HB3045 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 11138 SMS 56367 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB3045

Introduced , by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/19-2.3 new
10 ILCS 5/19A-20
55 ILCS 5/3-15003.3 new
55 ILCS 5/3-15003.4 new
730 ILCS 5/3-2-2.3 new
730 ILCS 5/3-14-1	from Ch. 38, par. 1003-14-1

Amends the Election Code. Provides that each election authority shall collaborate with the county jail within the jurisdiction of the election authority to facilitate voting by mail for voters eligible to vote in the county who are confined or detained in the county jail. Provides that in a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more, the election authority in the county shall establish a temporary branch polling place in the county jail. Provides that a refusal by an eligible voter to participate in the voting process must be documented by the voter or witnessed by a pollwatcher. Provides that individuals who facilitate a vote by mail process must receive training on the process, responsibilities, and requirements of implementing a vote by mail program. Contains additional provisions concerning the temporary branch polling place in the county jail. Prohibits certain individuals from from being election judges in a temporary branch polling place in a county jail. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that each election authority shall collaborate with the county jail within the jurisdiction of the election authority to facilitate voter registration for voters eligible to vote in that county who are confined or detained in the county jail. Provides that a county jail shall provide a voter registration application to any person in custody at the jail who requests an application and is eligible to vote. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that upon release of a person who is eligible to vote, the Department of Corrections shall provide the person with a specified form that informs him or her that his or her voting rights have been restored. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and Counties Code. Provides that upon discharge from a county jail or release from the Department of Corrections, a person shall be provided with a voter registration form. Provides that the Department, each county jail, and each county probation office shall provide an individual in its custody with specified information on voting rights. Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

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

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Sections 19-2.3 and by changing Section 19A-20 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/19-2.3 new)

Sec. 19-2.3. Vote by mail; jails. Each election authority in a county with a population under 3,000,000 shall collaborate with the primary county jail where eligible voters are confined or detained who are within the jurisdiction of the election authority to facilitate an opportunity for voting by mail for voters eligible to vote in the election jurisdiction who are confined or detained in the county jail. Refusal by an eligible voter to participate in the voting process must be documented by the voter. Individuals who facilitate a vote by mail process under this Section must receive training on the process, responsibilities, and requirements of implementing a vote by mail program.

(10 ILCS 5/19A-20)

Sec. 19A-20. Temporary branch polling places.

(a) In addition to permanent polling places for early voting, the election authority may establish temporary branch polling places for early voting.

(b) The provisions of subsection (b) of Section 19A-15 do not apply to a temporary polling place. Voting at a temporary branch polling place may be conducted on any one or more days and during any hours within the period for early voting by personal appearance that are determined by the election authority.

(c) The schedules for conducting voting do not need to be uniform among the temporary branch polling places.

(d) The legal rights and remedies which inure to the owner or lessor of private property are not impaired or otherwise affected by the leasing of the property for use as a temporary branch polling place for early voting, except to the extent necessary to conduct early voting at that location.

(e) In a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more, the election authority in the county shall establish a temporary branch polling place under this Section in the county jail. Only a resident of a county who is in custody at the county jail and who has not been convicted of the offense for which the resident is in custody is eligible to vote at a temporary branch polling place established under this subsection. The temporary branch polling place established under this subsection shall allow a voter to vote in the same elections that the voter would be entitled to vote in where the voter resides. To the maximum extent feasible, voting booths or screens shall be provided to ensure the privacy of the voter. Refusal by an eligible voter to participate in the voting process must be documented by the voter or witnessed by a pollwatcher. Individuals who facilitate a vote by mail process under this subsection (e) must receive training on the process, responsibilities, and requirements of implementing a voting program.

Under this subsection (e), election judges may not be active law enforcement officers, employed by the Department of Corrections, or employed by the head sheriff of the facility where voting occurs.

All provisions of this Code applicable to pollwatchers shall apply to a temporary branch polling place under this subsection (e), subject to approval from the election authority and the county jail, except that nonpartisan pollwatchers shall be limited to one per division within the jail instead of one per precinct. A county that establishes a temporary branch polling place inside a county jail in accordance with this subsection (e) shall adhere to all requirements of this subsection (e). All requirements of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Sections 203 and 208 of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act shall apply to this subsection (e).

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by adding Sections 3-15003.3 and 3-15003.4 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/3-15003.3 new)

Sec. 3-15003.3. Voter registration; county jails. Upon discharge of a person who is eligible to vote from a county jail, the county jail shall provide the person with a voter registration application. Each election authority shall collaborate with the county jail within the jurisdiction of the election authority to facilitate voter registration for voters eligible to vote in that county who are confined or detained in the county jail. A county jail shall provide a voter registration application to any person in custody at the jail who requests an application and is eligible to vote.

(55 ILCS 5/3-15003.4 new)

Sec. 3-15003.4. Voting rights; county jails; probation offices.

(a) Each county jail and county probation office shall make available current resource materials, maintained by the Illinois State Board of Elections, containing detailed information regarding the voting rights of a person with a criminal conviction in print.

(b) The current resource materials described under subsection (a) shall be provided:

(1) upon discharge of a person from a county jail; and

(2) upon intake of a person by a county probation department.

Section 15. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by adding Sections 3-2-2.3 and by changing Section 3-14-1 as follows:

(730 ILCS 5/3-2-2.3 new)

Sec. 3-2-2.3. Voting rights information.

