SB0697 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 08753 MLM 18891 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB0697

Introduced 1/30/2017, by Sen. Emil Jones, III

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Racial Impact Note Act. Provides that every bill which has or could have a disparate impact on racial and ethnic minorities, upon the request of any member, shall have prepared for it, before second reading in the house of introduction, a brief explanatory statement or note that shall include a reliable estimate of the anticipated impact on those racial and ethnic minorities likely to be impacted by the bill. Provides that each racial impact note must include: (i) an estimate of how the proposed legislation would impact racial and ethnic minorities; (ii) a statement of the methodologies and assumptions used in preparing the estimate; (iii) an estimate of the racial and ethnic composition of the population who may be impacted by the proposed legislation, including those persons who may be negatively impacted and those persons who may benefit from the proposed legislation; and (iv) any other matter that a responding agency considers appropriate in relation to the racial and ethnic minorities likely to be affected by the bill. Provides for the preparation of the note by specified responding agencies and other impacted State agencies. Contains other related provisions regarding requisites and contents, comments or opinions regarding the merits of the legislation, and the appearance of State officials and employees in support or opposition of the legislation. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Racial Impact Note Act.

Section 5. Racial impact note.

(a) Every bill which has or could have a disparate impact on racial and ethnic minorities, upon the request of any member, shall have prepared for it, before second reading in the house of introduction, a brief explanatory statement or note that shall include a reliable estimate of the anticipated impact on those racial and ethnic minorities likely to be impacted by the bill. Each racial impact note must include, for racial and ethnic minorities for which data are available: (i) an estimate of how the proposed legislation would impact racial and ethnic minorities; (ii) a statement of the methodologies and assumptions used in preparing the estimate; (iii) an estimate of the racial and ethnic composition of the population who may be impacted by the proposed legislation, including those persons who may be negatively impacted and those persons who may benefit from the proposed legislation; and (iv) any other matter that a responding agency considers appropriate in relation to the racial and ethnic minorities likely to be affected by the bill.

Section 10. Preparation.

(a) The sponsor of each bill for which a request under Section 5 has been made shall present a copy of the bill with the request for a racial impact note to the appropriate responding agency or agencies under subsection (b). The responding agency or agencies shall prepare and submit the note to the sponsor of the bill within 5 calendar days, except that whenever, because of the complexity of the measure, additional time is required for the preparation of the racial impact note, the responding agency or agencies may inform the sponsor of the bill, and the sponsor may approve an extension of the time within which the note is to be submitted, not to extend, however, beyond June 15, following the date of the request. If, in the opinion of the responding agency or agencies, there is insufficient information to prepare a reliable estimate of the anticipated impact, a statement to that effect can be filed and shall meet the requirements of this Act.

(b) If a bill concerns arrests, convictions, or law enforcement, a statement shall be prepared by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority specifying the impact on racial and ethnic minorities. If a bill concerns corrections, sentencing, or the placement of individuals within the Department of Corrections, a statement shall be prepared by the Department of Corrections specifying the impact on racial and ethnic minorities. If a bill concerns local government, a statement shall be prepared by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity specifying the impact on racial and ethnic minorities. If a bill concerns education, one of the following agencies shall prepare a statement specifying the impact on racial and ethnic minorities: (i) the Illinois Community Colleges Board, if the bill affects community colleges; (ii) the Illinois State Board of Education, if the bill affects primary and secondary education; or (iii) the Illinois Board of Higher Education, if the bill affects State universities. Any other State agency impacted or responsible for implementing all or part of this bill shall prepare a statement of the racial and ethnic impact of the bill as it relates to that agency.

Section 15. Requisites and contents. The note shall be factual in nature, as brief and concise as may be, and, in addition, it shall include both the immediate effect and, if determinable or reasonably foreseeable, the long range effect of the measure on racial and ethnic minorities. If, after careful investigation, it is determined that such an effect is not ascertainable, the note shall contain a statement to that effect, setting forth the reasons why no ascertainable effect can be given.

Section 20. Comment or opinion; technical or mechanical defects. No comment or opinion shall be included in the racial impact note with regard to the merits of the measure for which the racial impact note is prepared; however, technical or mechanical defects may be noted.

Section 25. Appearance of State officials and employees in support or opposition of measure. The fact that a racial impact note is prepared for any bill or proposed rule shall not preclude or restrict the appearance before any committee of the General Assembly of any official or authorized employee of the responding agency or agencies, or any other impacted State agency, who desires to be heard in support of or in opposition to the measure.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.