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Title:Poverty Elimination and Economic Security, Commission on
Meeting Information:
The organizational meeting of the Commission shall take place after all members are appointed but no later than 60 days after the effective date of this Act. The full Commission shall meet at least once annually.


Contact Title:Department of Human Services
Function:The purpose of the Commission is to: (1) Inform the public policy making process by: (i) Improving policymakers' understanding of the root causes of poverty and economic insecurity, including contributing social, economic, and cultural factors and the reasons that poverty and economic insecurity persist in this State. (ii) Expanding policymakers' understanding of poverty by distinguishing a standard that measures a level of freedom from deprivation from a standard that measures economic security provided by a living wage and access to a livable standard of living. (iii) Educating policymakers on the impact poverty has on other measures of economic stability and economic outcomes, including educational attainment, rates of incarceration, lifetime earnings, access to health care, health care outcomes, and access to housing. (2) Support governmental efforts to ensure that residents of this State have equal opportunity to achieve economic security. (3) Reduce and ultimately eliminate poverty in this State by making policy and other recommendations to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of this State.
Senate Confirmation:No
Qualifications:Each member of the Commission must have been a resident of this State for a period of at least one year immediately preceding appointment and must continue residence in this State during the member's tenure of service on the Commission.
Compensation:Expenses
Composition:Membership. The Commission shall consist of the following members: (1) Four members of the General Assembly, one each appointed by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representative. (2) A member of the judiciary or a designee who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. (3) Twenty members of the public appointed under subsection (d) representing stakeholders as follows: (i) Two representatives, one of whom shall represent an organization that focuses on rural poverty and one of whom shall represent an organization that focuses on urban and suburban poverty. (ii) Two individuals who have experienced deep poverty. (iii) One representative of an organization that advocates for health care access, affordability, and availability. (iv) One representative of an organization that advocated for individuals with mental illness. (v) One representative of an organization that advocates for children and youth. (vi) One representative of an organization that advocates for equity and equality in education. (vii) One representative of an organization that advocates for individuals who are homeless. (viii) One representative of a Statewide antihunger organization. (ix) One representative of an organization that advocates for military veterans. (x) One representative of an organization that advocates for individuals with disabilities. (xi) One representative of an organization that advocates for immigrants. (xii) One representative of a Statewide faith-based organization that provides direct social services in this State. (xiii) One representative of an organization that advocates for economic security for women. (xiv) One representative of an organization that advocates for older adults. (xv) One representative of a labor organization that represents primarily low-wage and middle-wage earners. (xvi) One representative of school districts in this State. (xvii) One representative of county governments in this State. (xviii) One representative of municipal corporation governments in this State. (4) The members of the workgroup shall serve as nonvoting ex officio members of the Commission.
Chair:The representatives of the antipoverty organizations shall serve as co-chairs
Authority:305 ILCS 70/95-501

 Member Names
Name (Last, First)Term ExpiresMember SinceAffiliationAppointed ByPositionTitleCounty
Calderón, Juan Manuel9/9/2020Speaker of the HouseRepresentative of an organization that advocates for immigrants
Conatser, Marty5/10/2022Senate Minority LeaderAn individual who has experienced deep poverty
Curran, Angela8/21/2020House Minority LeaderRepresentative of an organization that advocates for health care access, affordability, and availability
Davidson, Pamela10/19/2020GovernorRepresentative of county governments in this StateKnox
Diaz, Evelyn10/9/2020GovernorRepresentative of an organization that focuses on urban and suburban povertyCook
Eichenlaub, Dr. Mark 6/23/2021Senate Minority LeaderRepresentative of an organization that advocates for equity and equality in education
Fowler, Dale7/27/2020Senate Minority LeaderSenate Republican
Groce, Jennifer8/21/2020House Minority LeaderRepresentative of an organization that advocates for economic security for women
Grunke, Kenneth D. 8/21/2020House Minority LeaderRepresentative of an organization that advocates for older adults
Keicher, Jeff8/21/2020House Minority LeaderHouse Republican
Kulczycki, Andy9/11/2020Senate PresidentRepresentatve of an organization that advocates for individuals with mental illness
Leckrone, David8/7/2020Senate Minority LeaderRepresentative of an organization that advocates for military veterans
Lightford, Kimberly7/17/2020Senate PresidentSenate DemocratCook
Llorens, Al9/11/2020Senate PresidentRepresentative of school districts in this State
Lurie, Daniel9/9/2020Speaker of the HouseResentative of municipal corporation governments in this State
Maher, Kate9/11/2020Senate PresidentRepresentative of a Statewide antihunger organization
McKinnies, JasonSenate Minority LeaderRepresentative of a Statewide faith-based organization that provides direct social services in this State
Menz, Elizabeth10/8/2020GovernorRepresentative of a labor organization that represents primarily low-wage and middle-wage earnersCook
Montorio, Charles9/9/2020Speaker of the HouseRepresentative of an organization that advocates for individuals with disabilities
Parker, Channyn Lynne9/9/2020Speaker of the HouseAn individual who has experienced deep poverty
Robinson Jr., Lamont J. 8/24/2020Speaker of the HouseHouse Democrat
Stanley, Lisa9/11/2020Senate PresidentRepresentative of an organization that advocates for individuals who are homeless
VACANTChief Justice of the Illinois Supreme CourtA member of the judiciary or a designee
VACANTHouse Minority LeaderRepresentative of an organization that focuses on rural poverty
VACANTAn individual who has experienced deep poverty
Wilson, Audra10/26/2020GovernorRepresentative of an organization that advocates for children and youthCook