Appoint, when and as it may deem necessary, statewide advisory committees to provide professional or technical consultation in respect to medical or dental or hospital care, general assistance, home economics, or other special aspects of public aid and related welfare functions. The members of the committees shall receive no compensation for their services, other than expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties. The number of members of each advisory committee shall be determined by the Illinois Department. The committees shall consult with and advise the Illinois Department in respect to problems and policies incident to the administration of the particular Article or Articles of this Code germane to their respective fields of competence.
The Illinois Department shall include a balanced representation of recipients, service providers, representatives of community and welfare advocacy groups, representatives of local governments dealing with public aid, and representatives of the general public on all statewide advisory committees appointed by it, except that Professional Advisory Committees created under Section 5-5 of this Code to provide technical and professional advice to the Department shall consist entirely of persons practicing a particular profession.
305 ILCS 5/12-4.20