Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

Filed: 3/21/2007

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1047

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1047 by replacing
3 everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
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.

 

 

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1         (4) Stereotypical thinking and biases still plague our
2     society.
3         (5) Illinois has a strong tradition of combating
4     discrimination and hate-based violence by statutorily
5     addressing crimes such as aggravated battery, theft,
6     criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, and telephone
7     harassment committed because of the victim's race, color,
8     creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, or
9     disability.
10         (6) We must continue to work to build a society that is
11     bias and hate free so that our children are protected
12     against discrimination, punishment, and violence that are
13     based on race, ethnicity, color, creed, religious belief,
14     sexual orientation, or social status.
 
15     Section 10. Establishment of Commission.
16     (a) The Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes is
17 established. The Commission shall consist of a chairperson and
18 20 additional members appointed by the Governor with the advice
19 and consent of the Senate. The membership may include, but is
20 not limited to, persons who are active in and knowledgeable
21 about the areas of law enforcement, the criminal and civil
22 justice systems, education, human rights, business and
23 industry, arts and culture, social services, and religion.
24 Terms of the members shall be staggered so that 10 of the
25 initial members shall serve until March 1, 2009, 10 of the

 

 

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1 initial members and the initial chairperson shall serve until
2 March 1, 2011, and thereafter each member shall serve for a
3 term of 4 years. Members shall serve until their successors are
4 appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the membership of the
5 Council shall be filled by the Governor with the advice and
6 consent of the Senate for the unexpired term. Members shall
7 serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses.
8     (b) The Commission shall be provided assistance and
9 necessary staff support services by the agencies of State
10 government involved in the issues to be addressed by it.
 
11     Section 15. Purposes of Commission. The purposes of the
12 Commission include, but are not limited to, the following:
13         (1) To work in partnership with community leaders,
14     educators, religious leaders, social service agencies,
15     elected officials, and the public to identify and uproot
16     sources of discrimination and bias at the source.
17         (2) To work with local governments, law enforcement
18     officials and prosecutors, educators, and community
19     organizations by assisting with the development of
20     resources, training, and information that allow for a swift
21     and efficient response to hate-motivated crimes and
22     incidents.
23         (3) To work with educators throughout Illinois on
24     issues concerning discrimination and hate, teaching
25     acceptance, and embracing diversity at academic

 

 

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1     institutions.
2         (4) To help ensure that this State's laws addressing
3     discrimination and hate-related violence are widely known
4     and applied correctly to help eradicate and prevent crimes
5     based on discrimination and intolerance.
6         (5) To make recommendations to the Governor and the
7     General Assembly for statutory and programmatic changes
8     necessary to eliminate discrimination and hate-based
9     violence.
10         (6) To help implement recommendations by working with
11     State agencies, the General Assembly, the business
12     community, the social service community, and other
13     organizations.
 
14     Section 20. Annual report. The Commission shall submit a
15 report to the Governor and the General Assembly by March 30 of
16 each year.
 
17     Section 25. Other laws. Nothing in this Act shall be
18 construed to contravene any federal law or any other State law.
 
19     Section 30. Effect on Executive Order. This Act supersedes
20 Executive Order No. 8 (2005).
 
21     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22 becoming law.".