Bill Text: IL SR1076 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention. Directs the Task Force to conduct a comprehensive review of the legal and social consequences of sexual discrimination and harassment, in both the public and private sectors, and to study and make recommendations on combating sexual discrimination and harassment in Illinois, including in workplaces, in educational institutions, and in state and local government. Provides for the composition of the Task Force, and for appointment of members (who shall serve without compensation) within 10 days after the adoption of this resolution. Requires the Task Force to hold its initial meeting no later than December 15, 2017, and to report its recommendations, including proposed legislation and administrative rule changes no later than December 31, 2018.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 30-10)

Status: (Passed) 2017-11-09 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karen McConnaughay [SR1076 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SR1076-Introduced.html

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

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

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

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

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

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