HB3644eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3644 Engrossed LRB100 09938 RJF 20109 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

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 20 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3930/20 new)

Sec. 20. Trauma, Resiliency and Recovery Task Force.

(a) The General Assembly acknowledges that in 2015 there were 48,003 murders, criminal sexual assaults, robberies and aggravated assaults and batteries reported to police in Illinois.

(1) Traumatic events are those that cause significant distress or harm, whether physical, emotional, or psychological, for individuals. These experiences can have a severe impact on well-being by impairing people's daily functioning and emotional health, contributing to higher rates of hospitalization, suicide attempts, substance abuse, incarceration, and emotional responses, such as anger.

(2) There are communities in Illinois that experience high rates of violent crime, and their members often bear the costs of unaddressed trauma.

(3) A trauma-informed approach acknowledges the radiating impact of trauma, recognizes that people's actions and symptoms may be a result of traumatic experiences, and creates policies that are sensitive to such actions and symptoms.

(4) Trauma-informed policies and practices minimize re-victimization and improve individual, family, and community well-being.

(b) The General Assembly believes that a task force should be created to help the State effectively promote trauma-informed policies and practices by studying how trauma impacts individuals, families, and communities throughout the State, with particular attention paid to underserved populations and communities.

(c) The Trauma, Resiliency, and Recovery Task Force is hereby created. The Task Force shall examine the following:

(1) the impact that trauma can have on individuals, families, and communities throughout the State, particularly in communities and populations with high levels of victimization;

(2) the essential components of trauma-informed practices and policies;

(3) the extent to which trauma-informed practices and policies are being used in Illinois; and

(4) the barriers and challenges to implementing trauma informed practices and policies.

(d) The Task Force shall hold public hearings at the call of the co-chairpersons to receive testimony from the public and subject matter experts. These hearings will result in recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding legislative changes and other policy and practice.

(e) 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;

(2) the Secretary of Human Services, or his or her Designee;

(3) the Director of Public Health, or his or her Designee;

(4) the Director of Health and Family Services, or his or her Designee;

(5) the Director of Corrections, or his or her Designee;

(6) the Director of Juvenile Justice, or his or her designee;

(7) the Director of Children and Family Services, or his or her designee;

(8) two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall serve as a co-chairperson;

(9) two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall serve as a co-chairperson;

(10) a member of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(11) a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(12) the Director of State Police, or his or her designee;

(13) the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, or his or her designee;

(14) four representatives of victim service organizations, at least one of which serves an underserved group, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(15) a representative of a Statewide coalition that focuses on trauma, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(16) two academics or researchers who have studied issues related to trauma, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(17) a representative from the Illinois Hospital Association and a representative of a Trauma Level One Hospital, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(18) a representative of a Statewide organization representing probation and court services agencies in this State, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(19) a representative of a Statewide organization representing Illinois sheriffs, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(20) a representative of a Statewide organization representing Illinois police chiefs, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(21) two State's Attorneys, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority;

(22) a Public Defender, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority; and

(23) two individuals who represent the victim community, appointed by the Executive Director of the Authority.

(f) The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority may receive an appropriation to enter into personnel contracts to support the work of the Task Force. The Authority may also consult, contract, work in conjunction with, and obtain any information from any individual, agency, association, or research institution deemed appropriate by the Authority.

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

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