 |
| ||
| |||
 | |||
|
iahse@mail.state.il.us | |||
|
Mexican Community Capitol Building Puerto Rican Community 26th Street in Chicago Springfield Division Street in Chicago
Latest News Affecting Hispanics in Illinois
June 15, 2006, IAHSE will attend the first meeting reviewing the State of Illinois Hispanic Employment Plan submitted in February, 2006.
February 1, 2006, CMS submits 2006 Hispanic Employment Plan to Legislature. Go to CMS website to view the plan.
January 4, 2006, IAHSE was invited to attend a special meeting called by the CMS' Director to discuss the Hispanic Employment Plan being developed by CMS. The Hispanic employment plan will be submitted to the Illinois Legislature in February. Key Hispanic advocates and organizations were invited to this important meeting to give their input and recommendations on the hiring of Hispanic state employees. IAHSE will continue to work closely with CMS to help increase the number of Hispanics in state government.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2005 LEGISLATION
Senate Bill signed into law
SB 2043 (introduced by Senator Iris Martinez) State Employment
Hispanic Plan, amends the State Employment Records Act. Provides
that each state agency shall include in its annual report a description
of the agency's Hispanic employment plan and its bilingual
employment plan, etc. See Public Act below.
Public Act 094-0597
AN ACT concerning State government. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The State Employment Records Act is amended by changing Section 20 as follows:
Sec. 20. Reports. State agencies shall collect, classify, maintain,
and report all information required by this Act on a fiscal year b asis. Agencies shall file, as public information and by January 1, 1993 and each year thereafter, a copy of all reports required by this Act with the Office of the Secretary of State, and shall submit an annual report to the Governor. Each agency's annual report shall include a description of the agency's activities in implementing the State Hispanic Employment Plan and the bilingual employment plan in accordance with the reporting requirements developed by the Department of Central Management Services pursuant to Section 405-125 of the Civil Administrative Code. (Source: P.A. 87-1211.)
Section 10. The Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Sections 405-120 and 405-125 as follows:
(was 20 ILCS 405/67.29)
Sec. 405-120. Hispanic and bilingual employees. The Department
shall develop and implement plans to increase the number of Hispanics employed by State government and the number of bilingual persons employed in State government at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels. The Department shall prepare and revise annually a State Hispanic Employment Plan in consultation with individuals and organizations informed on this subject. The Department shall report to the General Assembly by February 1 of each year each State agency's activities in implementing the State Hispanic Employment Plan. (Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)
(20 ILCS 405/405-125) (was 20 ILCS 405/67.31)
Sec. 405-125. State agency affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals. Each State agency shall implement strategies and programs in accordance with the State Hispanic Employment Plan to increase the number of Hispanics employed by the State and the number of bilingual persons employed by the State at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels. Each State agency shall report annually to the Department and the Department of Human Rights, in a format prescribed by the Department, all of the agency's activities in implementing the State Hispanic Employment Plan. Each agency's annual report shall include reports or information related to the agency's Hispanic and bilingual employment strategies and programs that the agency has received from the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Department of Central Management Services, or the Auditor General, pursuant to their periodic review responsibilities; findings made by the Governor in his or her report to the General Assembly; assessments of bilingual service needs based upon the agency's service populations; information on the agency's studies and monitoring success concerning the number of Hispanics and bilingual persons employed by the agency at the supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels and any increases in those categories from the prior year; and information concerning the agency's Hispanic and bilingual employment budget allocations. The Department shall assist State agencies required to establish preparation and promotion training programs under subsection (H) of Section 7-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act for failure to meet their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals. The Department shall survey State agencies to identify effective existing training programs and shall serve as a resource to other State agencies. The Department shall assist agencies in the development and modification of training programs to enable them to meet their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals and shall provide information regarding other existing training and educational resources, such as the Upward Mobility Program, the Illinois Institute for Training and Development, and the Central Management Services Training Center, Executive Recruitment Internships, and Graduate Public 20 Service Internship. (Source: P.A. 91 239, eff. 1 1 00.) Adopted Resolutions
HR 0359, Children's Day, Recognizes the importance of the lives
of Children by naming April 30th El Dia de los ninos
(Children's Day) Resolution Adopted
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To find out the status of any Senate or House Bill click on
www.ilga.gov You can also listen to live broadcasts from the
Senate and House when in session.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2004 Legislation and Appointments
On October 7, 2004 Governor Blagojevich named Gerardo Cardenas as his new Chicago Press Secretary. He comes from the Hoy Newspaper where he worked as an assignment editor for three years. Cardenas will also serve as the Governor’s Hispanic Community Liaison.
