HB0681: CRIMINAL LAW-TECH

Legislative Summary

Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that any registered victim, including a person who has had a final, plenary, or non-emergency protective order granted under the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, or the Civil No Contact Order Act (rather than the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986) may present victim statements that the Prisoner Review Board shall consider in its deliberations. Provides that the Board shall immediately inform a victim of the early release of the prisoner from State custody or of the prisoner's pardon, commutation, furlough, or granting of sentence credit, if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Sets forth the requirements for the notification. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, prior to participating in their first vote of a calendar year, a member of the Board shall annually complete a training developed and administered by the entity administering the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, in consultation with the Department of Corrections. Provides that the Board shall provide a victim with notice of a preliminary hearing at least 72 hours prior to such hearing if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Amends the Open Parole Hearing Act. Requires the Board to make all en banc open meetings and all parole, aftercare release, and mandatory supervised release revocation hearings available to the public for live broadcast on the Board's website. Requires the broadcast recording of these hearings to remain available for public viewing on the Board's website for a minimum of 18 months. Specifies that, for all other public hearings of the Board, the Board may make meetings available to the public for live broadcast on the Board's website. Directs the Prisoner Review Board Task Force to report to the Governor and the General Assembly by July 1, 2025, on various subjects, including the medical release program and the broadcasting of other open meetings of the Board. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that a petition for an order of protection may not be denied upon the basis that the petitioner or the respondent is incarcerated in a penal institution at the time of the filing of the petition. Some provisions are effective immediately, and others are effective July 1, 2025.