SB1675 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 10774 SLF 21005 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB1675

Introduced 2/9/2017, by Sen. Bill Cunningham

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.878 new
110 ILCS 305/12.6 new

Creates the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Act. Requires the Board of Trustees of University of Illinois to establish an Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center to conduct basic, translational, and transformative research with a mission to provide the scientific evidence on which sound crime-related violence prevention policies and programs can be based. Provides that its research shall include, but is not limited to, the effectiveness of existing laws and policies intended to reduce crime-related violence, including, but not limited to, the criminal misuse of a weapon, and efforts to reduce and deter any criminally violent activities. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center Fund to support the research and activities of the Center. Provides that moneys from fees, gifts, grants, and donations received by the Center shall be deposited into the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center Fund. Provides that the Center may also seek additional federal, State, and private funds. Amends the University of Illinois Act to require the University of Illinois to carry out the duties and responsibilities required of it under the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Act.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning violence research.

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 Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Act.

Section 5. Definition. As used in this Act, "Center" means the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center.

Section 10. Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center.

(a) An Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center to study the impact of crime-related violence on the public health of vulnerable and diverse populations in the State is established to be administered by the University of Illinois under the following principles:

(1) Interdisciplinary work of the Center shall address the following:

(A) The nature of crime-related violence, including individual and societal determinants of risk for involvement in crime-related violence, whether as a victim or a perpetrator.

(B) The individual, community, and societal public health consequences and economic impact of crime-related violence, including clinical care, long-term care consequences for victims, health services research, medical education, and community-based studies, with the goal of improving the health of the citizens of this State by the significant reduction of crime-related violence.

(C) Prevention and treatment of crime-related violence at the individual, community, and societal levels.

(2) The Center shall conduct basic, translational, and transformative research with a mission to provide the scientific evidence on which sound crime-related violence prevention policies and programs can be based. Its research shall include, but is not limited to, the effectiveness of existing laws and policies intended to reduce crime-related violence, including, but not limited to, the criminal misuse of a weapon, and efforts to reduce and deter any criminally violent activities.

(3) The Center shall work on a continuing basis with policymakers in the General Assembly and State agencies to identify, implement, and evaluate innovative crime-related violence prevention policies and programs.

(4) To help ensure a long-term and successful effort to understand and prevent crime-related violence, the Center shall recruit and provide specialized training opportunities for new researchers, including experienced investigators in related fields who are beginning work on crime-related violence, young investigators who have completed their education, postdoctoral scholars, doctoral students, and undergraduates.

(5) The Center may enter into contracts or agreements with any agency or department of this State or any other state or states' agencies, private universities, organizations, or institutions, or the United States to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(6) The Center may receive and disburse funds in accordance with the purposes stated in this Act.

(b) On or before December 31, 2019, and every 5 years thereafter, the University of Illinois shall transmit programmatic, as well as financial, reports to the General Assembly and the Governor, including a report on the grants made, pending grants, program accomplishments, and the future direction of the Center.

(c) Subject to the conditions and requirements established elsewhere in law, State agencies, including, but not limited to, the Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Department of State Police, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Secretary of State, and local agencies, including, but not limited to, sheriffs, state's attorneys, municipal police departments, coroners, and medical examiners shall provide to the Center, upon proper request, the data necessary for the Center to conduct its research. The Center may share any information collected by it with other state violence research centers similar to it and any crime laboratory or violence research center connected with a college or university.

(d) The Center and all recipients of grants supported by the Center shall provide copies of their research publications to the General Assembly and to agencies supplying data used in the conduct of that research as soon as is practicable following publication. The Center shall establish a website for the purpose of electronically publishing the Center's research publications, submitting data or other information, and receiving suggestions for research requests.

(e) The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall establish and operate an Impact of Crime-related Violence Research Center and administer the Center and grant program consistent with the principles and goals of this Act.

Section 15. Fund; grants.

(a) An Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury and shall be used to support the research and activities of the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center. Moneys from fees, gifts, grants, and donations received by the Center shall also be deposited into the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center Fund. The Center may also seek additional federal, State, and private funds.

(b) As a supplement to its own research, the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center shall administer a small grants program for research on crime-related violence, funded through the Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center Fund. All research funds shall be awarded on the basis of scientific merit as determined by an open, competitive peer review process that assures objectivity, consistency, and high quality. All qualified investigators, regardless of institutional affiliation, shall have equal access and opportunity to compete for the funds. The peer review process for the selection of grants awarded under this program shall be modeled on the process used by the National Institutes of Health in its grantmaking process.

Section 105. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.878 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.878 new)

Sec. 5.878. Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center Fund.

Section 110. The University of Illinois Act is amended by adding Section 12.6 as follows:

(110 ILCS 305/12.6 new)

Sec. 12.6. Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Center. The University of Illinois shall carry out the duties and responsibilities required of it under the Impact of Crime-related Violence on Public Health Research Act.