HR1279 Summary

• Urges the Governor to create a Distressed Counties and Communities Commission composed of stakeholders, state agency representatives, and community leaders to address poverty and economic problems in distressed Illinois counties and municipalities.

• Identifies 24 Illinois counties with 16% or more poverty rates (including Cook, Champaign, Jackson, and others) and 7 municipalities with populations over 100,000 having 10% or more family poverty rates (Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Joliet, and Naperville).

• Charges the Commission with finding innovative solutions to meet needs of social service recipients, analyzing successful programs in law enforcement, corrections, education, job training, and public health, and developing an action plan using reallocated resources without increasing state taxes.

• Requires Commission members to be appointed by early January 2013, hold the first meeting in January 2013, conduct public hearings, and submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by April 15, 2013.

• Documents severe disparities in distressed communities, including homicide rates 11 times higher and mortality rates 5 times higher in Chicago's poorest neighborhoods compared to least poor neighborhoods.