HB4799 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 19232 CPF 68696 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4799

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

410 ILCS 705/10-45 new

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Creates the Cannabis Equity Commission. Provides specified responsibilities for the Commission and names specified persons to act as ex officio and non-ex officio members. Provides that Commission members shall serve without compensation and may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from funds appropriated for that purpose. Limits terms of the non-ex officio and General Assembly Board members to 4 years from the date of appointment.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning health.

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

Section 5. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act is amended by adding Section 10-45 as follows:

(410 ILCS 705/10-45 new)

Sec. 10-45. Cannabis Equity Commission.

(a) The Cannabis Equity Commission is created and shall reflect the diversity of the State of Illinois, including geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity. The Cannabis Equity Commission shall be responsible for the following:

(1) Ensuring that equity goals in the Illinois cannabis industry, as stated in Section 10-40, are met.

(2) Overseeing implementation, from a social equity point of view, of the original intentions of the General Assembly in passing this Act.

(3) Tracking and analyzing minorities in the marketplace.

(4) Ensuring that revenue is being invested properly into R3 areas under Section 10-40.

(5) Recommending changes to make the law more equitable to communities harmed the most by the war on drugs.

(6) Maintaining oversight of social equity programs and application processes under this Act, including a review of persons who approve applications.

(7) Create standards to protect true social equity applicants from predatory businesses.

(b) The Cannabis Equity Commission's ex officio members shall, within 4 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, convene the Commission to appoint a full Cannabis Equity Commission and oversee, provide guidance to, and develop an administrative structure for the Cannabis Equity Commission. The ex officio members are:

(1) The Lieutenant Governor, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair.

(2) The Attorney General, or his or her designee.

(3) The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee.

(4) The Director of Public Health, 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) The Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, or his or her designee.

(9) The Director of Employment Security, or his or her designee.

(10) The Secretary of Human Services, or his or her designee.

(11) A member of the Senate, designated by the President of the Senate.

(12) A member of the House of Representatives, designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(13) A member of the Senate, designated by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(14) A member of the House of Representatives, designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(c) Within 90 days after the ex officio members convene, the following members shall be appointed to the Commission by the chair:

(1) Eight public officials of municipal geographic jurisdictions in the State, or their designees.

(2) Four community-based providers or community development organization representatives who provide services to treat violence and address the social determinants of health, or promote community investment, including, but not limited to, services such as job placement and training, educational services, workforce development programming, and wealth building. No more than 2 community-based organization representatives shall work primarily in Cook County. At least one of the community-based providers shall have expertise in providing services to an immigrant population.

(3) Two experts in the field of violence reduction.

(4) One male who has previously been incarcerated and is over the age of 24 at the time of appointment.

(5) One female who has previously been incarcerated and is over the age of 24 at the time of appointment.

(6) Two individuals who have previously been incarcerated and are between the ages of 17 and 24 at the time of appointment.

As used in this subsection (c), "an individual who has been previously incarcerated" has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 10-40.