The Illinois Public Act 101-0038 Task Force represents a significant legislative initiative aimed at confronting one of the most persistent public health inequities in the state: the disproportionate rates of maternal and infant mortality among African American families. Enacted in 2019, Public Act 101-0038 formally established the Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans, creating a structured and ongoing mechanism for research, policy analysis, and legislative reporting. At a time when racial disparities in health outcomes were drawing increasing national attention, Illinois took deliberate action to move beyond awareness and toward systemic evaluation and reform. The creation of this task force signaled a commitment to evidence-based policymaking, accountability, and long-term engagement with deeply rooted structural issues affecting maternal and infant health.
Legislative Origins and Public Health Context
The law emerged from alarming public health data showing that African American infants in Illinois were significantly more likely to die before their first birthday compared to White infants. Similarly, Black women in the state faced disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and pregnancy-related complications. These disparities persisted even when controlling for income and education levels, suggesting that broader systemic and structural factors were at play. Lawmakers recognized that improving outcomes required more than isolated healthcare interventions; it required a coordinated, data-driven approach examining healthcare access, quality of care, social determinants of health, and the impacts of systemic racism.
Public Act 101-0038 was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law in July 2019. The statute codified the creation of a formal task force within state law, ensuring that its work would not be temporary or symbolic. By embedding the task force into the Illinois Compiled Statutes, legislators established an enduring structure with defined responsibilities and reporting requirements. This statutory foundation distinguishes the initiative from advisory panels that lack formal authority or accountability mechanisms.
Structure and Composition of the Task Force
The Illinois Public Act 101-0038 Task Force is composed of state officials, healthcare professionals, and community representatives whose collective expertise reflects the multifaceted nature of maternal and infant health disparities. Members include representatives from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services. Medical professionals with expertise in obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, and community health participate alongside advocates and individuals with lived experience related to maternal health challenges.
This composition ensures that discussions are informed by both clinical evidence and real-world perspectives. Including African American women with direct experience related to pregnancy complications reflects the legislature’s recognition that lived experience provides critical insight into systemic barriers, gaps in care, and the effects of bias within healthcare settings. Members serve without compensation, and administrative support is provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health, reinforcing the public health focus of the initiative.
The task force is required to meet regularly and elect leadership from among its members. This structure fosters continuity and sustained engagement, allowing the group to build institutional knowledge over time rather than approaching the issue through short-term meetings or reactive responses.
Mandated Duties and Research Responsibilities
Public Act 101-0038 outlines detailed responsibilities for the task force. Central to its mission is the comprehensive review of research and data related to maternal and infant mortality among African Americans. This includes examining statewide statistics, national studies, and peer-reviewed research that identify risk factors contributing to disparities. The scope of review extends beyond clinical causes of death to encompass social determinants such as housing stability, transportation access, employment conditions, environmental stressors, and community-level inequities.
The task force is directed to analyze how maternal health before, during, and between pregnancies influences infant outcomes. It also examines data on maternal deaths and complications, disaggregated by race and socioeconomic status, to better understand patterns and trends. Research into the impacts of systemic racism and implicit bias within healthcare systems is specifically included within the statute’s scope, underscoring the legislature’s recognition that discrimination and structural inequities contribute to health disparities.
In addition to reviewing research, the task force is charged with identifying best practices and evidence-based interventions that have demonstrated success in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. This may include models of community-based prenatal care, expanded postpartum support services, culturally competent provider training, and improved coordination between healthcare systems and social service agencies.
Annual Reporting and Legislative Accountability
A defining feature of the Illinois Public Act 101-0038 Task Force is its annual reporting requirement. Beginning in December 2020 and continuing each year thereafter, the task force must submit a comprehensive report to the Illinois General Assembly. These reports detail findings from research and analysis, identify trends in maternal and infant mortality data, and provide specific recommendations for policy changes or programmatic interventions.
This reporting requirement ensures transparency and legislative oversight. By formally submitting findings to both chambers of the General Assembly, the task force integrates evidence directly into the policymaking process. Lawmakers are provided with updated data, contextual analysis, and informed recommendations that can guide future legislation, funding decisions, and agency priorities. The annual reporting mechanism also allows the public to track progress and understand how the state is responding to disparities.
Real-World Impact and Policy Influence
While systemic change takes time, the work of the task force has contributed to broader conversations about maternal health equity within Illinois. Data presented in annual reports have highlighted persistent disparities and drawn attention to specific risk factors, including gaps in prenatal care access, variations in hospital quality, and socioeconomic stressors affecting pregnant women.
The visibility of these findings has influenced healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and policymakers. Discussions about expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage, improving maternal morbidity surveillance, and enhancing culturally responsive care have occurred within a policy environment informed by the task force’s analysis. By grounding debates in data rather than anecdote, the task force has strengthened the state’s capacity to pursue targeted reforms.
Community organizations have also referenced findings from the task force when advocating for local initiatives such as doula support programs, transportation assistance for prenatal appointments, and neighborhood-based health education efforts. Although the task force does not directly implement programs, its research and recommendations shape the environment in which such programs are designed and funded.
Broader Significance for Health Equity
The Illinois Public Act 101-0038 Task Force reflects a broader shift toward institutionalizing equity-focused policymaking. By explicitly addressing racial disparities and mandating sustained analysis, the legislature acknowledged that health inequities are not incidental but systemic. Embedding the task force in statute ensures continuity even as political leadership changes, reinforcing long-term commitment to maternal and infant health equity.
This model also contributes to national conversations about addressing maternal mortality disparities. States across the country face similar challenges, and Illinois’s structured approach provides a framework for combining research, community engagement, and legislative accountability. Rather than treating disparities as isolated incidents, the task force approach recognizes them as patterns requiring coordinated, multi-sector solutions.
Challenges and Ongoing Considerations
Despite its importance, the task force operates within broader systemic constraints. It does not have direct authority to implement programs or allocate funding. The effectiveness of its recommendations depends on legislative action, agency collaboration, and resource allocation. Addressing disparities rooted in social determinants of health requires coordinated efforts beyond healthcare alone, including housing policy, economic development, and transportation planning.
Measuring progress also requires patience and sustained data collection. Changes in mortality rates may take years to reflect policy interventions, particularly when underlying inequities are deeply entrenched. Continued investment in data infrastructure, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration remains essential to translating recommendations into measurable improvements.
Conclusion
The Illinois Public Act 101-0038 Task Force represents a deliberate and structured response to longstanding racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality. By establishing a formal body charged with research, analysis, and annual legislative reporting, Illinois created a durable mechanism for confronting inequities through evidence-based policymaking. The task force’s work highlights the complex interplay between healthcare quality, social determinants, and systemic bias, emphasizing that improving outcomes requires comprehensive strategies rather than isolated solutions.
As the state continues to analyze data, refine recommendations, and engage stakeholders, the Illinois Public Act 101-0038 Task Force remains central to efforts aimed at ensuring that all mothers and infants in Illinois have equitable opportunities for healthy beginnings. Its existence affirms that addressing disparities is not a temporary initiative but an ongoing responsibility embedded within the state’s legislative and public health framework.