HB5161 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 19785 MRW 35060 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB5161

Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 3930/16 new

Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Act. Creates the Professionalized Street Outreach Workers Task Force under the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Provides the Task Force shall examine best practices for training and professionalizing street outreach staff and hold public hearings for recommendations on how to professionalize street outreach through training and accountability. Provides for Task Force members. Requires the Authority to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2019. Repeals Task Force provision on January 1, 2020. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly understands holistic outreach services in communities experiencing excessive rates of gun violence are a proven strategy for reducing gun violence.

WHEREAS, Outreach services include: (1) crisis intervention to pause or end ongoing conflicts between community members or groups of community members that frequently have resulted in gun violence; (2) pro-social activities and events for at-risk youth and young adults that encourage community members to enjoy public spaces and reclaim parts of their community that have been overtaken by the fear of gun violence; (3) case management referral services for community members with the greatest risk of gun victimization and perpetration to provide short and long term alternatives to being at severe risk of being shot; and, (4) individual and group counseling for community members with the greatest risk of gun victimization and perpetration to improve personal decision-making in crisis situations and everyday life.

WHEREAS, With the recent increase in gun violence in Chicago, street outreach services broadly defined are being increasingly deployed with State, federal, local, and private foundation resources. Yet, effective, holistic outreach services demand substantial professional skills from direct line staff and supervisors. First and foremost, staff must have cultural competence and credibility within the precise community where they work. Second, staff must have the ability to navigate the human complexities of trauma in an environment that can become violent with little or no notice. Finally, staff must have the ability to establish trusting relationships with diverse community members while encouraging highest risk individuals to seek supports based on their unique strengths and challenges.

WHEREAS, The General Assembly acknowledges that best and promising practices for outreach staff training exists because professionalized and standardized outreach services have been provided in other cities as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce gun violence. Training should include at a minimum:

(1) teaching the core competencies, knowledge, and skills required of outreach workers and violence prevention practitioners and provide professional certification for achieving basic competency;

(2) defining consistent professional standards of conduct and practice for outreach workers including appropriate partnerships with various public sector entities engaged in violence reduction efforts such as law enforcement;

(3) creating ongoing professional development of outreach workers to promote best practices and continuous learning; and

(4) establishing a city-wide network of outreach workers to ensure the highest probability of success in creating safer communities and a support network that allows for career development in a stressful occupation.

WHEREAS, To ensure high quality, holistic street outreach services are delivered in this State's highest risk communities, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall create professional standards for training of street outreach workers in consultation with the Professionalized Street Outreach Workers Task Force created by this Act; therefore

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

Section 5. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act is amended by adding Section 16 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3930/16 new)

Sec. 16. Professionalized Street Outreach Workers Task Force.

(a) In this Section, "Authority" means the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

(b) The Professionalized Street Outreach Workers Task Force is hereby created.

(1) The Task Force shall examine best practices for training and professionalizing street outreach staff and their supervisors and create a report of the type of training and accountability, if any, which should be required for street outreach workers funded with State appropriated funds.

(2) The Task Force shall hold public hearings at the call of the Chairperson to receive testimony from the public and make recommendations to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority on how to ensure that the role of street outreach is professionalized with the proper forms of training and accountability.

(c) The Task Force shall be an independent Task Force under the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for administrative purposes, and shall consist of the following members:

(1) the Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority or his or her designee shall be the Chairperson of the Task Force;

(2) the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board or his or her designee;

(3) one representative of a statewide organization that works on violence reduction issues appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(4) 2 representatives from academic or research institutions who have studied issues related to violence interruption appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(5) 2 representatives from community-based organizations that provide street outreach services to persons at severe risk of gun victimization or perpetration appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(6) one representative from an organization that specializes in non-profit training of direct-service staff appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority; and

(7) 2 representatives from national organizations with more than 7 years of experience in training street outreach workers in multiple cities.

(d) The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority may consult, contract, work in conjunction with, and obtain any information from any person, agency, association, or research institution deemed appropriate by the Authority.

(e) The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall allow any training approved by the Professionalized Street Outreach Workers Task Force to be a reimbursable expense for any programs that receive funding for outreach services in at-risk communities.

(f) The Task Force shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2019.

(g) On or before January 1, 2019 the Illinois Community College Board shall issue a request to community colleges throughout this State to apply for Permanent Approval of Career and Technical Education Curriculum or Temporary Approval of Career and Technical Education Curriculum, or both, that addresses the educational and training needs identified as required by the Professionalized Street Outreach Workers Task Force. The Illinois Community College Board shall approve any of these requests provided, the requests meet both the Illinois Community College Board standards for approval and the identified training standards of the Professionalized Street Outreach Workers Task Force.

(h) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2020.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.