SR1076LRB100 15515 JWD 30551 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In recent weeks more than 300 legislators,
3lobbyists, staffers, and policy-makers have signed an open
4letter acknowledging and condemning the culture of sexual
5harassment in Illinois politics and government; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The problem of sexual harassment extends far
7beyond government to limit women's professional and
8educational opportunities in virtually every arena, with
9recent reports of rampant sexual harassment in entertainment,
10the media, technology, academia, and more; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Sexual harassment imposes steep psychological,
12physical, and economic costs on victims, which have the effect
13of reducing women's economic opportunities and lifetime wages,
14driving women from the workplace, and discouraging women from
15public service; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Sexual harassment also imposes costs on the
17economy, businesses, and employers by causing decreased
18productivity, increased job turnover, reputational harm, and
19costly litigation; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Sexual harassment takes a toll not just on women
21but is also frequently directed toward men or can take the form

 

 

SR1076- 2 -LRB100 15515 JWD 30551 r

1of harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Sexual harassment is too often combined with and
4exacerbated by harassment or discrimination based on race,
5ethnicity, religion, disability status, or age, and therefore
6requires an intersectional approach; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has
8found that roughly three out of four people who experience
9harassment never report it because those who do report
10encounter disbelief, inaction, blame, or social or
11professional retaliation; and
 
12    WHEREAS, For too long Illinois has not provided victims of
13harassment with adequate recourse, allowing this culture of
14sexual harassment to go largely unchecked; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The members of the General Assembly recognize it
16is critical that this conversation continue in a productive and
17meaningful manner and that appropriate changes be made to
18maximize legal remedies and protections for those victimized by
19sexual discrimination and harassment; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is hereby created

 

 

SR1076- 3 -LRB100 15515 JWD 30551 r

1the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment
2Awareness and Prevention; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall conduct a comprehensive
4review of the legal and social consequences of sexual
5discrimination and harassment, in both the public and private
6sectors; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study and make
8recommendations on combating sexual discrimination and
9harassment in Illinois, including in workplaces, in
10educational institutions, and in State and local government;
11and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That within 10 days after the adoption of this
13resolution, members of the Task Force shall be appointed as
14follows:
15        (1) five legislative members appointed by the
16    President of the Senate, who shall reflect the gender,
17    racial, and ethnic diversity of the caucus appointing them;
18        (2) five legislative members appointed by the Minority
19    Leader of the Senate, who shall reflect the gender, racial,
20    and ethnic diversity of the caucus appointing them;
21        (3) two members from a Statewide association
22    representing women or working to advance civil rights,
23    appointed by the President of the Senate;

 

 

SR1076- 4 -LRB100 15515 JWD 30551 r

1        (4) two members from a Statewide association
2    representing women or working to advance civil rights,
3    appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;
4        (5) five members appointed by the President of the
5    Senate;
6        (6) five members appointed by the Minority Leader of
7    the Senate; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That 2 co-chairpersons, representing different
9political parties, shall be selected by the members of the Task
10Force; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That meetings of the Task Force shall be held as
12necessary to complete the duties of the Task Force and that the
13Task Force shall hold its initial meeting no later than
14December 15, 2017; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall permit any interested
16member of the Senate or private citizen to participate in
17meetings and provide ideas, thoughts, and recommendations; and
18be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, that the Task Force shall work in conjunction
20with any task force created by the House of Representatives for
21a similar purpose, and that both entities shall aspire to
22produce legislation to address the concerns and issues

 

 

SR1076- 5 -LRB100 15515 JWD 30551 r

1presented to the Task Force; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That the legislative caucuses shall provide
3administrative and other support to the Task Force; and be it
4further
 
5    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall receive
6no compensation for serving; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study and make
8recommendations regarding:
9        (1) best practices for preventing and responding to
10    sexual discrimination and harassment;
11        (2) proposed legislation or rule-making that would
12    improve the State's existing enforcement efforts to ensure
13    that institutions effectively prevent and respond to
14    sexual discrimination and harassment;
15        (3) increasing the transparency of the State's
16    enforcement activities concerning sexual discrimination
17    and harassment;
18        (4) evaluating the existing ethical, civil, and
19    criminal penalties for sexual discrimination and
20    harassment and determining whether they are sufficient and
21    what changes should be made;
22        (5) broadening public awareness of how to report sexual
23    discrimination and harassment and the remedies available

 

 

SR1076- 6 -LRB100 15515 JWD 30551 r

1    to victims;
2        (6) facilitating coordination among agencies engaged
3    in addressing sexual discrimination and harassment;
4        (7) any other issue related to reducing the incidence
5    of sexual discrimination and harassment or harassment in
6    other forms and protecting the rights of victims; and be it
7    further
 
8    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit a report with
9comprehensive recommendations to the General Assembly no later
10than December 31, 2018, provided that the Task Force is
11encouraged to produce interim reports.