Rep. Kevin John Olickal

Filed: 3/8/2023

 

 


 

 


 
10300HB2543ham001LRB103 26123 RLC 58865 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2543

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2543 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by
5changing Section 5-6-3.6 as follows:
 
6    (730 ILCS 5/5-6-3.6)
7    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2024)
8    Sec. 5-6-3.6. First Time Weapon Offense Offender Program.
9    (a) The General Assembly has sought to promote public
10safety, reduce recidivism, and conserve valuable resources of
11the criminal justice system through the creation of diversion
12programs for non-violent offenders. This amendatory Act of the
13100th General Assembly establishes a pilot program for
14first-time, non-violent offenders charged with certain weapons
15offenses. The General Assembly recognizes some persons,
16particularly young adults in areas of high crime or poverty,

 

 

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1may have experienced trauma that contributes to poor decision
2making skills, and the creation of a diversionary program
3poses a greater benefit to the community and the person than
4incarceration. Under this program, a court, with the consent
5of the defendant and the State's Attorney, may sentence a
6defendant charged with an unlawful use of weapons offense
7under Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or aggravated
8unlawful use of a weapon offense under Section 24-1.6 of the
9Criminal Code of 2012, if punishable as a Class 4 felony or
10lower, to a First Time Weapon Offense Offender Program.
11    (b) A defendant is not eligible for this Program if:
12        (1) the offense was committed during the commission of
13    a violent offense as defined in subsection (h) of this
14    Section;
15        (2) he or she has previously been convicted or placed
16    on probation or conditional discharge for any violent
17    offense under the laws of this State, the laws of any other
18    state, or the laws of the United States;
19        (3) he or she had a prior successful completion of the
20    First Time Weapon Offense Offender Program under this
21    Section;
22        (4) he or she has previously been adjudicated a
23    delinquent minor for the commission of a violent offense;
24        (5) (blank) he or she is 21 years of age or older; or
25        (6) he or she has an existing order of protection
26    issued against him or her.

 

 

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1    (b-5) In considering whether a defendant shall be
2sentenced to the First Time Weapon Offense Offender Program,
3the court shall consider the following:
4        (1) the age, immaturity, or limited mental capacity of
5    the defendant;
6        (2) the nature and circumstances of the offense;
7        (3) whether participation in the Program is in the
8    interest of the defendant's rehabilitation, including any
9    employment or involvement in community, educational,
10    training, or vocational programs;
11        (4) whether the defendant suffers from trauma, as
12    supported by documentation or evaluation by a licensed
13    professional; and
14        (5) the potential risk to public safety.
15    (c) For an offense committed on or after January 1, 2018
16(the effective date of Public Act 100-3) and before January 1,
172024, whenever an eligible person pleads guilty to an unlawful
18use of weapons offense under Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code
19of 2012 or aggravated unlawful use of a weapon offense under
20Section 24-1.6 of the Criminal Code of 2012, which is
21punishable as a Class 4 felony or lower, the court, with the
22consent of the defendant and the State's Attorney, may,
23without entering a judgment, sentence the defendant to
24complete the First Time Weapon Offense Offender Program. When
25a defendant is placed in the Program, the court shall defer
26further proceedings in the case until the conclusion of the

 

 

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1period or until the filing of a petition alleging violation of
2a term or condition of the Program. Upon violation of a term or
3condition of the Program, the court may enter a judgment on its
4original finding of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided by
5law. Upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions of the
6Program, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the
7proceedings against the person.
8    (d) The Program shall be at least 6 18 months and not to
9exceed 18 24 months, as determined by the court at the
10recommendation of the Program administrator and the State's
11Attorney. The Program administrator may be appointed by the
12Chief Judge of each Judicial Circuit.
13    (e) The conditions of the Program shall be that the
14defendant:
15        (1) not violate any criminal statute of this State or
16    any other jurisdiction;
17        (2) refrain from possessing a firearm or other
18    dangerous weapon;
19        (3) obtain or attempt to obtain employment;
20        (4) attend educational courses designed to prepare the
21    defendant for obtaining a high school diploma or to work
22    toward passing high school equivalency testing or to work
23    toward completing a vocational training program;
24        (5) refrain from having in his or her body the
25    presence of any illicit drug prohibited by the
26    Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, the

 

 

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1    Cannabis Control Act, or the Illinois Controlled
2    Substances Act, unless prescribed by a physician, and
3    submit samples of his or her blood or urine or both for
4    tests to determine the presence of any illicit drug;
5        (6) perform a minimum of 50 hours of community
6    service;
7        (7) attend and participate in any Program activities
8    deemed required by the Program administrator, including
9    but not limited to: counseling sessions, in-person and
10    over the phone check-ins, and educational classes; and
11        (8) pay all fines, assessments, fees, and costs.
12    (f) The Program may, in addition to other conditions,
13require that the defendant:
14        (1) wear an ankle bracelet with GPS tracking;
15        (2) undergo medical or psychiatric treatment, or
16    treatment or rehabilitation approved by the Department of
17    Human Services; and
18        (3) attend or reside in a facility established for the
19    instruction or residence of defendants on probation.
20    (g) There may be only one discharge and dismissal under
21this Section. If a person is convicted of any offense which
22occurred within 5 years subsequent to a discharge and
23dismissal under this Section, the discharge and dismissal
24under this Section shall be admissible in the sentencing
25proceeding for that conviction as evidence in aggravation.
26    (h) For purposes of this Section, "violent offense" means

 

 

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1any offense in which bodily harm was inflicted or force was
2used against any person or threatened against any person; any
3offense involving the possession of a firearm or dangerous
4weapon; any offense involving sexual conduct, sexual
5penetration, or sexual exploitation; violation of an order of
6protection, stalking, hate crime, domestic battery, or any
7offense of domestic violence.
8    (i) (Blank). This Section is repealed on January 1, 2024.
9(Source: P.A. 102-245, eff. 8-3-21; 102-1109, eff. 12-21-22.)
 
10    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
11becoming law.".