Illinois § 10

§ 10.

Task force. (a) In this Section: "Higher education institution" means a public university, a public community college, or an independent, not-for-profit or for-profit higher education institution located in this State. "Sexual violence" means physical sexual acts attempted or perpetrated against a person's will or when a person is incapable of giving consent, including without limitation rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, and sexual coercion. (b) Each higher education institution shall either establish their own campus-wide task force or participate in a regional task force, as set out in this Section, on or before August 1, 2016. The task forces shall be composed of representatives of campus staff, campus students, community-based organizations, and law enforcement. The task forces shall work toward improving coordination between community leaders and service providers to prevent sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and to ensure a coordinated response both in terms of law enforcement and victim services. (1) The participants of the campus-wide task force shall consist of individuals, including campus staff, faculty, and students, selected by the president or chancellor of each higher education institution or the president's or chancellor's designee, which must include various stakeholders on the issue of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The president or chancellor of each higher education institution or the president's or chancellor's designee shall invite each of the following entities to identify an individual to serve on the campus-wide task force: (A) a community-based sexual assault crisis center; (B) a community-based domestic violence agency; (C) local law enforcement; and (D) the local State's Attorney's office. Each higher education institution may make available to members of the campus-wide task force training on (i) the awareness and prevention of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and communicating with and providing assistance to a student survivor of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; (ii) the higher education institution's comprehensive policy concerning sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; (iii) the provisions of federal and State law concerning survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking at higher education institutions; (iv) survivor-centered responses and the role of community-based advocates; (v) the role and functions of each member on such campus-wide task force for the purpose of ensuring a coordinated response to reported incidences of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; and (vi) trauma-informed responses to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The campus-wide task force shall meet at least 2 times per calendar year for the purpose of discussing and improving upon the following areas: (I) best practices as they relate to prevention, awareness, education, and response to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; (II) the higher education institution's comprehensive policy and procedures; and (III) collaboration and information-sharing among the higher education institution, community-based organizations, and law enforcement, including without limitation discussing memoranda of understanding, protocols, or other practices for cooperation. (2) Any regional task force in which a higher education institution participates shall have representatives from the following: higher education institutions, community-based sexual assault crisis centers and domestic violence organizations, and law enforcement agencies in the region, including, police, State's Attorney's offices, and other relevant law enforcement agencies. A higher education institution shall send appropriate designees, including faculty, staff, and students, to participate in the regional task force. The regional task force shall meet at least 2 times per calendar year for the purpose of discussing and improving upon the following areas: (A) best practices as they relate to prevention of, awareness of, education concerning, and the response to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; (B) sexual violence policies and procedures; and (C) collaboration and information-sharing among higher education institutions, community-based organizations, and law enforcement, including without limitation discussing memoranda of understanding, protocols, or other practices for cooperation. (Source: P.A. 99-426, eff. 8-21-15.)