On September 28, Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus heard testimony from the Departments of Central Management Services, Transportation, Human Services, and Employment Security during follow-up hearings, at the James R. Thompson Center, in Chicago, Senator Iris Y. Martinez, Chaired the Hearings for the Caucus. Similar Hearings are going to be scheduled in late October. For more information go to IAHSE’s Website.
On September 14, Governor Blagojevich appointed Jesse Ruiz the first Latino Chairman of the new Illinois State Board of Education. He is currently a partner at Gardner, Carton and Douglas, where he specializes in corporate law. He was the chief legal counsel in forming the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and incorporating the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation. He served as a Commissioner with the Chicago Public Schools and was the past president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association. His appointment requires confirmation from the Illinois Senate.
Senate Bill 3000, was signed by Governor Blagojevich in September, to restructure the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The bill gives future governors the power to appoint the majority of the members of the board as soon as they take office. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Del Valle and Rep. Giles.
Minority Contractor Training Initiative - On August 30th, Governor Rod Blagojevich announced $400,000 in Opportunity Returns Funding to the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) to launch the "Minority Contractor Training Initiative," a coordinated effort that will improve the competitiveness of current Illinois minority contractors and increasing the capabilities of future minority contractors to succeed in obtaining state and construction related contracts. This initiative comes as a part of the Governor’s Opportunity Returns program for the Northeast region. The Opportunity Returns regional economic development plan is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. This grassroots effort is a product of significant outreach over several months with business, civic and labor leaders, and elected officials.
The Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is providing the funding and partnering with the IHCC to administer this initiative. Training will be provided at a variety of locations in both Aurora and Chicago. The IHCC will work closely with many member organizations to administer this initiative.
Hispanic American Construction Industry Association 47th Street Chamber of Commerce Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Cuban American Chamber of Commerce of Northern Illinois Little Village Community Development Corporation Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce The Resurrection Project The Latin American Chamber of Commerce
The initiative will provide the e-commerce skills so important in today’s market, procurement instruction from experienced and successful contractors, and certification procedures applicable to state agencies, such as the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and others. The Minority Contractor Training Initiative will focus on three key strategies, increasing basic business knowledge, improving contract procurement skills and expanding access to one-on-one consultation. Contractors will receive a wide variety of support, including small business startup financing, capital investment/expansion financing, and on-site visits.
Alternative Retirement Cancellation Payment - Update As of August 31, 289 state employees have applied for state government's job buyout initiative, according to the SRS website. A counter has been placed on the State Employees Retirement System website which shows the number of state workers who have applied for the program. About 22,500 state employees are eligible, although only the first 3,000 who apply will be allowed to participate. Employees give up their retirement benefits in exchange for an enhanced cash payout. Employees are paid twice the amount of their pension contributions and the interest they've earned over the years. For example, an employee who made $3,000 in pension contributions - money that earned $1,200 in interest - would get a payment of $8,400. Employees have until Sept. 30 to apply for this retirement plan or when 3,000 people are approved. You can link to the website at: state.il.us/srs
Strike is Averted in Secretary of State Facilities
Recently Signed Senate and House Bills Senate Bill 2878, sponsored by Sen. Martin Sandoval and Rep. Arthur Turner was signed by the Governor, on August 24, a legislative amendment which allows Attorney General Lisa Madigan to file civil action suits for pattern and practice violations of civil rights laws under the Illinois Human Rights Act. In cases of violations under the Human Rights Act, such as discrimination in employment, public accommodations and financial credit, the Attorney General’s Office has to pursue litigation as would an individual complainant through the Illinois Department Human Rights and the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Now under Senate Bill 2878, the Attorney General is authorized to investigate and file suit against pattern and practice discrimination based on race, gender, national origin and disability. However, for pattern and practice cases, the Attorney General will have the full authority to seek a court order prohibiting the discriminatory conduct and imposing penalties of up to $50,000 for repeat offenders.
