98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB3501

 

Introduced 2/14/2014, by Sen. Christine Radogno

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission. Adds one member to the current 8 member Commission, with the new member to be a representative of victims of violent crime. Requires the Commission Director to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, rather than be employed by the Commission. Requires the Director to have at least 5 years of experience in the practice of criminal law. Provides that if a victim has not been identified, located, and notified by the Commission at least 30 days prior to the any proceedings of the full Commission, the Commission shall make notification by publication no later than 20 days prior to any proceedings. Requires the Commission (rather than the Director) to use all due diligence to notify convicted claimant's victims of Commission proceedings and conclusions. Requires the Commission to certify in any court filing in a convicted claimant's case that all rules and procedures as to the identification, location, and notification of any victim entitled to notice under this Act have been complied with as required by the Act. If in a convicted claimant's case referred to a trial judge, the judge finds that a victim entitled to notice has not been properly notified or heard by the Commission or finds the Commission failed to exercise all due diligence by not following its established rules and procedures as to the identification, location, and notification of a victim, the judge shall order the case to be returned to the Commission for rehearing. Allows a victim to appeal a Commission finding to the Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge, if the Commission did not follow established rules and procedures as to the identification, location, and notification of the victim. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning human rights.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief
5Commission Act is amended by changing Sections 20, 25, 30, 40,
645, 50, and 55 as follows:
 
7    (775 ILCS 40/20)
8    Sec. 20. Membership; chair; meetings; quorum.
9    (a) The Commission shall consist of 9 8 voting members as
10follows:
11        (1) One shall be a retired Circuit Court Judge.
12        (2) One shall be a former prosecuting attorney.
13        (3) One shall be a law school professor.
14        (4) One shall be engaged in the practice of criminal
15    defense law.
16        (5) Three shall be members of the public who are not
17    attorneys and who are not officers or employees of the
18    Judicial branch.
19        (6) One shall be a former public defender.
20        (7) One shall be a representative of victims of violent
21    crime.
22    The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the
23Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members

 

 

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1may be re-appointed for additional terms, as provided for under
2Section 25.
3    (a-1) The Governor shall also appoint alternate Commission
4members for the Commission members he or she has appointed to
5serve in the event of scheduling conflicts, conflicts of
6interest, disability, or other disqualification arising in a
7particular case. Where an alternate member is called upon to
8serve in a particular place, the alternate member shall vote in
9the place of, and otherwise exercise the same powers as, the
10member which he or she is replacing. The alternate member shall
11have the same qualifications for appointment as the original
12member. In making the appointments, the Governor shall make a
13good faith effort to appoint members with different
14perspectives of the justice system. The Governor shall also
15consider geographical location, gender, and racial diversity
16in making the appointments.
17    (b) The retired judge who is appointed as a member under
18subsection (a) shall serve as Chair of the Commission. The
19Commission shall have its initial meeting no later than one
20month after the appointment of a quorum of members of the
21Commission, at the call of the Chair. The Commission shall meet
22a minimum of once every 6 months and may also meet more often
23at the call of the Chair. The Commission shall meet at such
24time and place as designated by the Chair, in accordance with
25the provisions of the Open Meetings Act. Notice of the meetings
26shall be given at such time and manner as provided by the rules

 

 

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1of the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of the
2Open Meetings Act. A majority of the voting members shall
3constitute a quorum. All Commission votes shall be by majority
4vote of the voting members appointed.
5(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)
 
6    (775 ILCS 40/25)
7    Sec. 25. Terms of members; compensation; expenses.
8    (a) Of the initial members, the appointments under clauses
9(a)(3) and (6) of Section 20 shall be for one-year terms, the
10appointments under clauses (a)(1), (2), and (4) of Section 20
11shall be for 2-year terms, and the appointments under clause
12(a)(5) of Section 20 shall be for 3-year terms. Thereafter, all
13terms shall be for 3 years. Members of the Commission shall
14serve no more than 2 consecutive 3-year terms plus any initial
15term of less than 3 years. Unless provided otherwise by this
16Act, all terms of members shall begin on January 1 and end on
17December 31.
18    (a-5) The term of the member appointed under clause (a)(7)
19of Section 20 shall commence on the effective date of this
20amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly and shall expire
21upon the conclusion of all proceedings regarding claims filed
22under Section 70 of this Act.
23    (a-10) Members serving by virtue of elective or appointive
24office, may serve only so long as the office holders hold those
25respective offices. The Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit

 

 

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1Court may remove members for good cause shown. Vacancies
2occurring before the expiration of a term shall be filled in
3the manner provided for the members first appointed.
4    (b) The Commission members shall receive no salary for
5serving, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred
6as a result of their duties as members of the Commission from
7funds appropriated by the General Assembly for that purpose, or
8from funds obtained from sources other than the General
9Assembly.
10(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)
 
