HJ0021

LRB095 09784 RLC 29994 r






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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution 80 which established the 
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Long-Term Prisoners Study Committee was adopted by both houses 
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of the Ninety-Fourth General Assembly; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Long-Term Prisoners Study Committee was 
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directed to: consider whether life without parole and long-term 
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sentences in excess of 30 years are necessary for public safety 
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and provide the best use of State funds; and report its 
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findings and recommendations to the General Assembly in a final 
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report which was to be filed on or before June 1, 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Long-Term Prisoners Study Committee does not 
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have sufficient time to carry out its duties before the June 1, 
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2007 date set for its report and recommendations; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Ninety-Fifth  General Assembly needs to 
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reauthorize the Long-Term Prisoners Study Committee with the 
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same membership and charge as the Committee authorized by HJR 
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80 of the Ninety-Fourth General Assembly and set the date for 
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the report and recommendations as on or before December 31, 
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2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, As stated in HJR 80, it costs at least $1,000,000 
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to confine a person in prison for 30 years; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, As stated in HJR 80, The recidivism rate for long 
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termers is the lowest of any group of prisoners and a large 
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number of lifers and long-term prisoners are sentenced under 
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the accountability theory and not for the actual commission of 
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the crime, and some are first time offenders; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is hereby established the 
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Long-Term Prisoners Study Committee; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the Committee shall have the following 
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members: 17 members, as follows: 3 members appointed by the 
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President of the Senate, 2 members appointed by the Senate 
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Minority Leader, 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the 
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House of Representatives, 2 members appointed by the House 
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Minority Leader; one member appointed by the Attorney General;

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one member appointed by the Governor;
one member appointed by 
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the Cook County State's
Attorney;
one member appointed by the 
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Office of the Cook County
Public Defender;
one member appointed 
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by the Office of the State
Appellate Defender;
one member 
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appointed by the Office of the State's
Attorneys Appellate 
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Prosecutor; and
one member appointed by the Director of 
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Corrections;
and be it further
 
 


 






HJ0021
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    RESOLVED, That any member of the Ninety-Fifth General 
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Assembly who was previously appointed to the Committee 
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established by HJR 80 of the Ninety-Fourth General Assembly 
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shall remain as member of the Committee, unless the individual 
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who holds the position responsible for making the appointment 
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determines otherwise; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That all actions of the Committee require the 
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affirmative vote of at least 9 members; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the members of the Committee shall select a 
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chairperson; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Committee shall hold public hearings and 
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shall study and examine issues related to prisoners sentenced 
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to life without parole and prisoners sentenced to terms in 
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excess of 30 years; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Department of Corrections shall provide 
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staff and administrative support to the Committee; and be it 
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further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Committee shall report its findings and 
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recommendations to the General Assembly in a final report which 
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shall be filed on or before December 31, 2007; the requirement 
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for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by 
 


 






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filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority 
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Leader and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the 
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President, the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the Senate 
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and the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1 
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of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing additional 
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copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for 
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the General Assembly as required under paragraph (t) of Section 
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7 of the State Library Act; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this Resolution be 
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transmitted to the members of the Committee.