Senate Bill 2961, sponsored by Sen. Emil Jones and Rep. Ruth Munson was signed by the Governor to give minority and women-owned businesses more opportunities to supply goods and services to the state, extending the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) until 2008. Under BEP, 54 state agencies and nine state universities have a goal of allocating at least 19 percent of their purchasing contracts to qualified businesses that are at least 51 percent owned or controlled by a minority, woman or person with a disability. As of June 2004, the state has certified more than 2,600 vendors. An average of $357 million in state contracts have been awarded to BEP vendors over the last three fiscal years.
Senate Bill 2731, sponsored by Sen. Martin Sandoval and Rep. William Delgado was signed by the Governor in August, as a consumer protection bill that will stop prepaid calling card providers from selling deceptive calling cards. Lack of regulation has resulted in numerous artificial fees that include hidden charges, which reduce the value of the card without proper disclosure. The new law requires certification of prepaid calling card providers by the Illinois Commerce Commission. The law also requires calling card distributors to present a copy of the provider’s certification to partnering retailers to protect legitimate provider, distributor and retailer interests. Illinois is the 11th state to enact legislation to stop the prepaid calling card industry from fraudulent and misleading practices.
Illinois Overtime Rules, a bill signed this past April, by Governor Blagojevich, rejected the federal changes coming in August 2004 and keeps the former job classification definitions in place, preserving overtime rights for 375,000 Illinois workers who currently qualify. The federal overtime rules would have stripped away overtime pay for workers in Illinois. The new U.S. Department of Labor rules redefine the three job classifications that are exempt from overtime pay. More workers would be classified as professional, administrative or executive and would no longer qualify for overtime compensation. The new Illinois law also raises the overtime eligibility level so that most employees who make less than $455 a week, or $23,660 a year, will be entitled to overtime pay. The previous limit of $155 a week, or $8,060 a year, had been unchanged since 1975.
Senate Bill 2548, sponsored by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval and Rep. Frank Aguilar, was signed by the Governor into law in August, to help reduce the language barriers that many immigrants face in trying to access and secure reliable and accurate legal advice. The new law amends the Illinois Notary Public Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practice Act in an attempt to minimize the challenges Illinois’ immigrant population face in their attempts to gain legal advice. The bill clarifies the role of "notario" (notary) and a "notario publica" (notary public) and prohibits a notary public, unless he or she is also an attorney, from accepting fees for immigration advice or other assistance. The bill also requires that non-English advertisements include a notice that the notary public is not an attorney. Finally, the bill works to ensure that violations of these rules are subject to fines, business office penalties, and commission revocation.
House Bill 2268, sponsored by Rep. William Delgado and Sen. Barack Obama was signed by Gov. Blagojevich in August, that creates the Health Care Justice Act and requires the state to assemble a 29-member task force to develop a comprehensive health care plan for Illinois. The Adequate Health Care Task Force will be required to hold public hearings in each congressional district and maintain a Web site detailing the group’s work. Recommendations for a health care access plan are to be submitted to the General Assembly by March 15, 2006 and legislators are encouraged to act on the plan by Jan. 1, 2007. Recent estimates indicate that nearly 14 percent of the Illinois population lacked health insurance. Disproportionately large numbers of the working poor, minorities and young adults are often entirely without coverage. The Governor noted the lack of health insurance is a significant barrier to access to health care services, including services that could prevent many diseases from occurring and existing diseases from becoming more serious.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Series of Bills Signed by Governor
On August 3, 2004, the Governor signed a series of bills aimed at helping more Illinois students complete high school. The bills address the state dropout rate, which is hovering at 5%, by raising the age at which students are legally allowed to dropout. The 2000 U.S. Census found more than 200,000 people in Illinois between the ages 16 and 24, dropped out of high school. The report also found in Illinois, one out of every two Latinos and one out of every five African Americans in the 16 to 24 age-range is a high school dropout. In the 2001-2002 school year, 17,400 students – more than 17 percent – dropped out of Chicago Public Schools.
