Cook County Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee met Oct. 23.
Here is the agenda provided by the committee:
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Authorization as a public speaker shall only be granted to those individuals who have submitted in writing, their name, address, subject matter, and organization (if any) to the Secretary 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Duly authorized public speakers shall be called upon to deliver testimony at a time specified in the meeting agenda. Authorized public speakers who are not present during the specified time for public testimony will forfeit their allotted time to speak at the meeting. Public testimony must be germane to a specific item(s) on the meeting agenda, and the testimony must not exceed three minutes; the Secretary will keep track of the time and advise when the time for public testimony has expired. Persons authorized to provide public testimony shall not use vulgar, abusive, or otherwise inappropriate language when addressing the Board; failure to act appropriately; failure to speak to an item that is germane to the meeting, or failure to adhere to the time requirements may result in expulsion from the meeting and/or disqualify the person from providing future testimony.
19-6266
COMMITTEE MINUTES
Approval of the minutes from the meeting of 09/25/2019
19-4745
Presented by: TONI PRECKWINKLE, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
PROPOSED APPOINTMENT
Appointee(s): Samuel Jones
Position: Board Member
Department/Board/Commission: Justice Advisory Council
Effective date: Immediate
Expiration date: 7/25/2023, or until a successor is duly appointed and qualified
Legislative History : 7/25/19 - Board of Commissioners - refer to the Legislation and Intergovernmenta
Legislative History : 9/4/19 - Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee - recommend for
Legislative History : 9/25/19 - Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee - recommend fo
19-5836
Sponsored by: BRIDGET DEGNEN and DENNIS DEER, Cook County Board of Commissioners
PROPOSED APPOINTMENT
Appointee(s): George Cardenas
Position: Mayoral Representative
Department/Board/Commission: Cook County Environmental Commission
Effective date: Immediately
Expiration date: October 17, 2021
Legislative History : 9/26/19 - Board of Commissioners - refer to the Legislation and Intergovernmenta
19-5620
Sponsored by: SCOTT R. BRITTON, KEVIN B. MORRISON, ALMA E. ANAYA, LUIS ARROYO JR, JOHN P. DALEY, DENNIS DEER, BRIDGET DEGNEN, BRIDGET GAINER, BRANDON JOHNSON, BILL LOWRY, DONNA MILLER, STANLEY MOORE, SEAN M. MORRISON, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS and LARRY SUFFREDIN, Cook County Board of Commissioners
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
VOTING OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSLATION EQUITY ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, Cook County is committed to the values of equity, engagement, and excellence; and
WHEREAS, 35% of residents of Cook County speak a language other than English at home; and
WHEREAS, research suggests that civic engagement is a significant predictor of economic opportunity across states; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress found in Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, P.L. 94-73, 42 U.S.C. §1973aa-la, that, "through the use of various practices and procedures, citizens of language minorities have been effectively excluded from participation in the electoral process;" and
WHEREAS, Cook County complies with the Voting Rights Act, which dictates which languages are translated for ballots and voting materials; and
WHEREAS, the Voting Rights Act has not been updated since 1992, and only requires that covered states or political subdivisions translate voting materials in English and for persons of American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Native or Spanish heritage who meet a threshold of 10,000 or more limited English speakers. Additionally, state or political subdivisions are only required to evaluate these numbers every ten years following the decennial census.
WHEREAS, research shows that targeted minority language voting materials and related outreach can improve voter turnout. According to a report by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, after coverage provided under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was expanded in 1992, the number of Asian Americans registered to vote increased dramatically. As cited in the journal Legislation and Public Policy vol. 10:195 2006, "in covered areas where the Department of Justice brought section 203 enforcement actions, participation not only in voting but in running for political office increased dramatically;" and
WHEREAS, Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act allows voters who need assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of the employer or officer or agent of the voter's union; andWHEREAS, the Cook County Clerk serves as the chief election authority for the entire county, one of the largest election jurisdictions in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the right to vote is a fundamental principle of our democracy; and
NOW, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 22- Elections, Article III, Language Access in Elections, Sections 22-35 through 22-41 of the Cook County Code, is hereby enacted as follows:
ARTICLE III. LANGUAGE ACCESS IN ELECTIONS
Section 22-35 - Short Title
This article shall be known and may be cited as the Cook County Language Access in Elections Ordinance ("Ordinance").
