20 ILCS 5095/ - Language Access to Government Services Task Force Act.

Copy with citation
Copy as parenthetical citation

(20 ILCS 5095/1) (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2020) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Language Access to Government Services Task Force Act. (Source: P.A. 100-320, eff. 8-24-17.)

(20 ILCS 5095/5) (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2020) Sec. 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the following: (1) Nearly 10% of Illinois' population is limited

English proficient, giving Illinois the 5th largest limited English proficient population in the United States at over 1.1 million residents.

(2) Language barriers continue to exist for many

Illinois residents who are limited English proficient, and these barriers limit their ability to fully participate in civic life and maximize their economic productivity.

(3) Language barriers for limited English

proficient residents create very real challenges when trying to access information about available government services or an individual's legal rights or obligations under State and local laws.

(4) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires

program recipients of federal funds, such as certain State agencies, to take reasonable steps to ensure that limited English proficient persons have meaningful access to their programs and activities.

(5) The public safety, health, economic prosperity,

and general welfare of all Illinois residents is furthered by increasing language access to State programs and services.

(Source: P.A. 100-320, eff. 8-24-17.)

(20 ILCS 5095/10) (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2020) Sec. 10. The Language Access to Government Services Task Force. (a) There is hereby created the Language Access to Government Services Task Force to study and reduce the language barriers existing among Illinois residents who are limited English proficient, and to maximize their ability to access government services and participate in civic discourse. (b) The Task Force shall consist of the following members: (1) one member of the Senate appointed by the

President of the Senate;

(2) one member of the Senate appointed by the

Minority Leader of the Senate;

(3) one member of the House of Representatives

appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member of the House of Representatives

appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5) one member appointed by the Governor as a

representative of the Governor's Office;

(6) one member appointed by the Attorney General as

a representative of the Attorney General's Office;

(7) one member appointed by the Secretary of State

as a representative of the Secretary of State's Office;

(8) one member appointed by the Secretary of the

Illinois Department of Human Services as a representative of the Department of Human Services;

(9) five members appointed by the Governor, upon

recommendation of a non-profit organization that promotes civic engagement and advocates on behalf of immigrant communities through a coalition of member organizations that serve Latino, Asian, African, Arab, and European immigrants; and

(10) five members appointed by the Governor, upon

recommendation of a non-profit organization that promotes civic engagement among Asian American communities and advocates on behalf of Asian American communities through its Pan-Asian coalition.

(c) Members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for serving as members, and shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of this Act and begin meeting no later than 30 days after the appointments are finalized, but shall hold its first meeting no later than September 1, 2017. In the event that any appointment required to be made by the Governor under paragraphs (9) and (10) of subsection (b) is not made within 30 days after the effective date of this Act, the Secretary of Human Services shall make such appointments within 15 days after the appointment deadline. (d) The Task Force shall elect a chairperson from among its membership, and the Department of Human Services shall provide technical support and assistance to the Task Force and shall be responsible for administering its operations and ensuring that the requirements of this Act are met. The Task Force may otherwise consult with any persons or entities it deems necessary to carry out its purposes. (Source: P.A. 100-320, eff. 8-24-17.)

(20 ILCS 5095/15) (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2020) Sec. 15. Duties of the Language Access to Government Services Task Force. The duties of the Task Force shall consist of the following: (1) review existing language access laws or

ordinances in other parts of the country, including existing reports or academic publications on such laws or ordinances;

(2) evaluate their effectiveness in eliminating

language barriers for limited English proficient communities;

(3) consider any other available and relevant

information on language access issues in Illinois, including census data, community feedback, or surveys;

(4) identify and recommend specific best-practices

and provisions for a State language access law; and

(5) produce a final report summarizing the Task

Force's findings and detailing its specific recommendations for a State language access law and highlight any areas of major disagreement within the Task Force.

(Source: P.A. 100-320, eff. 8-24-17.)

(20 ILCS 5095/20) (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2020) Sec. 20. Report. The Task Force shall submit its final report with findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Attorney General on or before December 31, 2019. The report to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct. (Source: P.A. 100-320, eff. 8-24-17; 100-1145, eff. 12-10-18.)

(20 ILCS 5095/25) (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2020) Sec. 25. Repeal. This Act is repealed on July 1, 2020. (Source: P.A. 100-320, eff. 8-24-17; 100-1145, eff. 12-10-18.)

(20 ILCS 5095/100) Sec. 100. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted). (Source: P.A. 100-320, eff. 8-24-17; text omitted.)

(20 ILCS 5095/999) (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2020) Sec. 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law. (Source: P.A. 100-320, eff. 8-24-17.)