11    (775 ILCS 40/30)
12    Sec. 30. Director and other staff. The Director shall be
13appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the
14Senate. The Commission shall employ a Director. The Director
15shall be an attorney licensed to practice in Illinois at the
16time of appointment and at all times during service as Director
17and shall have at least 5 years experience in the practice of
18criminal law as a former prosecutor or defense attorney. The
19Director shall assist the Commission in developing rules and
20standards for cases accepted for review, coordinate
21investigation of cases accepted for review, maintain records
22for all case investigations, prepare reports outlining
23Commission investigations and recommendations to the trial
24court, and apply for and accept on behalf of the Commission any
25funds that may become available from government grants, private

 

 

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1gifts, donations, or bequests from any source.
2    Subject to the approval of the Chair, the Director shall
3employ such other staff and shall contract for services as is
4necessary to assist the Commission in the performance of its
5duties, and as funds permit.
6    The Commission may meet in an area provided by the Illinois
7Human Rights Commission, or any other State agency. The
8Illinois Human Rights Commission shall provide, directly or
9through any other State agency, office space for the Commission
10and the Commission staff.
11(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)
 
12    (775 ILCS 40/40)
13    Sec. 40. Claims of torture; waiver of convicted person's
14procedural safeguards and privileges; formal inquiry;
15notification of the crime victim.
16    (a) A claim of torture may be referred to the Commission by
17any court, person, or agency. The Commission shall not consider
18a claim of torture if the convicted person is deceased. The
19determination of whether to grant a formal inquiry regarding
20any other claim of torture is in the discretion of the
21Commission. The Commission may informally screen and dismiss a
22case summarily at its discretion.
23    (b) No formal inquiry into a claim of torture shall be made
24by the Commission unless the Director or the Director's
25designee first obtains a signed agreement from the convicted

 

 

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1person in which the convicted person waives his or her
2procedural safeguards and privileges including but not limited
3to the right against self-incrimination under the United States
4Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Illinois,
5agrees to cooperate with the Commission, and agrees to provide
6full disclosure regarding inquiry requirements of the
7Commission. The waiver under this subsection does not apply to
8matters unrelated to a convicted person's claim of torture. The
9convicted person shall have the right to advice of counsel
10prior to the execution of the agreement and, if a formal
11inquiry is granted, throughout the formal inquiry. If counsel
12represents the convicted person, then the convicted person's
13counsel must be present at the signing of the agreement. If
14counsel does not represent the convicted person, the Commission
15Chair shall determine the convicted person's indigency status
16and, if appropriate, enter an order for the appointment of
17counsel for the purpose of advising on the agreement.
18    (c) If a formal inquiry regarding a claim of torture is
19granted, the Commission Director shall use all due diligence to
20notify the victim in the case and explain the inquiry process.
21In addition to existing rules on notification of crime victims,
22the Commission shall adopt rules and procedures for
23identifying, locating, and notifying victims entitled to
24notice under the Act. This shall include, but not be limited to
25use of law enforcement files, court files, victim impact
26statements, and news media accounts. If a victim has not been

 

 

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1identified, located, and notified by the Commission at least 30
2days prior to any proceedings of the full Commission held in
3regard to the victim's case, the Commission shall make victim
4notification by publication no later than 20 days prior to any
5proceedings in the case. The Commission shall give the victim
6notice that the victim has the right to present his or her
7views and concerns throughout the Commission's investigation.
8    (d) The Commission may use any measure provided in the Code
9of Civil Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963
10to obtain information necessary to its inquiry. The Commission
11may also do any of the following: issue subpoenas or other
12process to compel the attendance of witnesses and the
13production of evidence, administer oaths, petition the Circuit
14Court of Cook County or of the original jurisdiction for
15enforcement of process or for other relief, and prescribe its
16own rules of procedure. All challenges with regard to the
17Commission's authority or the Commission's access to evidence
18shall be heard by the Circuit Court of Cook County, including
19any in camera review.
20    (e) While performing duties for the Commission, the
21Director or the Director's designee may serve subpoenas or
22other process issued by the Commission throughout the State in
23the same manner and with the same effect as an officer
24authorized to serve process under the laws of this State.
25    (f) All State discovery and disclosure statutes in effect
26at the time of formal inquiry shall be enforceable as if the

 

 

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1convicted person were currently being tried for the charge for
2which the convicted person is claiming torture.
3    (g) If, at any point during an inquiry, the convicted
4person refuses to comply with requests of the Commission or is
5otherwise deemed to be uncooperative by the Commission, the
6Commission shall discontinue the inquiry.
7(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)
 
8    (775 ILCS 40/45)
9    Sec. 45. Commission proceedings.
10    (a) At the completion of a formal inquiry, all relevant
11evidence shall be presented to the full Commission. As part of
12its proceedings, the Commission may conduct hearings. The
13determination as to whether to conduct hearings is solely in
14the discretion of the Commission. Any hearing held in
15accordance with this Section shall be a public hearing and
16shall be held subject to the Commission's rules of operation,
17and conducted pursuant to the Open Meetings Act.
18    (b) The Commission Director shall use all due diligence to
19notify the victim at least 30 days prior to any proceedings of
20the full Commission held in regard to the victim's case. The
21Commission shall notify the victim that the victim is permitted
22to attend proceedings otherwise closed to the public, subject
23to any limitations imposed by this Act, and subject to Section
242(c)(14) of the Open Meetings Act. If the victim plans to
25attend proceedings otherwise closed to the public, the victim