Section 22-36 - Definitions
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Voting Materials is defined to include, but is not limited to:
(1) Voter registration notices, voter registration forms, mail-in ballot request applications, voter registration instructions and new voter guides, to the extent that these materials are not already provided in the required language by the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State;
(2) Print and audio ballot instruction, electronic ballot and kiosk instructions, and all other directions;
(3) Local voters' pamphlets and guides, on-site instructions, rules and procedures including but not limited to individual translator and disability accommodations as required by section 208 of the federal Voting Rights Amendment; and
(4) Information on the Office of the Cook County Clerk’s website and online properties which pertain, in any way or tangentially, to the elections, including but not limited to early and regular poll locations and instructions as well as information on current elections, candidates and elected officials, working on election day, ways to vote, and registering to vote;
Fully Translated Ballot is defined as printed, electronic and audio ballots, sample ballots, mail-in ballots, and all referendums, questions or votes therein;
Signage is defined to include, but are not limited to:
(1) Signs at polling places on days of early voting or election day;
(2) Directional, instructional or informational signs;
(3) Name tags and other election judge and poll work identification; and
(4) Language assistance signs and instructions.
Section 22-37 - Policy
(a) By March 1, 2020 and at least every three years thereafter, the Office of the Cook County Clerk or their designee shall review data on limited-English-proficient populations in Cook County and shall determine, in consultation with community leaders of limited-English-proficient populations, each single language that has thirteen thousand or more limited-English-proficient Cook County residents. The Office of the Cook County Clerk will then provide a fully translated ballot, both electronically and paper, and all translated voting materials in those determined languages in the following elections unless it is determined in a future evaluation that the group does not reach that threshold.
(b) By March 1, 2020 and at least every three years thereafter, the Office of the Cook County Clerk or their designee shall review data on limited-English-proficient populations in Cook County and shall determine, in consultation with community leaders of limited-English-proficient populations, each single language that has ten thousand or more limited-English-proficient Cook County residents. The Office of the Cook County Clerk will then provide all translated voting materials in those determined languages in the following elections unless it is determined in a future evaluation that the group does not reach that threshold.
(c) The Office of the Cook County Clerk shall make this determination by referring to the best available data from the United States Census Bureau or other sources the Clerk considers relevant and reliable. The Cook County Clerk shall file a report of this determination per Section 22-39 [Reporting].
(d) For all elections administered by the Office of the Cook County Clerk, the Clerk shall prepare voting materials and a fully translated ballot where applicable, to the extent not already provided by the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, in languages determined through the process described in Section 22-39 [Reporting] of this ordinance, in addition to those languages required by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, P.L. 94-73, 42 U.S.C. §1973aa-la, and those languages for which Cook County is covered in the Federal Register of Covered Areas for Voting Rights Bilingual Election Materials.
Section 22-38 - Scope
(a) This ordinance applies to voting materials and fully translated ballots for the elections of 2020 and every election thereafter.
Section 22-39 - Reporting
(a) The Cook County Clerk shall summit a report annually, or add to the existing Cook County Post Election Report, data and information related to language access at the ballot including, but not limited to:
(1) The number of sample ballot requests and distributions in each language other than English, by precinct;
(2) The number of ballots submitted, including Early Voting, Election Day Voting, and Mail-in Ballots, in each language other than English, by precinct;
(3) Voting material requests and distributions, as applicable, in each language other than English, by precinct where applicable.
(4) Voter assistance requests and provided in each language other than English, by precinct; and
(5) Bilingual poll workers required and recruited in each language other than English, by precinct.
(b) The Office of the Cook County Clerk shall file a report with the Cook County Board of Commissioners with a determination of the languages that have ten thousand or more limited-English-proficient Cook County residents and the supporting analysis and the languages that have thirteen thousand or more limited-English-proficient Cook County residents and the supporting analysis. This determination shall be made based on a review of data on limited-English-proficient populations in Cook County and in consultation with community leaders of limited-English-proficient populations and appropriate budgetary and other offices under the president, and also by referring to the best available data from the United States Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, voter registration and language assistance requests for materials in languages other than English, or other sources the Clerk considers relevant and reliable.
(1) The Office of the County Clerk shall file a report with the Cook County Board as above described, by March 1, 2020, and at least every three years thereafter.
(2) The Office of the County Clerk shall file the report in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the Secretary of the Board of Commissioners, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to the Office of the President and all Board of Commissioners members. The Office of the Cook County Clerk shall also ensure that the report, along with underlying data and analysis, be made available and accessible online.
