Sec. 46b-151h. Interstate Compact for Juveniles. The Interstate Compact for
Juveniles is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with all jurisdictions
legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows:
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The compacting states to this Interstate Compact recognize that each state is responsible for the proper supervision or return of juveniles, delinquents and status offenders
who are on probation or parole and who have absconded, escaped or run away from
supervision and control and in so doing have endangered their own safety and the safety
of others. The compacting states also recognize that each state is responsible for the
safe return of juveniles who have run away from home and in doing so have left their
state of residence. The compacting states also recognize that Congress, by enacting the
Crime Control Act, 4 USC Section 112 (1965), has authorized and encouraged compacts
for cooperative efforts and mutual assistance in the prevention of crime.
It is the purpose of this compact, through means of joint and cooperative action among
the compacting states to: (A) Ensure that the adjudicated juveniles and status offenders
subject to this compact are provided adequate supervision and services in the receiving
state as ordered by the adjudicating judge or parole authority in the sending state; (B)
ensure that the public safety interests of the citizens, including the victims of juvenile
offenders, in both the sending and receiving states are adequately protected; (C) return
juveniles who have run away, absconded or escaped from supervision or control or have
been accused of an offense to the state requesting their return; (D) make contracts for
the cooperative institutionalization in public facilities in member states for delinquent
youth needing special services; (E) provide for the effective tracking and supervision
of juveniles; (F) equitably allocate the costs, benefits and obligations of the compacting
states; (G) establish procedures to manage the movement between states of juvenile
offenders released to the community under the jurisdiction of courts, juvenile departments, or any other criminal or juvenile justice agency which has jurisdiction over juvenile offenders; (H) ensure immediate notice to jurisdictions where defined offenders
are authorized to travel or to relocate across state lines; (I) establish procedures to resolve
pending charges (detainers) against juvenile offenders prior to transfer or release to the
community under the terms of this compact; (J) establish a system of uniform data
collection on information pertaining to juveniles subject to this compact that allows
access by authorized juvenile justice and criminal justice officials, and regular reporting
of compact activities to heads of state executive, judicial and legislative branches and
juvenile and criminal justice administrators; (K) monitor compliance with rules governing interstate movement of juveniles and initiate interventions to address and correct
noncompliance; (L) coordinate training and education regarding the regulation of interstate movement of juveniles for officials involved in such activity; and (M) coordinate
the implementation and operation of the compact with the Interstate Compact for the
Placement of Children, the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision and other
compacts affecting juveniles particularly in those cases where concurrent or overlapping
supervision issues arise. It is the policy of the compacting states that the activities conducted by the Interstate Commission created herein are the formation of public policies
and therefore are public business. Furthermore, the compacting states shall cooperate
and observe their individual and collective duties and responsibilities for the prompt
return and acceptance of juveniles subject to the provisions of this compact. The provisions of this compact shall be reasonably and liberally construed to accomplish the
purposes and policies of the compact.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:
A. "Bylaws" means those bylaws established by the Interstate Commission for its
governance, or for directing or controlling its actions or conduct.
B. "Compact administrator" means the individual in each compacting state appointed pursuant to the terms of this compact, responsible for the administration and
management of the state's supervision and transfer of juveniles subject to the terms of
this compact, the rules adopted by the Interstate Commission and policies adopted by
the State Council under this compact.
C. "Compacting state" means any state which has enacted the enabling legislation
for this compact.
D. "Commissioner" means the voting representative of each compacting state appointed pursuant to Article III of this compact.
E. "Court" means any court having jurisdiction over delinquent, neglected or dependent children.
F. "Deputy compact administrator" means the individual, if any, in each compacting
state appointed to act on behalf of a compact administrator pursuant to the terms of this
compact responsible for the administration and management of the state's supervision
and transfer of juveniles subject to the terms of this compact, the rules adopted by the
Interstate Commission and policies adopted by the State Council under this compact.
G. "Interstate Commission" means the Interstate Commission for Juveniles created
by Article III of this compact.
H. "Juvenile" means any person defined as a juvenile in any compacting state or
by the rules of the Interstate Commission, including:
(1) Accused Delinquent: A person charged with an offense that, if committed by
an adult, would be a criminal offense;
(2) Adjudicated Delinquent: A person found to have committed an offense that, if
committed by an adult, would be a criminal offense;
(3) Accused Status Offender: A person charged with an offense that would not be
a criminal offense if committed by an adult;
(4) Adjudicated Status Offender: A person found to have committed an offense that
would not be a criminal offense if committed by an adult; and
(5) Non-Offender: A person in need of supervision who has not been accused or
adjudicated a status offender or delinquent.
