Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force

Contact Name

Hobrock, Barbara

Contact E-Mail

Function

The Task Force shall analyze programs and policies of the State to determine what changes, modifications, and innovations may be necessary to remove barriers to competitive employment and economic opportunity for persons with disabilities, including barriers such as transportation, housing, program accessibility, and benefit structure. The Task Force shall also analyze State disability systems, including the mental health, developmental disabilities, veterans' assistance, workforce investment, and rehabilitation services systems, and their effect on employment of persons with disabilities. The Task Force shall review and analyze applicable research and policy studies, innovations used in other states, and any federal policy initiatives such as customized employment, and federal funding opportunities that would increase competitive employment and economic opportunity for persons with disabilities in Illinois. The Task Force shall make recommendations to the General Assembly and to the Governor, including legislative proposals, regulatory changes, systems changes, and budget initiatives, that would advance employment and economic opportunity for persons with disabilities in Illinois. The Task Force shall submit the multi-year plan to the Governor and the General Assembly by no later than July 1, 2025. Annual reports on implementation shall be required by no later than January 1 of each subsequent year through January 1, 2030.

Term

Not specified.

Senate Confirmation

No

Party Affiliation

N/A

Compensation

Members shall serve voluntarily and without compensation.

Composition

Public and State Government members, including: --Up to 15 public members appointed by the Governor (at least five of whom have a disability) who represent: -Statewide organizations that advocate for persons with physical, developmental and psychiatric disabilities, -Entities with expertise in assistive technology devices and services for persons with disabilities, -Advocates for veterans with disabilities, -Centers for independent living, -Disability services providers, -Organized labor, -Higher education, -The private sector business community, -Entities that provide employment and training services to persons with disabilities; --At least eight representatives of State Government, including: -A high-ranking member of the Governor's management team, designated by the Governor, The Governor shall appoint at least 2 additional members to the Task Force who represent organizations that are current Section 14(c) certificate holders -Representatives of each division of the Department of Human Services, designated by the Secretary of Human Services, -The Director of Healthcare and Family Services, or his or her designee, -The Director of Veterans' Affairs or his or her designee, -The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee, -The Director of Employment Security or his or her designee, -The Director of Central Management Services or his or her designee, -The Director of Juvenile Justice or his or her designee, -The Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education or his or her designee, -The Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board or his or her designee; -The Executive Director of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities or his or her designee, -The State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee. The Director of Labor, or the Director's designee, shall serve on the Task Force in a non-voting, advisory capacity until July 1, 2025.

Chair

Co-chaired by the representative of the Governor and a public member chosen by the other public members of the Task Force.

Authority

20 ILCS 4095/1