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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The United States Congress passed the Brady
3Handgun Violence Prevention Act in 1993 that created the
4National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) among
5other things; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The National Instant Criminal Background Check
7System is the national system that enables federal firearms
8licensees to initiate a background check through the Federal
9Bureau of Investigation or a state point of contact to check
10all available records to identify persons who may be prohibited
11from receiving or possessing firearms; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Background checks are meant to ensure that people
13who are legally prohibited from owning, acquiring, or
14possessing firearms, such as criminals, mentally unstable
15individuals, or other persons enumerated in Section 8 of the
16Firearm Owners Identification Card Act are unable to do so; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Firearm Owners Identification Card background
18check information and the National Instant Criminal Background
19Check System are only as good as the information submitted by
20the courts and law enforcement; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The Firearm Owners Identification Card Act

 

 

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1requires the courts and the Department of State Police to fully
2comply with the requirements for reporting data submitted to
3the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and
 
4    WHEREAS, It is the duty of the Department of State Police
5to revoke and seize a Firearm Owners Identification Card from a
6person prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, as
7well as to ensure that such persons no longer possess any
8firearms or ammunition; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Serious gaps in adequately and timely reporting
10information have led to individuals possessing firearms and
11ammunition who were otherwise prohibited from doing so,
12resulting in significant harm to the public safety and welfare;
13and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates
15that, on average, about 3,000 people pass a NICS background
16check annually despite being prohibited under federal or state
17law from purchasing a firearm; and
 
18    WHEREAS, It is essential that the State improve the
19reporting of information to NICS to maximize the effectiveness
20of background check laws and otherwise ensure that felons and
21mentally unstable individuals do not have access to firearms;
22therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
3CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the National Instant
4Criminal Background Check System Compliance Task Force, which
5is charged with the following duties: (1) identify gaps in
6reporting structures and procedures, (2) develop strategies
7and recommendations for addressing those gaps, (3) conduct
8audits of records currently held by the Department of State
9Police, clerks of the circuit court, mental health agencies,
10and other relevant agencies or governmental bodies, (4)
11identify and recommend technological advancements to enhance
12the exchange of information and provide more accountability,
13and (5) identify potential grants and other methods of funding
14to ensure better coordination with the State of Illinois and
15the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and be
16it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the
18following members, who shall serve without compensation:
19        (1) Two members appointed by the President of the
20    Senate, one of whom shall serve as Chair;
21        (2) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House
22    of Representatives;
23        (3) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
24    Senate, one of whom is to be the Minority Spokesman;

 

 

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1        (4) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
2    House of Representatives;
3        (5) The Attorney General or his or her designee;
4        (6) The Director of State Police or his or her
5    designee;
6        (7) One member representing a statewide association
7    that advocates on behalf of firearm owners, appointed by
8    the President of the Senate;
9        (8) One member representing a statewide association
10    that advocates on behalf of firearm safety or violence
11    prevention, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
12    Representatives;
13        (9) One member representing a statewide association
14    that advocates on behalf of court clerks, appointed by the
15    Minority Leader of the Senate; and
16        (10) One member representing a statewide association
17    that advocates on behalf of sheriffs, appointed by the
18    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it
19    further
 
20    RESOLVED, That the Attorney General's office shall provide
21staff and administrative support to the Task Force; and be it
22further
 
23    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet at least four
24times; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall provide a final report
2to the General Assembly by July 1, 2020, and upon the filing of
3its report, is dissolved.