Public Act 0995 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2476 Enrolled LRB095 19688 RLC 46042 b

Public Act 095-0995

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the

Commission to Study Disproportionate Justice Impact Act.

Section 5. Purpose. There is created a Commission to Study Disproportionate Justice Impact. The Commission shall:

(1) study the nature and extent of the harm caused to minority communities through the practical application of the violation and sentencing provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the Criminal Code of 1961, the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections;

(2) develop specific findings on the nature and extent of the harm caused to minority communities; and

(3) offer recommendations for legislation and policy changes to address the disproportionate impact that even facially neutral laws can have on minority communities.

Section 10. Composition. The Commission shall be composed of the following members:

(a) Two members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President, one of whom the President shall designate to serve as co-chair, and two members of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(b) Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom the Speaker shall designate to serve as co-chair, and two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(c) The following persons or their designees:

(1) the Attorney General,

(2) the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County,

(3) the Director of State Police,

(4) the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department,

(5) the sheriff of Cook County,

(6) the State Appellate Defender,

(7) the Cook County Public Defender,

(8) the Director of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor,

(9) the Cook County State's Attorney,

(10) the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Information Authority,

(11) the Director of Corrections,

(12) the Director of Juvenile Justice, and

(13) the Executive Director of the Illinois African-American Family Commission.

(d) The co-chairs may name up to 8 persons, representing minority communities within Illinois, groups involved in the improvement of the administration of justice, behavioral health, criminal justice, law enforcement, and the rehabilitation of former inmates, community groups, and other interested parties.

Section 15. Compensation; support. The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred as a result of their duties as members of the Commission from funds appropriated by the General Assembly for that purpose. The Center for Excellence in Criminal Justice at the Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center at Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago shall provide staff and administrative support services to the Commission.

Section 20. Meetings; report. The Commission shall hold one or more public hearings, at which public testimony shall be heard. The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2009, after which the Commission shall dissolve.