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PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 21-5410
(Legislation Committee 9/5/2021)
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON WOMEN’S ISSUES
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 2, ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE VI. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, DIVISION 1.4 COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON WOMEN’S ISSUES, SECs. 2-490 through 2-496 of the Cook County Code is hereby enacted as follows
DIVISION 1.4 COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON WOMEN’S ISSUES
Sec. 2-490. Short title.
This Division shall be known and may be cited as the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues
Sec. 2-491. Policy and Purpose.
(a) Policy. The Cook County Commission on Women's Issues (the "Commission") was established by Resolution of the Cook County Board of Commissioners March 1, 1994 to serve as an advisory body to the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the President of the Cook County Board.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the Commission is to ensure that issues and perspectives of all women and girls are considered in the formation of public policy in Cook County and to codify the 1994 Resolution in the Cook County Code of Ordinances.
Sec. 2-492. Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues Members
(a) Organization.
(1) The Commission shall be composed of twenty-one members.
(2) Seventeen (17) members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Cook County Board President upon recommendation of the seventeen (17) Cook County Board Commissioners.
(3) Four (4) at-large members who reflect the population of Cook County shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President of the Cook County Board and ratified by the Cook County Board.
(4) The Chairperson and Vice-chairperson shall be appointed by the Cook County Board President.
(5) The Commission may designate former Chairpersons of the Commission, County officials and leaders in the women's community as honorary members without voting privileges.
(b) Qualifications of members.
(1) Commission members shall reside in Cook County and have demonstrated concern for the needs of all women and girls and the issues impacting women and families.
(2) The Commission members shall be representative of the different races, faiths, ethnic groups, abilities, age groups and educational levels of the women of Cook County.
(3) Members of the Commission may not be employed by Cook County government during their term.
(c) Term and vacancies.
(1) Commission members shall serve a term of four (4) two (2) years from the date of their appointment as appointed under the previous 1994 Resolution or new appointments consistent with this ordinance. Members may be reappointed. Members terms shall expire upon a vacancy in the applicable appointing authority or when there is a change in the elected office of the appointing authority despite any time remaining on the Commission members two year appointment.
(2) The Chairperson shall serve a term of four (4) two (2) from the date of appointment as appointed under the previous 1994 Resolution or new appointments consistent with this ordinance. The Chairperson may be reappointed. The Chairperson’s term shall expire upon a vacancy in the applicable appointing authority or when there is a change in the elected office of the appointing authority despite any time remaining in the Chairpersons two-year appointment.
(3) The Vice Chairperson shall serve a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment. The Vice Chairperson may be reappointed. The Vice Chairperson’s term shall expire upon a vacancy in the applicable appointing authority or when there is a change in the elected office of the appointing authority despite any time remaining in the Vice Chairpersons two-year appointment.
(4) Any vacancies on the Commission caused by death, resignation, disqualification or removal shall be filled by the applicable appointing authority and shall be filled for the unexpired term of the member whose appointment has become vacant.
(5) A vacancy on the Commission shall also be established when a member misses three (3) consecutive meetings without an excused absence or fails to actively participate in the Commission’s work.
(6) If there is a vacancy of the Chairperson’s position, the Vice Chairperson will serve as the Interim Chairperson until a new Chairperson is appointed.
Sec. 2-493. Meetings.
The Commission shall ensure the following in regards to Commission meetings:
(a) The Commission shall hold meetings six (6) times per year. Meetings will be held at a time and place agreed to by the full Commission or upon the call of the Chairperson or, in the Chairperson’s absence, the Vice Chairperson.
(b) Special meetings of the Commission may be called by order of the Chairperson or upon request of one-third of the total membership of the Commission.
(c) Commission shall hold at least one hearing annually to receive public input on issues affecting women and girls. Public hearing input will be used to recommend actions by Cook County government.
(d) Members may participate in remote meetings by means of electronic, video, audio, or telephonic communication pursuant to Section 2-470 of the Cook County Code of Ordinances and the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.
(e) The Commission shall be subject to the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq, and the Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.
Sec. 2-494. Quorum
The presence of a majority of the total voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. A quorum shall be necessary in order to conduct all hearings and meetings of the Commission.
Sec. 2-495. Duties and responsibilities.
The Commission shall:
(a) Make recommendations for legislative and/or executive action to eliminate discrimination against all women and girls and to ensure equal opportunities;
(b) Work for the elimination of inequities in laws, practices and conditions, which particularly affect women and girls;
(c) Make recommendations that will promote the equal status of women and girls and create new opportunities for all women and girls where marginalized;
(d) Review county policies, procedures and practices for their impact on women and girls and offer recommendations;
(e) Work with the Cook County Board to make recommendations to improve the delivery of services to women and girls;
(f) Provide advisory opinions to the Cook County Board, the Cook County Health and the Cook County separately elected offices on issues affecting the women and girls;
(g) Assist in the collection and dissemination of data on the conditions of and opportunities for women and girls in Cook County and help develop programs to meet assessed needs.
Sec. 2-496. Division scheduled to be repealed on November 30, 2025.
This Division is repealed on November 30, 2025 unless extended by the Cook County Board of Commissioners.