Rep. Daniel J. Burke
Filed: 4/29/2008
 
 

 




 

 		












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AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2747




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    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2747 by replacing 
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the title with the following:
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    "AN ACT concerning corrections, which may be referred to as 
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the Access to Religious Ministry Act of 2008."; and
  
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by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the 
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following:

 
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    "Section 5. The County Jail Act is amended  by adding 
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Section 26 as follows:
 
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    (730 ILCS 125/26  new)
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    Sec. 26. Detainees in immigration custody; religious 
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worker access to jails.
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    (a) Any county jail in the State of Illinois for which an 
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intergovernmental agreement has been entered into with United 
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States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for detention 
 


 






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of immigration-related detainees shall be required to provide 
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to religious workers reasonable access to such jail.  Such 
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access shall be consistent with the safety, security, and 
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orderly operation of the facility.
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    (b) For purposes of this Section, "reasonable access" means 
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the ability of the religious worker to enter the jail facility 
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to be available to meet with immigration detainees who wish to 
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consult with the religious worker regarding their spiritual and 
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other needs. Such access shall be at times set by the sheriff 
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or his or her designee that offer reasonable and equitable 
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opportunities for the detainees to meet and consult with 
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religious workers.  The facility shall provide advance notice to 
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the immigration detainees of the times during which religious 
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workers shall be available for consultation under this Section, 
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and shall not limit the access of detainees  to such religious 
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workers  without good cause. Consultations with religious 
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workers under this Section and any other visits to detainees by 
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religious workers outside such consultation periods shall not 
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be counted against the visitation time or number of visits to 
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which a detainee is otherwise entitled under the facility's 
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visitation policies.
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    (c) The sheriff or his or her designee shall have the right 
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to screen and approve individuals seeking access to immigration 
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detainees at the facility under this Act to ensure that such 
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individuals are in fact bona fide clergy, members of religious 
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orders, or lay volunteers representing  established and 
 


 






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reputable religious institutions.".