Senate Bill 2918, sponsored by Sen. Miguel del Valle and Rep. William Delgado (D-Chicago), raises the minimum drop out age from 16 years old to 17 years old, giving parents and schools an additional year and additional opportunities to keep students in the classroom. Students who have received three truant notices to perform 20 to 40 hours of community service over a period of 90 days. If after performing community service, a student continues to be truant, the truant officer or the regional superintendent of schools (in the case of a district with no truant officer) has two options – make a complaint to the state’s attorney against the person who has custody of the student, or conduct a truancy mediation and encourage the student to enroll in a graduation incentives program. Anyone under the age of 18 is eligible for graduation incentives programs if he or she is considered a dropout, has been suspended or expelled, is pregnant or is a parent, has been assessed as chemically dependent or is enrolled in a bilingual education or LEP program.
Senate Bill 2769, sponsored by Sen. Miguel del Valle and Rep. Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago), requires that students take the Prairie State Achievement Exam in order to receive their high school diploma. By requiring that all students take the Prairie State Achievement Exam, which includes the ACT exam (a college entrance test), the state will gain a better picture of how students are performing academically. In addition, this may open the door to new opportunities for students who may not otherwise have taken the exam. There are several exceptions to the requirement, including students with Individualized Learning Plans (special education), English language learners and students in adult education programs.
Senate Bill 3109, sponsored by Sen. Miguel del Valle and Rep. Richard Bradley (D-Chicago), takes steps to better track Illinois dropouts and hold schools more accountable for all of their students. SB 3109 requires the Illinois State Board of Education to set up a system to provide accurate tracking of dropouts. The legislation requires that students be counted as dropouts from their former schools until the former school receives a proof of transfer from the new school. Official notice must be received by the school that the student has left within 150 days after the date the student withdrew or the student will be counted as a dropout.
Senate Bill 2115, will make it easer for high school dropouts to re-enter the classroom. The new law, which was sponsored by Sen. del Valle and Rep. Delgado, outlines academic and attendance standards under which a district can deny enrollment to students; however, the bill limits that denial to one semester. The law comes in response to criticism that districts are "pushing out" low-achieving students in order to produce higher test scores. The new law protects a student’s right to re-enroll. It also provides protection for schools to accept re-enrolled students by ensuring students that re-enroll and then drop out again are not double-counted in the school’s drop-out statistics.
On August 4, 2004, the Governor signed SB 3107 to increase faculty diversity in Illinois colleges and universities. The legislation will aimed to increase diversity among Illinois colleges and universities. Senate Bill 3107, sponsored by Sen. Miguel del Valle (D-Chicago) and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park), will strengthen a minority graduate fellowship program designed to expand the pool of diverse candidates for faculty positions in higher education. An oversight board will be comprised of academic leaders in a position to influence faculty hires as well as representatives of minority advocacy organizations. The new law includes an annual reporting mandate so the IBHE can monitor the progress in placing graduates in Illinois faculty jobs. A study of faculty diversity last year found that African-American faculty constituted 5 percent and Latino faculty just 2 percent of all faculty in Illinois colleges and universities.
Effective July 1, 2004, House Bill 6706 has been signed by the governor to provide caregivers with additional support services such as information about service options, counseling, training and respite care. The new law, sponsored by Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Arlington Heights) and Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), will help rebalance the long-term-care system that has been tilted in favor of institutionalization, even though the state Department on Aging has reported that most older and disabled people prefer to remain in their homes. The services included in HB 6706 will go to family members who care for frail elderly people and to grandparents raising grandchildren. The Department on Aging will implement the program established in HB 6706 through current federal funding through the Older Americans Act and state funding for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program.
