Sec. 10-32. Task Force on the Condition of African American Men in Illinois.

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(a)The General Assembly finds and declares that African American men:

(1)are disproportionately less likely to complete high school and to obtain a post-secondary education;

(2)are more likely to be incarcerated or on parole;

(3)are more likely to have lower lifetime economic earnings;

(4)are more likely to have been a part of the child welfare population;

(5)are more likely to have a shorter life expectancy; and

(6)are more likely to have health problems, such as HIV/AIDS, drug dependency, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. The General Assembly further finds and declares that the State of Illinois has a compelling interest in determining the causes of these problems and in developing appropriate remedies.

(b)The Task Force on the Condition of African American Men in Illinois is created within the Department of Human Services. Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 2 members to the Task Force. In addition, the Director or Secretary of each of the following, or his or her designee, are members: the Department of Human Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Human Rights, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board. Members shall not receive compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses from appropriations made for that purpose. The Department of Human Services shall provide staff and other assistance to the Task Force.

(c)The purposes of the Task Force are as follows: to determine the causal factors for the condition of African American men; to inventory State programs and initiatives that serve to improve the condition of African American men; to identify gaps in services to African American men; and to develop strategies to reduce duplication of services and to maximize coordination between State agencies, providers, and educational institutions, including developing benchmarks to measure progress.

(d)The Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2008.