Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.

Filed: 3/18/2021

 

 


 

 


 
10200HB0384ham001LRB102 03968 JWD 23907 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 384

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 384 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois Forensic Science Commission Act.
 
6    Section 5. The Department of State Police Law of the Civil
7Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section
82605-615 as follows:
 
9    (20 ILCS 2605/2605-615 new)
10    Sec. 2605-615. Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
11    (a) Creation. There is created within the Illinois State
12Police the Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
13    (b) Duties and purpose. The Commission shall:
14        (1) Provide guidance to ensure the efficient delivery
15    of forensic services and the sound practice of forensic

 

 

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1    science.
2        (2) Provide a forum for discussions between forensic
3    science stakeholders to improve communication and
4    coordination and to monitor the important issues impacting
5    all stakeholders.
6        (3) Take a systems-based approach in reviewing all
7    aspects of the delivery of forensic services and the sound
8    practice of forensic science with the goal of reducing or
9    eliminating the factors and inefficiencies that contribute
10    to backlogs and errors, with a focus on education and
11    training, funding, hiring, procurement, and other aspects
12    identified by the Commission.
13        (4) Review significant non-conformities with the sound
14    practice of forensic science documented by each
15    publicly-funded forensic laboratory and offer
16    recommendations for the correction thereof.
17        (5) Subject to appropriation, provide educational,
18    research, and professional training opportunities for
19    practicing forensic scientists, police officers, judges,
20    State's Attorneys and Assistant State's Attorneys, Public
21    Defenders, and defense attorneys comporting with the sound
22    practice of forensic science.
23        (6) Collect and analyze information related to the
24    impact of current laws, rules, policies, and practices on
25    forensic crime laboratories and the practice of forensic
26    science; evaluate the impact of those laws, rules,

 

 

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1    policies, and practices on forensic crime laboratories and
2    the practice of forensic science; identify new policies
3    and approaches, together with changes in science, and
4    technology; and make recommendations for changes to those
5    laws, rules, policies, and practices that will yield
6    better results in the criminal justice system consistent
7    with the sound practice of forensic science.
8        (7) Perform such other studies or tasks pertaining to
9    forensic crime laboratories as may be requested by the
10    General Assembly by resolution or the Governor, and
11    perform such other functions as may be required by law or
12    as are necessary to carry out the purposes and goals of the
13    Commission prescribed in this Section.
14        (8) Ensure that adequate resources and facilities are
15    available for carrying out the changes proposed in
16    legislation, rules, or policies and that rational
17    priorities are established for the use of those resources.
18    To do so, the Commission may prepare statements to the
19    Governor and General Assembly identifying the fiscal and
20    practical effects of proposed legislation, rules, or
21    policy changes, Such statements may include, but are not
22    limited to: the impact on present levels of staffing and
23    resources; a professional opinion on the practical value
24    of the change or changes; the increase or decrease the
25    number of crime laboratories; the increase or decrease the
26    cost of operating crime laboratories; the impact on

 

 

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1    efficiencies and caseloads; other information, including
2    but not limited to, facts, data, research, and science
3    relevant to the legislation, rule, or policy; the direct
4    or indirect alteration in any process involving or used by
5    crime laboratories of such proposed legislation, rules, or
6    policy changes; an analysis of the impact, either directly
7    or indirectly, on the technology, improvements, or
8    practices of forensic analyses for use in criminal
9    proceedings; together with the direct or indirect impact
10    on headcount, space, equipment, instruments,
11    accreditation, the volume of cases for analysis,
12    scientific controls, and quality assurance.
13    (c) Members. The Commission shall be composed of the
14Director of the Illinois State Police, or his or her designee,
15together with the following members appointed by the Governor
16with the advice and consent of the Senate:
17        (1) One crime laboratory director or administrator
18    from each publicly-funded forensic laboratory system.
19        (2) One member with experience in the admission of
20    forensic evidence in trials from a statewide association
21    representing prosecutors.
22        (3) One member with experience in the admission of
23    forensic evidence in trials from a statewide association
24    representing criminal defense attorneys.
25        (4) Three forensic scientists with bench work
26    background from various forensic disciplines (e.g., DNA,

 

 

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1    chemistry, pattern evidence, etc.).
2        (5) One retired circuit court judge or associate
3    circuit court judge with criminal trial experience,
4    including experience in the admission of forensic evidence
5    in trials.
6        (6) One academic specializing in the field of forensic
7    sciences.
8        (7) One or more community representatives (e.g.,
9    victim advocates, innocence project organizations, sexual
10    assault examiners, etc.).
11    Of the initial appointments, the Governor shall appoint
12half of the members for terms of 2 years and half of the
13members for terms of 4 years. Thereafter, all members shall be
14appointed for terms of 4 years.
15    The Governor shall designate one of the members of the
16Commission to serve as the chair of the Commission. The
17members of the Commission shall elect from their number such
18other officers as they may determine. Members of the
19Commission shall serve without compensation, but may be
20reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance
21of their duties from funds appropriated for that purpose.
22    (d) Subcommittees. The Commission may form subcommittees
23to study specific issues identified under paragraph (3) of
24subsection (b), including, but not limited to, subcommittees
25on education and training, procurement, funding and hiring. Ad
26hoc subcommittees may also be convened to address other

 

 

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1issues. Such subcommittees shall meet as needed to complete
2their work, and shall report their findings back to the
3Commission. Subcommittees shall include members of the
4Commission, and may also include non-members such as forensic
5science stakeholders and subject matter experts.
6    (e) Meetings. The Commission shall meet quarterly, at the
7call of the chairperson. Facilities for meeting, whether
8remotely or in person, shall be provided for the Commission by
9the Illinois State Police.
10    (f) Reporting by publicly-funded forensic laboratories.
11All State and local publicly-funded forensic laboratory
12systems, including, but not limited to, the DuPage County
13Forensic Science Center, the Northeastern Illinois Regional
14Crime Laboratory, and the Illinois State Police, shall
15annually provide to the Commission a report summarizing its
16significant non-conformities with the efficient delivery of
17forensic services and the sound practice of forensic science.
18The report will identify: each significant non-conformity or
19deficient method; how the non-conformity or deficient method
20was detected; the nature and extent of the non-conformity or
21deficient method; all corrective actions implemented to
22address the non-conformity or deficient method; and an
23analysis of the effectiveness of the corrective actions taken.
24    (g) Definition. As used in this Section, "Commission"
25means the Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
 

 

 

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1    Section 60. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
2amended by adding Sections 111-9 and 116-6 as follows:
 
3    (725 ILCS 5/111-9 new)
4    Sec. 111-9. Notification to forensic laboratories. Unless
5the Supreme Court shall by Rule provide otherwise, upon
6disposition, withdrawal, or dismissal of any charge, the
7State's Attorney shall promptly notify the forensic laboratory
8or laboratories in possession of evidence, reports, or other
9materials or information related to that charge. Notification
10may be given by any reasonable means under the circumstances,
11including, but not limited to, the Illinois State Police
12Laboratory Information Management System, email, or telephone.
 
13    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14becoming law.".