IL SB0295

Amends the Intergenerational Poverty Act to increase judicial members of the Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security from one member to two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.

Establishes the Commission's purpose to inform public policy on root causes of poverty, distinguish between poverty standards and economic security standards, and educate policymakers on poverty's impact on educational attainment, incarceration rates, earnings, health care, and housing.

Commission membership consists of four General Assembly members (one each appointed by Senate President, Senate Minority Leader, House Speaker, and House Minority Leader), two judges, and 20 public members representing stakeholders including rural/urban poverty organizations, individuals with lived poverty experience, health care advocates, educators, labor organizations, and government representatives.

Public members must be appointed within 45 days of the Act's effective date, reflect racial, gender, and geographic diversity of Illinois, and must have been state residents for at least one year; the organizational meeting must occur within 60 days.

Rural and urban poverty organization representatives serve as cochairs of the Commission, which must meet at least annually, conduct open meetings under the Open Meetings Act, and receive administrative support from the Department of Human Services.