HB5525 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 25311 RLC 34585 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5525

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Delia C. Ramirez

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

725 ILCS 5/Art. Art. 106G heading new
725 ILCS 5/106G-5 new

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Creates the Commission on Children of Incarcerated Parents, within the Department of Human Services, which shall reflect the diversity of the State of Illinois, including geographic, racial, ethnic, and diversity of life experience. Provides that the Commission shall be responsible for implementing and coordinating the recommendations of the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents. Provides for appointments to the Commission. Provides that once all its members have been appointed as provided in this Act, the Commission may exercise any power, perform any function, take any action, or do anything in furtherance of its purposes and goals. Provides that the Commission shall: (1) meet at least 4 times per year beginning within 30 days after the appointment of a quorum of its members; (2) identify resources, strategies, and legislative proposals to support the full administration and implementation of the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents recommendations; (3) develop a strategic plan that outlines specific goals, information-gathering activities, benchmarks, and timelines towards achieving the purpose of the Commission to fully implement the recommendation of the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents; and (4) deliver an annual report to the General Assembly and to the Governor to be posted on the Governor's and General Assembly's websites and provide to the public an annual report on its progress. Provides that a draft of the report shall be released for public comment and feedback and shall be solicited from relevant stakeholders, including individuals impacted by parental incarceration, law enforcement, and advocates from local governmental family services agencies and non-profit service providers. Provides that the General Assembly may appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of funding the work of the Commission or services provided under these provisions.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning criminal law.

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

Section 5. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is amended by adding Article 106G as follows:

(725 ILCS 5/Art. Art. 106G heading new)

ARTICLE 106G. COMMISSION ON CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS

(725 ILCS 5/106G-5 new)

Sec. 106G-5. Commission on Children of Incarcerated Parents created.

(a) The Commission on Children of Incarcerated Parents, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, is created within the Department of Human Services and shall reflect the diversity of the State of Illinois, including geographic, racial, ethnic, and diversity of life experience. The Commission shall be responsible for implementing and coordinating the recommendations of the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents.

(b) No later than 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the following representatives from relevant stakeholder groups shall be appointed to the Commission by the Lieutenant Governor unless otherwise stated:

(1) one female who has previously been incarcerated and has been directly impacted by policies relating to children of incarcerated parents;

(2) two individuals who have been directly impacted by policies relating to children of incarcerated parents, one of whom is between the ages of 17 and 24 at the time of appointment;

(3) three representatives from community-based providers or community organizations which provide services to address the trauma of incarceration through social services, advocacy, or the provision of legal services;

(4) One individual who has been directly impacted by the Department of Juvenile Justice policies relating to children of incarcerated parents and is between the ages of 17 and 24 at the time of appointment;

(5) the Lieutenant Governor, or his or her designee;

(6) the Secretary of Human Services, or his or her designee;

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

(8) the Cook County Public Guardian, or his or her designee;

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

(10) the Director of Corrections, or his or her designee;

(11) the President of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, or his or her designee;

(12) the Cook County Sheriff, or his or her designee;

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

(14) the Chief of the Chicago Police Department, or his or her designee;

(15) the Executive Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, or his or her designee;

(16) the Attorney General, or his or her designee;

(17) one member who represents the court system;

(18) one Representative, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(19) one Representative, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(20) one Senator, appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(21) one Senator, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(c) In this Section, "an individuals who has been directly impacted by policies relating to children of incarcerated parents" means a person who has been convicted of, adjudicated, or pled guilty to, one or more felonies, who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment, and who has been separated from his or her children as a result of imprisonment.

(d) Commission members shall serve without compensation. The Commission terms of the non-ex officio and General Assembly Commission members shall expire 4 years after the date of appointment.

(e) Once all its members have been appointed as provided in this Act, the Commission may exercise any power, perform any function, take any action, or do anything in furtherance of its purposes and goals. The Commission shall:

(1) meet at least 4 times per year beginning within 30 days after the appointment of a quorum of its members;

(2) identify resources, strategies, and legislative proposals to support the full administration and implementation of the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents recommendations;

(3) develop a strategic plan that outlines specific goals, information-gathering activities, benchmarks, and timelines towards achieving the purpose of the Commission to fully implement the recommendation of the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents;

(4) deliver an annual report to the General Assembly and to the Governor to be posted on the Governor's and General Assembly's websites and provide to the public an annual report on its progress. A draft of the report shall be released for public comment and feedback and shall be solicited from relevant stakeholders, including individuals impacted by parental incarceration, law enforcement, and advocates from local governmental family services agencies and non-profit service providers.

(f) The General Assembly may appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of funding the work of the Commission or services provided under this Section.