 

 

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1shall notify the Commission at least 10 days in advance of the
2proceedings of his or her intent to attend. The Commission may
3close any portion of the proceedings to the victim, if the
4victim is to testify and the Commission determines that the
5victim's testimony would be materially affected if the victim
6hears other testimony at the proceeding.
7    (c) After hearing the evidence, the full Commission shall
8vote to establish further case disposition as provided by this
9subsection. All 9 8 voting members of the Commission shall
10participate in that vote.
11    If 5 or more of the 9 8 voting members of the Commission
12conclude by a preponderance of the evidence that there is
13sufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the
14case shall be referred to the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court
15of Cook County by filing with the clerk of court the opinion of
16the Commission with supporting findings of fact, as well as the
17record in support of such opinion, with service on the State's
18Attorney in non-capital cases and service on both the State's
19Attorney and Attorney General in capital cases. The filing
20under this paragraph shall include a certification by the
21Commission that all rules and procedures as to the
22identification, location, and notification of any victim
23entitled to notice under this Act have been complied with as
24required under subsection (c) of Section 40 of this Act.
25    If less than 5 of the 9 8 voting members of the Commission
26conclude by a preponderance of the evidence that there is

 

 

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1sufficient evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the
2Commission shall conclude there is insufficient evidence of
3torture to merit judicial review. The Commission shall document
4that opinion, along with supporting findings of fact, and file
5those documents and supporting materials with the court clerk
6in the circuit of original jurisdiction, with a copy to the
7State's Attorney and the chief judge.
8    The Director of the Commission shall use all due diligence
9to notify immediately the victim of the Commission's conclusion
10in a case.
11    (d) Evidence of criminal acts, professional misconduct, or
12other wrongdoing disclosed through formal inquiry or
13Commission proceedings shall be referred to the appropriate
14authority. Evidence favorable to the convicted person
15disclosed through formal inquiry or Commission proceedings
16shall be disclosed to the convicted person and the convicted
17person's counsel, if the convicted person has counsel. The
18Commission shall have the discretion to refer its findings
19together with the supporting record and evidence, to such other
20parties or entities as the Commission in its discretion shall
21deem appropriate.
22    (e) All proceedings of the Commission shall be recorded and
23transcribed as part of the record. All Commission member votes
24shall be recorded in the record. All records of the Commission
25shall be confidential until the proceedings before the
26Commission are concluded and a final decision has been made by

 

 

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1the Commission.
2(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)
 
3    (775 ILCS 40/50)
4    Sec. 50. Post-commission judicial review.
5    (a) If the Commission concludes there is sufficient
6evidence of torture to merit judicial review, the Chair of the
7Commission shall request the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court
8of Cook County for assignment to a trial judge for
9consideration. Prior to judicial review of the evidence of
10torture by the trial judge, if the judge finds that a victim
11entitled to notice under this Act has not been properly
12notified or heard by the Commission as required by this Act or
13finds the Commission failed to exercise all due diligence by
14not following its established rules and procedures as to the
15identification, location, and notification of a victim, the
16judge shall order the case to be returned to the Commission for
17rehearing. The court may receive proof by affidavits,
18depositions, oral testimony, or other evidence. In its
19discretion the court may order the petitioner brought before
20the court for the hearing. Notwithstanding the status of any
21other postconviction proceedings relating to the petitioner,
22if the court finds in favor of the petitioner, it shall enter
23an appropriate order with respect to the judgment or sentence
24in the former proceedings and such supplementary orders as to
25rearraignment, retrial, custody, bail or discharge, or for such

 

 

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1relief as may be granted under a petition for a certificate of
2innocence, as may be necessary and proper.
3    (b) The State's Attorney, or the State's Attorney's
4designee, shall represent the State at the hearing before the
5assigned judge.
6(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)
 
7    (775 ILCS 40/55)
8    Sec. 55. No right to further review of decision by
9Commission; convicted person retains right to other
10postconviction relief.
11    (a) Unless otherwise authorized by this Act, the decisions
12of the Commission are final and are subject to review as final
13decisions under the provisions of the Administrative Review
14Law, and shall only be overturned if the court finds that they
15are against the manifest weight of the evidence. If the
16Commission did not follow established rules and procedures as
17to the identification, location, and notification of a victim,
18any finding made by the Commission may be administratively
19appealed by the victim to the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court
20of Cook County.
21    (b) A claim of torture asserted through the Commission
22shall not adversely affect the convicted person's rights to
23other postconviction relief.
24(Source: P.A. 96-223, eff. 8-10-09.)
 
25    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

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1becoming law.

 

 

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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    775 ILCS 40/20
4    775 ILCS 40/25
5    775 ILCS 40/30
6    775 ILCS 40/40
7    775 ILCS 40/45
8    775 ILCS 40/50
9    775 ILCS 40/55