Governor shall appoint 5 members to the Commission who shall be |
appointed by the Governor . |
Each member shall have a working knowledge of human |
services, community development, and economic public policies |
in Illinois. The Governor shall appoint the chairperson or |
chairpersons. |
The members shall reflect regional representation to |
ensure that the needs of African-American families and children |
throughout the State of Illinois are met. The members shall be |
selected from a variety of disciplines. They shall be |
representative of a partnership and collaborative effort |
between public and private agencies, the business sector, and |
community-based human services organizations.
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Members shall serve 3-year terms, except in the case of |
initial appointments. One-third of initially appointed |
members, as determined by lot, shall be appointed to 1-year |
terms; 1/3 shall be appointed to 2-year terms; and 1/3 shall be |
appointed to 3-year terms, so that the terms are staggered. |
Members will serve without compensation, but shall be |
reimbursed for Commission-related expenses.
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The Department on Aging, the Department of Children and |
Family Services, the Department of Commerce and Economic |
Opportunity, the Department of Corrections, the Department of |
Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family |
Services, the Department of Public Health, the State Board of |
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Education, the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois |
Community College Board, the Department of Human Rights, the |
Capital Development Board, the Department of Labor, and the |
Department of Transportation shall each appoint a liaison to |
serve ex-officio on the Commission. The Office of the Governor, |
in cooperation with the State agencies appointing liaisons to |
the Commission under this Section, shall provide |
administrative support to the Commission.
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(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
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(20 ILCS 3903/25)
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Sec. 25. Funding. The African-American Family Commission |
may shall receive funding through appropriations available for |
its purposes made to the Department on Aging, the Department of |
Children and Family Services, the Department of Commerce and |
Economic Opportunity, the Department of Corrections, the |
Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and |
Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) , the |
Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, the |
Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College |
Board, the Department of Human Rights, the Capital Development |
Board, the Department of Labor, and the Department of |
Transportation. The Commission may also receive and expend |
funding from federal and private sources, including gifts, |
donations, and private grants.
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(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
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