(a) The Department shall make available to a person in its custody current resource materials, maintained by the Illinois State Board of Elections, containing detailed information regarding the voting rights of a person with a criminal conviction in the following formats:

(1) in print;

(2) on the Department's website; and

(3) in a visible location on the premises of each Department facility where notices are customarily posted.

(b) The current resource materials described under subsection (a) shall be provided upon release of a person on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or pardon from the Department.

(730 ILCS 5/3-14-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-14-1)

Sec. 3-14-1. Release from the institution.

(a) Upon release of a person on parole, mandatory release, final discharge or pardon the Department shall return all property held for him, provide him with suitable clothing and procure necessary transportation for him to his designated place of residence and employment. It may provide such person with a grant of money for travel and expenses which may be paid in installments. The amount of the money grant shall be determined by the Department.

(a-1) The Department shall, before a wrongfully imprisoned person, as defined in Section 3-1-2 of this Code, is discharged from the Department, provide him or her with any documents necessary after discharge.

(a-2) The Department of Corrections may establish and maintain, in any institution it administers, revolving funds to be known as "Travel and Allowances Revolving Funds". These revolving funds shall be used for advancing travel and expense allowances to committed, paroled, and discharged prisoners. The moneys paid into such revolving funds shall be from appropriations to the Department for Committed, Paroled, and Discharged Prisoners.

(a-3) Upon release of a person who is eligible to vote on parole, mandatory release, final discharge, or pardon, the Department shall provide the person with a form that informs him or her that his or her voting rights have been restored and a voter registration application. The Department shall have available voter registration applications in the languages provided by the Illinois State Board of Elections. The form that informs the person that his or her rights have been restored shall include the following information:

(1) All voting rights are restored upon release from the Department's custody.

(2) A person who is eligible to vote must register in order to be able to vote.

The Department of Corrections shall confirm that the person received the voter registration application and has been informed that his or her voting rights have been restored.

(b) (Blank).

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the Department shall establish procedures to provide written notification of any release of any person who has been convicted of a felony to the State's Attorney and sheriff of the county from which the offender was committed, and the State's Attorney and sheriff of the county into which the offender is to be paroled or released. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the Department shall establish procedures to provide written notification to the proper law enforcement agency for any municipality of any release of any person who has been convicted of a felony if the arrest of the offender or the commission of the offense took place in the municipality, if the offender is to be paroled or released into the municipality, or if the offender resided in the municipality at the time of the commission of the offense. If a person convicted of a felony who is in the custody of the Department of Corrections or on parole or mandatory supervised release informs the Department that he or she has resided, resides, or will reside at an address that is a housing facility owned, managed, operated, or leased by a public housing agency, the Department must send written notification of that information to the public housing agency that owns, manages, operates, or leases the housing facility. The written notification shall, when possible, be given at least 14 days before release of the person from custody, or as soon thereafter as possible. The written notification shall be provided electronically if the State's Attorney, sheriff, proper law enforcement agency, or public housing agency has provided the Department with an accurate and up to date email address.

(c-1) (Blank).

(c-2) The Department shall establish procedures to provide notice to the Department of State Police of the release or discharge of persons convicted of violations of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act or a violation of the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act. The Department of State Police shall make this information available to local, State, or federal law enforcement agencies upon request.

(c-5) If a person on parole or mandatory supervised release becomes a resident of a facility licensed or regulated by the Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Public Aid, or the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Department of Corrections shall provide copies of the following information to the appropriate licensing or regulating Department and the licensed or regulated facility where the person becomes a resident:

(1) The mittimus and any pre-sentence investigation reports.

(2) The social evaluation prepared pursuant to Section 3-8-2.

(3) Any pre-release evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (j) of Section 3-6-2.

(4) Reports of disciplinary infractions and dispositions.

(5) Any parole plan, including orders issued by the Prisoner Review Board, and any violation reports and dispositions.

(6) The name and contact information for the assigned parole agent and parole supervisor.

This information shall be provided within 3 days of the person becoming a resident of the facility.

(c-10) If a person on parole or mandatory supervised release becomes a resident of a facility licensed or regulated by the Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Public Aid, or the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Department of Corrections shall provide written notification of such residence to the following:

(1) The Prisoner Review Board.

(2) The chief of police and sheriff in the municipality and county in which the licensed facility is located.

The notification shall be provided within 3 days of the person becoming a resident of the facility.

(d) Upon the release of a committed person on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge or pardon, the Department shall provide such person with information concerning programs and services of the Illinois Department of Public Health to ascertain whether such person has been exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any identified causative agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

(e) Upon the release of a committed person on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, pardon, or who has been wrongfully imprisoned, the Department shall verify the released person's full name, date of birth, and social security number. If verification is made by the Department by obtaining a certified copy of the released person's birth certificate and the released person's social security card or other documents authorized by the Secretary, the Department shall provide the birth certificate and social security card or other documents authorized by the Secretary to the released person. If verification by the Department is done by means other than obtaining a certified copy of the released person's birth certificate and the released person's social security card or other documents authorized by the Secretary, the Department shall complete a verification form, prescribed by the Secretary of State, and shall provide that verification form to the released person.

(f) Forty-five days prior to the scheduled discharge of a person committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections, the Department shall give the person who is otherwise uninsured an opportunity to apply for health care coverage including medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 1-8.5 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, and the Department of Corrections shall provide assistance with completion of the application for health care coverage including medical assistance. The Department may adopt rules to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 98-267, eff. 1-1-14; 99-415, eff. 8-20-15; 99-907, eff. 7-1-17.)