103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1623
 
Introduced 2/8/2023, by Sen. David Koehler
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:



New Act

 Creates the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force Act. Creates the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall develop a statewide plan to connect existing local projects and new projects to create a cohesive statewide history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois while creating new educational and tourism opportunities for the State. Establishes the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative and technical support to the Task Force. Provides that all members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the Task Force shall review available research, existing infrastructure and projects, best practices, and effective interventions to formulate recommendations. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report detailing the Task Force's findings and recommendations and needed resources. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before July 1, 2024. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2025.



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A BILL FOR
 


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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 Underground Railroad Task Force Act.

6 Section 5. Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force. 
The 
7Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force is created. The 
8Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force shall develop a 
9statewide plan to connect existing local projects and new 
10projects to create a cohesive statewide history of the 
11Underground Railroad in Illinois, while developing new 
12educational and tourism opportunities for this State.

13 Section 10. Task Force members. 

14 (a) The Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force shall be 
15composed of the following members:
16  (1) one member appointed by the President of the 
17 Senate;
18  (2) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
19 Senate;
20  (3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House 
21 of Representatives;
22  (4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
 
 
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1 House of Representatives;
2  (5) one member appointed by the Governor;
3  (6) the Director of Natural Resources or the 
4 Director's designee;
5  (7) the Director of the Illinois State Archives or the 
6 Director's designee;
7  (8) the President of the Illinois State Historical 
8 Society or the President's designee;
9  (9) the President of the NAACP Illinois State 
10 Conference or the President's designee; and
11  (10) the Clerk of Tazewell County.
12 (b) The members of the Task Force shall serve without 
13compensation.
14 (c) The Department of Natural Resources shall provide 
15administrative and technical support to the Task Force. All 
16members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 30 days 
17after the effective date of this Act.

18 Section 15. Meetings, report.

19 (a) The Task Force shall meet at least 3 times with the 
20first meeting occurring within 60 days after the effective 
21date of this Act.

22 (b) The Task Force shall review available research, 
23existing infrastructure and projects, best practices, and 
24effective interventions to formulate recommendations.
25 (c) The Task Force shall prepare a report detailing the 
 
 
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1Task Force's findings and recommendations and needed 
2resources. The Task Force shall submit a report of its 
3findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the 
4Governor on or before July 1, 2024.


5 Section 20. Repeal and dissolution of Task Force. The Task 
6Force is dissolved, and this Act is repealed, on January 1, 
72025.