(a) Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Department is authorized to identify, designate, and enter into a contract with a lead entity to provide governance and oversight, including the ability to design, implement, support, and coordinate a State-wide 2-1-1 system.
     (b) Qualifications for designation of the lead entity shall include:

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 20 ILCS 1335/20

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14

         (1) a public or private governance structure with
    
representation from State health and human service departments, specifically the Department, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department on Aging, the Department of Public Health, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, and non-governmental entity stakeholders; non-governmental entity stakeholders shall constitute a minimum of two-thirds of the representatives;
        (2) demonstrated expertise or experience, or both, in
    
planning for a State-wide information and referral system; and
        (3) demonstrated support from community partners.
     (c) The lead entity shall encourage the orderly and efficient use of 2-1-1 to:
         (1) provide access to human services; and
         (2) collect needed information about human services
    
and the delivery of human services in Illinois.
    (d) The lead entity shall provide periodic reports on activities, accomplishments, and other issues to the Department.
     (e) In awarding the contract under subsection (a) of this Section, the Department shall ensure that the 2-1-1 lead entity has the organizational capacity to carry out the terms of the contract and that the contract is cost-neutral to the Department.