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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, There is currently a worldwide social and cultural
3campaign to raise awareness about sexual discrimination and
4harassment that has led both women and men to publicly report
5their experiences of widespread sexual discrimination and
6harassment; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The members of the General Assembly recognize it
8is critical to continue this conversation in a productive and
9meaningful manner and that legal remedies and protections for
10those victimized by sexual discrimination and harassment
11should be appropriately maximized; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there
14is created the Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and
15Harassment; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That that the Task Force shall conduct a
17comprehensive review of the legal and social consequences of
18sexual discrimination and harassment, in both the public and
19private sectors, and make recommendations to the General
20Assembly; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall, at a minimum, review

 

 

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1and produce recommendations concerning amendments to the legal
2definition of the terms "sexual discrimination" and "sexual
3harassment"; which behaviors should be legally actionable as
4sexual harassment; review and assess best practices to improve
5procedures for accepting sexual discrimination and harassment
6complaints, including methods to increase and improve
7reporting allegations of sexual harassment; the process and
8structure for reporting allegations to ethics officers,
9inspectors general, and others, and whether an independent
10third party should be assigned to handle complaints; necessary
11amendments to anti-retaliation and whistleblower protections
12for individuals making sexual discrimination or harassment
13complaints; the process for filing complaints with the
14Department of Human Rights; the process for filing civil
15complaints, including any applicable statute of limitations;
16legal remedies available to victims of sexual discrimination
17and harassment, including whether plaintiffs should be
18entitled to punitive damages; the need for a code of conduct
19and zero tolerance policies for units of government; the
20ability of complainants to seek independent counsel when
21reporting allegations; and the prevention of sexual
22discrimination and harassment in the public and private sector;
23and be it further
 
24    RESOLVED, That that the Task Force shall be comprised of
25members of the House of Representatives appointed by the

 

 

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1Speaker of the House of Representatives and House members
2appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
3Representatives, with each appointing no more than 20 members,
4and the Chair appointed by the Speaker, and any action of the
5Task Force shall be approved by a majority of those voting on
6the question; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall work in conjunction
8with any task force created by the Senate for a similar
9purpose, and that both entities shall aspire to produce
10legislation to address the concerns and issues presented to the
11Task Force; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall make recommendations to
13the General Assembly in the form of legislation, as well as a
14report to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2018,
15provided that the Task Force is encouraged to produce interim
16reports.