99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 HB3981

Introduced , by Rep. Robyn Gabel

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the 21st Century Human Services Reorganization Commission Act. Creates the 21st Century Human Services Reorganization Commission to review all human services and economic support programs provided by the State and to make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on how to reorganize and simplify human services in order to (i) integrate those services in a cost-effective manner, (ii) streamline government, (iii) reduce redundant applications, and (iv) cross program silos and deliver these services when needed to achieve measurable income, security, economic stability, and asset building outcomes. Provides that the Commission shall hold at least 5 public hearings, and that the Commission shall have members from both public and private organizations, and members who reflect the regional, racial, and cultural diversity of the State to ensure that the needs of all Illinois residents are represented. Contains provisions concerning member appointments; non-voting members; meetings; and reporting requirements.

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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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,

3 represented in the General Assembly:

4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 21st

5 Century Human Services Reorganization Commission Act.

6 Section 5. Legislative findings.

7 (1) The economic well-being of Illinois families is

8 supported by temporary subsistence programs, income supports

9 to support those seeking training or who are working, quality

10 early childhood services, education to develop workforce

11 skills, economic development, job training, health supports,

12 higher education, increased financial capability, asset

13 building, and employers who provide jobs, including micro,

14 small, and large employers.

15 (2) The State of Illinois depends upon public and private

16 service providers to deliver many critical human services

17 necessary to protect and enhance the welfare of its citizens,

18 including its most vulnerable populations. Many of these

19 traditional services are best delivered as part of the health

20 care or public health systems.

21 (3) The citizens of Illinois and their communities depend

22 upon the array of economic well-being services to address the

23 social determinants of poor health and to protect public

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1 health, to support individual and family well-being, to improve

2 public safety, to revitalize local economies, and to enhance

3 learning to better develop the workforce of the future.

4 (4) Human services, child support services, public health

5 services, services to the elderly, and financial supports play

6 a vital role in every community and legislative district across

7 the State, making economic stability a reality for families

8 with or without children, youth, refugee and immigrant workers,

9 the elderly, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable

10 populations.

11 (5) In the 21st Century, integrated services will address

12 needs, support families, and help families build their own

13 economic security as part of the workforce moving to the new

14 middle class.

15 (6) In the 21st Century, Illinois will need to reconfigure

16 State government and focus on the individuals being served by

17 delivering services across program silos to address the food,

18 housing, and economic insecurity of a household or of a family

19 and to transition them to achieve their potential and to have

20 economic stability.

21 Section 10. Commission created; duties. The 21st Century

22 Human Services Reorganization Commission is created to review

23 all human services and economic support programs provided by

24 the State and to make recommendations to the Governor and to

25 the General Assembly on how to reorganize and simplify human

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1 services in order to (i) integrate those services in a

2 cost-effective manner, (ii) streamline government, (iii)

3 reduce redundant applications, and (iv) cross program silos and

4 deliver these services when needed to achieve measurable

5 income, security, economic stability, and asset building

6 outcomes. These recommendations shall include, but not be

7 limited to, the following matters:

8 (1) Maintaining compliance with federal statutes,

9 regulations, and rules and any applicable court orders.

10 (2) Providing strength-based, integrated services to

11 Illinois residents with measurable results.

12 (3) Exploring the best ways to develop support for

13 economic stability and for the reduction in asset poverty

14 among Illinois residents.

15 (4) Fostering economic upward mobility with public

16 expenditures and policy.

17 (5) Consolidating State programs or coordinating the

18 delivery of services, including services provided from

19 other agencies.

20 (6) Exploring the transformation of the State's health

21 care services as a result of Medicaid expansion under the

22 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and legislative

23 efforts to reform the State's health care system.

24 The Commission shall consult with social service agencies,

25 local government, health providers, and the program

26 administrators of all affected programs. The Commission shall

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1 hold at least 5 public hearings: one in the City of Chicago,

2 one in Dupage County, one in Southern Illinois, one in Central

3 Illinois, and one in Western Illinois.

4 Section 15. Membership and appointments.

5 (a) The Commission shall include members from both public

6 and private organizations, and its membership shall reflect the

7 regional, racial, and cultural diversity of the State to ensure

8 the needs of all Illinois residents are represented.

9 (b) The Commission shall include the following members

10 appointed as follows:

11 (1) three members appointed by the President of the

12 Senate;

13 (2) three members appointed by the Minority Leader of

14 the Senate;

15 (3) three members appointed by the Speaker of the House

16 of Representatives;

17 (4) three members appointed by the Minority Leader of

18 the House of Representatives; and

19 (5) eight other members appointed by the Governor.

20 (c) The Governor's appointments shall include, without

21 limitation, the following:

22 (1) a co-chair from the Office of the Governor;

23 (2) a co-chair not employed by the State of Illinois

24 who is knowledgeable about government services, including

25 the services delivered on behalf of the State by

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1 non-governmental organizations.

2 (d) The Directors or Secretaries of the following State

3 agencies, or their designees, shall all serve as ex-officio,

4 non-voting members:

5 (1) The Department of Human Services.

6 (2) The Department of Children and Family Services.

7 (3) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

8 (4) The Illinois Community College Board.

9 (5) The Department of Employment Security.

10 (6) The Department on Aging.

11 (7) The Department of Juvenile Justice.

12 (8) The Department of Corrections.

13 (9) The Department of Public Health.

14 (10) The Board of Education.

15 (11) The Department of Veterans' Affairs.

16 (e) Members appointed to the Commission shall include

17 stakeholders with an interest in human services, public health,

18 economic development, business, and asset building, and shall

19 include representatives of the following private-sector fields

20 and constituencies:

21 (1) Early childhood education and development.

22 (2) Child welfare and youth services.

23 (3) Child support.

24 (4) Developmental disabilities.

25 (5) Mental health and substance abuse.

26 (6) Employment and training for youth, the unemployed,

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1 and the underemployed.

2 (7) Refugee resettlement.

3 (8) Food insecurity and SNAP outreach.

4 (9) Civil rights.

5 (10) Seniors.

6 (11) Asset building.

7 (12) Economic development.

8 (13) Micro-enterprise.

9 (14) Small business.

10 (15) Philanthropy.

11 (16) Income supports.

12 (f) Members shall serve without compensation; however, to

13 the extent funds are available, they shall be reimbursed for

14 reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties

15 as members of the Commission.

16 (g) Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the

17 Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original

18 appointment.

19 (h) Appointments shall be based on the expertise of the

20 appointee and not on organizational or institutional

21 affiliation.

22 Section 20. Meetings.

23 (a) The Commission shall convene once after at least 11

24 members have been appointed. Meetings shall be held with the

25 required frequency, but not less than quarterly.

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1 (b) The Commission may establish committees, however the

2 committees shall not be authorized to participate in any

3 Commission action but shall present their findings and

4 recommendations to the Commission.

5 (c) The Commission is authorized to conduct business over

6 conference telephone or computer voice or video calling or its

7 equivalent. Commission members attending via electronic

8 communications shall count towards determining a quorum and

9 shall vote or otherwise participate.

10 Section 25. Administrative support. The Department of

11 Human Services shall provide administrative support to the

12 Commission.

13 Section 30. Report. The Commission shall report to the

14 Governor and to the General Assembly on its findings and

15 recommendations by January 5, 2017.