(3) Beginning in the first election after the Office of the Cook County Clerk files the report as required by Section 22-39, Subsection B [Reporting] of this ordinance, the Office of the County Clerk shall provide all voting materials, signage, and fully translated ballots as required within this ordinance in all languages determined in the above-described triannual report as well as those required by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, P.L. 94-73, 42 U.S.C. §1973aa-la.
(4) Beginning in the first election after the Office of the Cook County Clerk files the report as required by Section 22-39, Subsection B [Reporting] of this ordinance, the Office of the Cook County Clerk shall post on the county elections website the polling places that will have translated ballots, sample ballots and/or bilingual poll workers and translate this content into the relevant languages.
Section 22-40 - Operations
(a) At all applicable poll locations on days of early voting and on election day, as required by this ordinance, ensure that:
(1) Bilingual poll workers wear badges that identify the languages they speak, translated in the languages that they speak;
(2) A “language assistance sign” is posted or located on the main table at each polling place staffed by bilingual poll workers that identifies the languages spoken by the poll workers present; and that sign should be translated into the relevant languages;
(3) A sign is posted at each voting booth reading, “Do you want to see a sample ballot in [insert language]? Ask a poll worker for assistance;” and that sign should be translated into the relevant languages;
(4) A sign is clearly posted addressing the fact that voters may bring individuals with them to the polls to assist in voting as required by Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
(5) A “vote here” sign or other signage indicating the poll location be posted outside each polling location; and that sign should be translated into the relevant languages; and
(6) The language assistance hotline number is clearly posted; and that sign should be translated into the relevant languages.
(b) The Office of the Cook County Clerk shall make voting materials available to any resident of Cook County upon request of that person, and in addition shall make all necessary voting materials, including voter registration materials, mail-in ballot applications, and voter guides broadly available, including to Cook County offices and buildings. The Office of the Cook County Clerk shall make a best effort to broadly distribute the previously described voting materials to all offices of elected officials within Cook County, the offices of local municipal, township or county-wide government offices, the residents at the County jail, and through nonprofits and community organizations.
(c) The Office of the City Clerk may make best efforts to ensure a robust, multi-lingual and culturally competent outreach and community engagement program, including, but not limited to:
(1) Recruiting and retaining bilingual poll workers and election judges;
(2) Training all judges on cultural competency, language access rules and procedures, and that voters may bring individuals with them to the polls to assist in voting as required by Section 208 Voting Rights Act of 1965; and
(3) Working in partnership with community leaders and organizations serving limited-English proficiency communities to engage in outreach to educate residents on their rights, and language services offered, distribute voting materials and recruit bilingual election judges.
Section 22-41 - Other
(a) If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
(b) The Office of the County Clerk shall ensure that the cost of providing the materials and services described in this ordinance shall be considered a cost of elections.
This ordinance shall not be construed as creating any duty on the part of Cook County to any particular person or class of persons and the performance or non-performance of the duties specified herein shall not affect the validity of any election.
Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption
Legislative History : 9/26/19 - Board of Commissioners - refer to the Legislation and Intergovernmenta
19-5830
Sponsored by: LARRY SUFFREDIN, Cook County Board of Commissioners
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING A REVIEW OF COOK COUNTY POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN LIGHT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD AND THE GLOBAL STUDY ON CHILDREN DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY
WHEREAS, research shows that children prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system are more likely to reoffend than those held in the juvenile justice system; and
WHEREAS, until the beginning of the 20th century, courts tried children under the age of 18 in adult settings; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is home to the world’s first juvenile justice system, which arose from the belief that children should be removed from adult prison and receive a second chance; and
WHEREAS, Cook County consistently leads on protecting children and promoting their rights; and
WHEREAS, in the 1980s, the United States participated in a working group along with the nearly eighty other nations that drafted the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and
WHEREAS, on November 20, 1989, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with the specific purpose of promoting and protecting the well-being of all children, regardless of national boundaries; and
WHEREAS, the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been ratified by all U.N. nations, except the United States, making it the most widely ratified human rights document in history; and
WHEREAS, the United States formally signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995, signifying its intent to ratify the Convention; and
WHEREAS, November 20, 2019, marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2019, the United Nations will receive the first international report on the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty along with updated recommendations on when and under what conditions children should be detained and deprived of liberty; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is committed to continuing its global leadership in promoting justice for children and adolescents, ensuring that all its children receive every internationally recognized human right; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we call upon all government agencies in Cook County, in particular, those concerned with juvenile justice, to review their policies and practices in light of the recommendations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty.
Legislative History : 9/26/19 - Board of Commissioners - refer to the Legislation and Intergovernmenta
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