Bill Text: IL SB0134 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Creates the Local Journalism Task Force Act. Establishes the Local Journalism Task Force, consisting of one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one member of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one member appointed by the Governor, and one representative of each of the following entities: the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University; the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois at Springfield; the School of Journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale; the Illinois Press Association; the Illinois Broadcasters Association; the Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association; the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council; and the Illinois Municipal League. Directs the Task Force to study communities underserved by local journalism and review all aspects of local journalism. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide administrative support. Provides that the Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations for legislation to the Governor and General Assembly. Provides that the Act is repealed 2 years after the effective date.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Passed) 2021-08-23 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 102-0569 [SB0134 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SB0134-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 102-0569
SB0134 Enrolled LRB102 15340 JLS 20697 b
AN ACT concerning journalism.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local
Journalism Task Force Act.
Section 5. Establishment. The Local Journalism Task Force
is established to:
(1) conduct a comprehensive, nonbinding study relative
to communities underserved by local journalism in
Illinois; and
(2) review all aspects of local journalism including,
but not limited to, the adequacy of press coverage of
communities, the ratio of residents to media outlets, the
history of local news in Illinois, print and digital
business models for media outlets, the impact of social
media on local news, strategies to improve local news
access, and public policy solutions to improve the
sustainability of local press business models and private
and nonprofit solutions.
Section 10. Membership. The Task Force shall consist of
the following 13 members: one member of the House of
Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of

Representatives; one member of the House of Representatives
appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives; one member of the Senate appointed by the
President of the Senate; one member of the Senate appointed by
the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member appointed by the
Governor; one representative of the Medill School of
Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at
Northwestern University; one representative of the Public
Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois at
Springfield; one representative of the School of Journalism at
Southern Illinois University Carbondale; one representative of
the Illinois Press Association; one representative of the
Illinois Broadcasters Association; one representative of the
Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association; one
representative of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council;
one representative of the Illinois News Broadcasters
Association; one representative of the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign; and one representative of the Illinois
Municipal League. Appointments shall be made no later than 30
days following the effective date of this Act.
Section 15. Meetings. The Task Force shall meet a minimum
of 5 times to review, study, and analyze existing literature
as well as quantitative and qualitative data on the status of
journalism in the State of Illinois.

Section 20. Support. The Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative and other
support to the Task Force.
Section 25. Findings and recommendations. The Task Force
shall submit its findings, along with its recommendations for
legislation, to the Governor and the General Assembly no later
than one year after the effective date of this Act.
Section 30. Repeal. This Act is repealed 2 years after the
effective date of this Act.