(20 ILCS 864/15)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2037)
    Sec. 15. Duties of Commission. The Commission shall have the following duties:
        (1) to provide resources for individuals and local
    
entities seeking to learn more about the Underground Railroad in Illinois, including:
            (A) an online resource website, including, but
        
not limited to maps of journeys, historical sites, and conductor cemetery markers;
            (B) a calendar of related events in this State;
            (C) research sources and bibliographies;
            (D) videos and links to videos; and
            (E) pictures, brief histories, and other
        
materials developed locally and at the State level;
        (2) collaborate with organizations focusing on the
    
Underground Railroad, including:
            (A) local and regional Underground Railroad
        
groups;
            (B) county and regional historical societies;
            (C) museums, especially museums that focus on
        
slavery and the African American experience;
            (D) academic programs, especially African
        
American Studies at the college level and history departments; and
            (E) organizations in African American
        
communities;
        (3) to create a grant funding program;
        (4) to work with the National Park Service's Network
    
to Freedom program and serve as a liaison between the National Park Service and local entities;
        (5) to explore heritage tourism opportunities
    
connecting the locations of freedom seeker journeys and Underground Railroad sites, working with the Illinois Office of Tourism and regional tourism agencies; and
        (6) to connect freedom seekers and Underground
    
Railroad stories to the range of freedom stories across and throughout the history of Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 104-113, eff. 8-1-25.)