On August 5, 2004, Governor Blagojevich signed SB 3208 into law creating the Illinois African-American Family Commission Act. The Commission will work to improve education, employment and health among African American population. The legislation expands the role of an existing 15-member commission that works with state agencies to improve educational, human services, and community development programs for African-Americans. The African American Family Commission was created by an executive order in 1994. The commission worked with the Department of Children and Family Services to develop and implement programs for African-American Families. Under the new Act, the Commission will collaborate with various state agencies. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Art Turner (D-Chicago) sponsored this Senate Bill. Members of this commission are appointed by the Governor and serve 2-year terms. The Commission is required to provide an annual progress report to the Governor and the General Assembly. Currently, African-Americans represent 15 percent of the 12 million people in Illinois and 26 percent of the population in Chicago.
IAHSE HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE - May 24, 2004 The IAHSE Board along with Laura Leon, the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition, Maria Pesqueria, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Zenia Ruiz, Illinois Association of Healthcare Interpreters, Dr. Anthony Sisneros, UIS, and other community partners jointly held a press conference to express their concerns with the shortage of bilingual staff in state offices and facilities, when layoffs of state workers are being considered as a result of the State Budget being negotiated in Springfield. During the press conference, IAHSE advocated for more employment, educational and professional development of Hispanic state employees and to ensure that quality services are provided to our Latino communities in Illinois. Historically, Hispanics have always been under-represented in state government. In the year 2000, there were about 1.4 million immigrants living in Illinois. Latinos constituted the largest percentage of this total. The census figures also reflected that Latinos lived in every county in Illinois.
The Illinois Department of Human Services has been affected by layoffs and retirements during the past 2 years where field offices have been left with staff shortages. Spanish-speaking bilingual employees have been forced to handle big caseloads. In a legislative hearing on Human Services this past Spring, the IDHS Secretary stated, they were going to hire around 140 Hispanics. Our IAHSE members in IDHS complained that there has been very little hiring. IAHSE has strongly advocated to obtain bilingual pay for supervisors that are using their bilingual skills but are not being compensated.
The recent American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) local 31 survey report reinforces the need to hire more bilingual caseworkers. Front line services are causing limited English persons to wait longer periods because of the lack of bilingual employees. Low Income families are forced to lose hours of work because they are being made to wait to see a caseworker in the Family Community Resource Centers.
State Agencies have been forced in the past to correct their hiring practices by Court Ordered Consent Decrees. The Office for Civil Rights requires that every organization that receives funding from the federal government, must provide bilingual services to meet the needs of limited English proficient persons or it is considered a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which constitutes national origin discrimination towards limited English proficient persons.
IAHSE is asking both the Governor and our legislative leaders to urge the agency directors to recruit and hire more Hispanics and Spanish bilingual employees in order to meet the needs of the immigrant community. During the 2003 IAHSE conference, most of the state agencies were given a non-passing grade when it related to hiring Hispanics.
HISPANIC STATE ADMINISTRATORS Of the Hispanic Directors that have had their appointments confirmed as Agency Directors, only a couple remain. There are many qualified Latino candidates for directorships, if given an opportunity. Fernando Grillo was recently nominated to be the Secretary of the new Department of Financial and Professional Regulations. Mr. Grillo would be the highest level Latino serving on the Governor’s cabinet, if confirmed. With the proposed new consolidated Agency, both Roxanne Nava and Lorenzo Padron, Directors for Financial Institutions and the Office of Banks and Real Estate, were placed under the new Department. Since then, Ms. Nava has moved to another agency. Dean Martinez and Esther Lopez were both recently promoted to Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff of this new agency.
Jorge Montes has been nominated by the Governor to be the new Chairman of the Prisoner Review Board. Mr. Jorge Montes, has been on the board since 1994 and is well qualified to be chairman. Montes would be the first Latino to be named Chairman. Robert Ruiz was recently appointed to the Illinois State Board of Higher Education. Mr. Ruiz was IAHSE’s first president. Congratulations to both.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For more detailed information visit the Governor's and State of Illinois websites.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thank you for visiting our website!
| ||
|
Copyright © 2007 Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees . All Rights Reserved. |
