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    AN ACT concerning human rights.

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


 
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    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
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Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes Act.
 
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    Section 5. Findings.  The General Assembly finds as follows:
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        (1) The population and demographic makeup of the State 
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    of Illinois make the appreciation, tolerance, and 
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    acceptance of diverse cultures imperative.
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        (2) No person or group of people should have to live in 
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    fear because of their race, ethnicity, culture, sexual 
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    orientation, or religious beliefs.
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        (3) The manifestation of discrimination in the form of 
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    violence has a negative impact not only on the victim, but 
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    also his or her community, and can have a lasting adverse 
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    effect on our society.
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        (4) Stereotypical thinking and biases still plague our 
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    society.
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        (5) Illinois has a strong tradition of combating 
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    discrimination and hate-based violence by statutorily 
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    addressing crimes such as aggravated battery, theft, 
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    criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, and telephone 
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    harassment committed because of the victim's race, color, 
 


 






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    creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, or 
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    disability.
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        (6) We must continue to work to build a society that is 
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    bias and hate free so that our children are protected 
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    against discrimination, punishment, and violence that are 
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    based on race, ethnicity, color, creed, religious belief, 
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    sexual orientation, or social status.
 
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    Section 10. Establishment of Commission.  
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    (a) The Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes is  
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established. The Commission shall consist of a chairperson and 
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20 additional members appointed by the Governor with the advice 
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and consent of the Senate. The membership may include, but is 
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not limited to, persons who are active in and knowledgeable 
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about the areas of law enforcement, the criminal and civil 
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justice systems, education, human rights, business and 
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industry, arts and culture, social services, and religion.  
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Terms of the members shall be staggered so that  10 of the 
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initial members shall serve  until March 1, 2009, 10 of the 
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initial members and the initial chairperson shall serve until 
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March 1, 2011, and thereafter each member shall serve for a 
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term of 4 years.  Members shall serve until their successors are 
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appointed and qualified.  Any vacancy in the membership of the 
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Council shall be filled by the Governor with the advice and 
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consent of the Senate for the unexpired term. Members shall 
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serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses.
 


 






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    (b) The Commission shall be provided assistance and 
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necessary staff support services by the agencies of State 
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government involved in the issues to be addressed by it. 
 
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    Section 15. Purposes of Commission.  The purposes of the 
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Commission include, but are not limited to, the following: 
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        (1) To work in partnership with community leaders, 
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    educators, religious leaders, social service agencies, 
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    elected officials, and the public to identify and uproot 
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    sources of discrimination and bias at the source. 
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        (2) To work with local governments, law enforcement 
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    officials and  prosecutors, educators, and community 
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    organizations by assisting with the development of 
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    resources, training, and information that allow for a swift 
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    and efficient response to hate-motivated crimes and 
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    incidents.
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        (3) To work with educators throughout Illinois on 
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    issues concerning discrimination and hate, teaching 
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    acceptance, and embracing diversity at academic 
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    institutions.
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        (4) To help ensure that this State's laws addressing 
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    discrimination and hate-related violence are widely known 
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    and applied correctly to help eradicate and prevent crimes 
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    based on discrimination and intolerance.
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        (5) To make recommendations to the Governor and the 
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    General Assembly for statutory and programmatic changes 
 


 






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    necessary to eliminate discrimination and hate-based 
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    violence. 
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        (6) To help implement recommendations by working with 
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    State agencies, the General Assembly, the business 
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    community, the social service community, and other 
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    organizations. 
 
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    Section 20. Annual report. The Commission shall submit a 
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report to the Governor and the General Assembly by March 30 of 
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each year.
 
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    Section 25. Other laws. Nothing in this Act shall be 
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construed to contravene any federal law or any other State law.
 
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    Section 30. Effect on Executive Order.   This Act supersedes

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Executive Order No. 8 (2005).
 

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