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1     AN ACT concerning human rights.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes Act.
 
6     Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds as follows:
7         (1) The population and demographic makeup of the State
8     of Illinois make the appreciation, tolerance, and
9     acceptance of diverse cultures imperative.
10         (2) No person or group of people should have to live in
11     fear because of their race, ethnicity, culture, sexual
12     orientation, or religious beliefs.
13         (3) The manifestation of discrimination in the form of
14     violence has a negative impact not only on the victim, but
15     also his or her community, and can have a lasting adverse
16     effect on our society.
17         (4) Stereotypical thinking and biases still plague our
18     society.
19         (5) Illinois has a strong tradition of combating
20     discrimination and hate-based violence by statutorily
21     addressing crimes such as aggravated battery, theft,
22     criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, and telephone
23     harassment committed because of the victim's race, color,

 

 

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1     creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, or
2     disability.
3         (6) We must continue to work to build a society that is
4     bias and hate free so that our children are protected
5     against discrimination, punishment, and violence that are
6     based on race, ethnicity, color, creed, religious belief,
7     sexual orientation, or social status.
 
8     Section 10. Establishment of Commission.
9     (a) The Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes is
10 established. The Commission shall consist of a chairperson and
11 20 additional members appointed by the Governor with the advice
12 and consent of the Senate. The membership may include, but is
13 not limited to, persons who are active in and knowledgeable
14 about the areas of law enforcement, the criminal and civil
15 justice systems, education, human rights, business and
16 industry, arts and culture, social services, and religion.
17 Terms of the members shall be staggered so that 10 of the
18 initial members shall serve until March 1, 2009, 10 of the
19 initial members and the initial chairperson shall serve until
20 March 1, 2011, and thereafter each member shall serve for a
21 term of 4 years. Members shall serve until their successors are
22 appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the membership of the
23 Council shall be filled by the Governor with the advice and
24 consent of the Senate for the unexpired term. Members shall
25 serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses.

 

 

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1     (b) The Commission shall be provided assistance and
2 necessary staff support services by the agencies of State
3 government involved in the issues to be addressed by it.
 
4     Section 15. Purposes of Commission. The purposes of the
5 Commission include, but are not limited to, the following:
6         (1) To work in partnership with community leaders,
7     educators, religious leaders, social service agencies,
8     elected officials, and the public to identify and uproot
9     sources of discrimination and bias at the source.
10         (2) To work with local governments, law enforcement
11     officials and prosecutors, educators, and community
12     organizations by assisting with the development of
13     resources, training, and information that allow for a swift
14     and efficient response to hate-motivated crimes and
15     incidents.
16         (3) To work with educators throughout Illinois on
17     issues concerning discrimination and hate, teaching
18     acceptance, and embracing diversity at academic
19     institutions.
20         (4) To help ensure that this State's laws addressing
21     discrimination and hate-related violence are widely known
22     and applied correctly to help eradicate and prevent crimes
23     based on discrimination and intolerance.
24         (5) To make recommendations to the Governor and the
25     General Assembly for statutory and programmatic changes

 

 

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1     necessary to eliminate discrimination and hate-based
2     violence.
3         (6) To help implement recommendations by working with
4     State agencies, the General Assembly, the business
5     community, the social service community, and other
6     organizations.
 
7     Section 20. Annual report. The Commission shall submit a
8 report to the Governor and the General Assembly by March 30 of
9 each year.
 
10     Section 25. Other laws. Nothing in this Act shall be
11 construed to contravene any federal law or any other State law.
 
12     Section 30. Effect on Executive Order. This Act supersedes
13 Executive Order No. 8 (2005).
 
14     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15 becoming law.