1. (a) There is hereby created the Commission on Equity and Inclusion, which shall consist of 7 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. No more than 4 members shall be of the same political party. The Governor shall designate one member as chairperson.

2. (b) Of the members first appointed, 4 shall be appointed for a term to expire on the third Monday of January, 2023, and 3 (including the Chairperson) shall be appointed for a term to expire on the third Monday of January, 2025.

   Thereafter, each member shall serve for a term of 4 years and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified; except that any member chosen to fill a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of the member whom he or she shall succeed and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

3. (c) In case of a vacancy on the Commission during the recess of the Senate, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, when he or she shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy. Any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. Vacancies in the Commission shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the Commission.
4. (d) The Chairperson of the Commission shall be compensated at the rate of $128,000 per year, or as otherwise set by this Section, during his or her service as Chairperson, and each other member shall be compensated at the rate of $121,856 per year, or as otherwise set by this Section. In addition, all members of the Commission shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties. Members of the Commission are eligible to receive pension under the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois as provided under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code.

5. (e) The Commission shall have an Executive Director who is appointed by the Governor and who shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Commission, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Commission. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Executive Director shall receive an annual salary as set by the Governor.

   The Executive Director or any committee of the Commission may carry out such responsibilities of the Commission as the Commission by resolution may delegate. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Commission; however, no action of the Commission shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Executive Director may employ and determine the compensation of staff, as appropriations permit.

6. (f) The budget established for the Commission for any given fiscal year shall be no less than that established for the Human Rights Commission for that same fiscal year.

(Source: P.A. 101-657, eff. 1-1-22; 102-1115, eff. 1-9-23.)