SB1533 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 08393 LNS 53463 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB1533

Introduced 2/15/2019, by Sen. Heather A. Steans

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

775 ILCS 40/20
775 ILCS 40/25
775 ILCS 40/45

Amends the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission Act. Provides that a majority of the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission members currently appointed shall constitute a quorum (rather than a majority of the voting members). Provides that a vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall not impair the right of a quorum to perform all of the duties of the Commission. Provides that vacancies occurring before the expiration of a term shall be filled by a gubernatorial appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term with the advice and consent of the Senate (rather than in the manner provided for the members first appointed). Deletes language providing that all 8 voting members of the Commission shall participate in a vote to establish further case disposition. Provides that if 5 or more voting members (rather than 5 or more of the 8 voting members) of the Commission conclude that there is sufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the case shall be referred to the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Provides that if 4 or more voting members (rather than less than 5 of the 8 voting members) of the Commission conclude that there is insufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the Commission shall conclude there is insufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review. Provides that if a vote results in neither a minimum of 5 votes finding sufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, nor a minimum of 4 votes finding insufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the claim shall be postponed for future reconsideration.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning human rights.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission Act is amended by changing Sections 20, 25, and 45 as follows:

(775 ILCS 40/20)

Sec. 20. Membership; chair; meetings; quorum.

(a) The Commission shall consist of 8 voting members as follows:

(1) One shall be a retired Circuit Court Judge.

(2) One shall be a former prosecuting attorney.

(3) One shall be a law school professor.

(4) One shall be engaged in the practice of criminal defense law.

(5) Three shall be members of the public who are not attorneys and who are not officers or employees of the Judicial branch.

(6) One shall be a former public defender.

The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members may be re-appointed for additional terms, as provided for under Section 25.

(a-1) The Governor shall also appoint alternate Commission members for the Commission members he or she has appointed to serve in the event of scheduling conflicts, conflicts of interest, disability, or other disqualification arising in a particular case. Where an alternate member is called upon to serve in a particular place, the alternate member shall vote in the place of, and otherwise exercise the same powers as, the member which he or she is replacing. The alternate member shall have the same qualifications for appointment as the original member. In making the appointments, the Governor shall make a good faith effort to appoint members with different perspectives of the justice system. The Governor shall also consider geographical location, gender, and racial diversity in making the appointments.

(b) The retired judge who is appointed as a member under subsection (a) shall serve as Chair of the Commission. The Commission shall have its initial meeting no later than one month after the appointment of a quorum of members of the Commission, at the call of the Chair. The Commission shall meet a minimum of once every 6 months and may also meet more often at the call of the Chair. The Commission shall meet at such time and place as designated by the Chair, in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act. Notice of the meetings shall be given at such time and manner as provided by the rules of the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act. A majority of the Commission voting members currently appointed shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall not impair the right of a quorum to perform all of the duties of the Commission. Except votes under subsection (c) of Section 45, all All Commission votes shall be by majority vote of the voting members appointed.

(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)

(775 ILCS 40/25)

Sec. 25. Terms of members; compensation; expenses.

(a) Of the initial members, the appointments under clauses (a)(3) and (6) of Section 20 shall be for one-year terms, the appointments under clauses (a)(1), (2), and (4) of Section 20 shall be for 2-year terms, and the appointments under clause (a)(5) of Section 20 shall be for 3-year terms. Thereafter, to achieve staggered terms, all terms shall be for 3 years. Members of the Commission shall serve no more than 2 consecutive 3-year terms plus any initial term of less than 3 years. Unless provided otherwise by this Act, all terms of members shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

Members serving by virtue of elective or appointive office, may serve only so long as the office holders hold those respective offices. The Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court may remove members for good cause shown. Vacancies occurring before the expiration of a term shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term with the advice and consent of the Senate in the manner provided for the members first appointed.

(b) The Commission members shall receive no salary for serving, 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, or from funds obtained from sources other than the General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)

(775 ILCS 40/45)

Sec. 45. Commission proceedings.

(a) At the completion of a formal inquiry, all relevant evidence shall be presented to the full Commission. As part of its proceedings, the Commission may conduct hearings. The determination as to whether to conduct hearings is solely in the discretion of the Commission. Any hearing held in accordance with this Section shall be a public hearing and shall be held subject to the Commission's rules of operation, and conducted pursuant to the Open Meetings Act.

(b) The Director shall use all due diligence to notify the victim at least 30 days prior to any proceedings of the full Commission held in regard to the victim's case. The Commission shall notify the victim that the victim is permitted to attend proceedings otherwise closed to the public, subject to any limitations imposed by this Act, and subject to Section 2(c)(14) of the Open Meetings Act. If the victim plans to attend proceedings otherwise closed to the public, the victim shall notify the Commission at least 10 days in advance of the proceedings of his or her intent to attend. The Commission may close any portion of the proceedings to the victim, if the victim is to testify and the Commission determines that the victim's testimony would be materially affected if the victim hears other testimony at the proceeding.

(c) After hearing the evidence, the full Commission shall vote to establish further case disposition as provided by this subsection. All 8 voting members of the Commission shall participate in that vote.

If 5 or more of the 8 voting members of the Commission conclude by a preponderance of the evidence that there is sufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the case shall be referred to the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County by filing with the clerk of court the opinion of the Commission with supporting findings of fact, as well as the record in support of such opinion, with service on the State's Attorney in non-capital cases and service on both the State's Attorney and Attorney General in capital cases.

If 4 or more less than 5 of the 8 voting members of the Commission conclude by a preponderance of the evidence that there is insufficient sufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the Commission shall conclude there is insufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review. The Commission shall document that opinion, along with supporting findings of fact, and file those documents and supporting materials with the court clerk in the circuit of original jurisdiction, with a copy to the State's Attorney and the chief judge.

If a vote results in neither a minimum of 5 votes finding sufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, nor a minimum of 4 votes finding insufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the claim shall be postponed for future reconsideration.

The Director of the Commission shall use all due diligence to notify immediately the victim of the Commission's conclusion in a case.

(d) Evidence of criminal acts, professional misconduct, or other wrongdoing disclosed through formal inquiry or Commission proceedings shall be referred to the appropriate authority. Evidence favorable to the convicted person disclosed through formal inquiry or Commission proceedings shall be disclosed to the convicted person and the convicted person's counsel, if the convicted person has counsel. The Commission shall have the discretion to refer its findings together with the supporting record and evidence, to such other parties or entities as the Commission in its discretion shall deem appropriate.

(e) All proceedings of the Commission shall be recorded and transcribed as part of the record. All Commission member votes shall be recorded in the record. All records of the Commission shall be confidential until the proceedings before the Commission are concluded and a final decision has been made by the Commission.

(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)