Public Act 096-1541
 
SB3976 EnrolledLRB096 24463 HLH 44167 b


  
    AN ACT concerning elections.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
Article 5.  ILLINOIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 2011

 
    Section 5-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the 
Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011.  All references in this 
Article to "this Act" mean this Article.
 
    Section 5-5. Redistricting.
    (a)  In any redistricting plan pursuant to Article IV, 
Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution, Legislative Districts 
and Representative Districts shall be drawn, subject to 
subsection (d) of this Section, to create crossover districts, 
coalition districts, or influence districts. The requirements 
imposed by this Article are in addition and subordinate to any 
requirements or obligations imposed by the United States 
Constitution, any federal law regarding redistricting 
Legislative Districts or Representative Districts, including 
but not limited to the federal Voting Rights Act, and the 
Illinois Constitution.
    (b)  The phrase "crossover district" means a district where 
a racial minority or language minority constitutes less than a 
majority of the voting-age population but where this minority, 
at least potentially, is large enough to elect the candidate of 
its choice with help from voters who are members of the 
majority and who cross over to support the minority's preferred 
candidate.  The phrase "coalition district"  means a district 
where more than one group of racial minorities or language 
minorities may form a coalition to elect the candidate of the 
coalition's choice.  The phrase "influence district" means a 
district where a racial minority or language minority can 
influence the outcome of an election even if its preferred 
candidate cannot be elected. 
    (c)  For purposes of this Act, the phrase "racial minorities 
or language minorities", in either the singular or the plural, 
means the same class of voters who are members of a race, 
color, or language minority group receiving protection under 
the federal Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973; 42 U.S.C. § 
1973b(f)(2); 42 U.S.C. § 1973aa-1a(e).
    (d)  Nothing in this Act shall be construed, applied, or 
implemented in a way that imposes any requirement or obligation 
that conflicts with the United States Constitution, any federal 
law regarding redistricting Legislative Districts or 
Representative Districts, including but not limited to the 
federal Voting Rights Act, or the Illinois Constitution.
    (e)   In the event of a violation of this Act, the 
redistricting plan shall be redrawn to the least extent 
necessary to remedy the violation.
 
Article 10.  REDISTRICTING TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC 
PARTICIPATION ACT

 
    Section 10-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the 
Redistricting Transparency and Public Participation Act.  All 
references in this Article to "this Act" mean this Article.
 
    Section 10-5. Committees; notices; hearings; public 
participation.
 In the year following each federal decennial 
census year, the Senate and House of Representatives shall each 
establish a committee, or the Senate and House of 
Representatives may create by joint resolution a joint 
committee of both chambers, to consider proposals to redistrict 
the Legislative Districts or Representative Districts, as 
applicable.  After the receipt of the federal decennial census 
data from the federal government, each committee or joint 
committee must conduct at least 4 public hearings statewide to 
receive testimony and inform the public on the applicable 
existing Districts, with one hearing held in each of 4 distinct 
geographic regions of the State determined by the respective 
committee.  All hearings shall be open to the public.  The 
Chairperson of each committee or the Co-Chairpersons of a joint 
committee, as applicable, shall, no later than 6 days before 
any proposed hearing, post a notice with the Secretary of the 
Senate, Clerk of the House, or both,  as applicable.  The notice 
shall identify any measure and subject matter that may be 
considered during that hearing.  The notice shall contain the 
day, hour, and place of the hearing.
 
Article 99.  EFFECTIVE DATE

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


Effective Date:  03/07/2011