I. "Non-compacting state" means any state which has not enacted the enabling legislation for this compact.
J. "Probation or parole" means any kind of supervision or conditional release of
juveniles authorized under the laws of the compacting states.
K. "Rule" means a written statement by the Interstate Commission promulgated
pursuant to Article VI of this compact that is of general applicability and implements,
interprets or prescribes a policy or provision of the compact, or an organizational, procedural or practice requirement of the Interstate Commission, and has the force and effect
of statutory law in a compacting state, and includes the amendment, repeal or suspension
of an existing rule.
L. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia or its designee,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa and the Northern Marianas Islands.
ARTICLE III
INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR JUVENILES
A. The compacting states hereby create the "Interstate Commission for Juveniles".
The Interstate Commission shall be a body corporate and joint agency of the compacting
states. The Interstate Commission shall have all the responsibilities, powers and duties
set forth in this compact, and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by
subsequent action of the respective legislatures of the compacting states in accordance
with the terms of this compact.
B. The Interstate Commission shall consist of commissioners appointed by the appropriate appointing authority in each state pursuant to the rules and requirements of
each compacting state and in consultation with the State Council for Interstate Juvenile
Supervision created under Article IX of this compact. The commissioner shall be the
compact administrator, deputy compact administrator or designee from that state who
shall serve on the Interstate Commission in such capacity under or pursuant to the applicable law of the compacting state.
C. In addition to the commissioners who are the voting representatives of each state,
the Interstate Commission shall include individuals who are not commissioners, but
who are members of interested organizations. Such non-commissioner members must
include a member of the national organizations of governors, legislators, state chief
justices and attorneys general; representatives of the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision and the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children; juvenile
justice and juvenile corrections officials; and crime victims. All non-commissioner
members of the Interstate Commission shall be ex-officio, nonvoting, members. The
Interstate Commission may provide in its bylaws for such additional ex-officio, nonvoting, members, including members of other national organizations, in such numbers as
shall be determined by the Interstate Commission.
D. Each compacting state represented at any meeting of the Interstate Commission
is entitled to one vote. A majority of the compacting states shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the
Interstate Commission.
E. The Interstate Commission shall meet at least once each calendar year. The chairperson may call additional meetings and, upon the request of a simple majority of the
compacting states, shall call additional meetings. Public notice shall be given of all
meetings and meetings shall be open to the public.
F. The Interstate Commission shall establish an executive committee, which shall
include Interstate Commission officers, members and others as determined by the bylaws. The executive committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Interstate
Commission during periods when the Interstate Commission is not in session, with the
exception of rulemaking or amendment to the compact. The executive committee shall
oversee the day-to-day activities of the administration of the compact managed by an
executive director and Interstate Commission staff; administer enforcement and compliance with the provisions of the compact and the bylaws and rules of the Interstate Commission, and perform such other duties as directed by the Interstate Commission or set
forth in the bylaws.
G. Each member of the Interstate Commission shall have the right and power to
cast a vote to which that compacting state is entitled and to participate in the business
and affairs of the Interstate Commission. A member shall vote in person and shall not
delegate a vote to another compacting state, except that, a commissioner, in consultation
with the state council, shall appoint another authorized representative, in the absence
of the commissioner from that state, to cast a vote on behalf of the compacting state at
a specified meeting. The bylaws may provide for members' participation in meetings
by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication.
H. The Interstate Commission's bylaws shall establish conditions and procedures
under which the Interstate Commission shall make its information and official records
available to the public for inspection or copying. The Interstate Commission may exempt
from disclosure any information or official records to the extent they would adversely
affect personal privacy rights or proprietary interests.
I. Public notice shall be given of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to the
public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in the compact. The
Interstate Commission and any of its committees may close a meeting to the public if
it determines by two-thirds vote that an open meeting would be likely to:
1. Relate solely to the Interstate Commission's internal personnel practices and
procedures;
2. Disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by statute;
3. Disclose trade secrets or commercial or financial information which is privileged
or confidential;
4. Involve accusing any person of a crime, or formally censuring any person;
5. Disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
6. Disclose investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes;
7. Disclose information contained in or related to examination, operating or condition reports prepared by, or on behalf of or for the use of, the Interstate Commission
with respect to a regulated person or entity for the purpose of regulation or supervision
of such person or entity;
8. Disclose information, the premature disclosure of which would significantly endanger the stability of a regulated person or entity; or
9. Specifically relate to the Interstate Commission's issuance of a subpoena, or its
participation in a civil action or other legal proceeding.
J. For every meeting closed pursuant to paragraph I of this article, the Interstate
Commission's legal counsel shall publicly certify that, in the legal counsel's opinion,
the meeting may be closed to the public, and shall reference each relevant exemptive
provision. The Interstate Commission shall keep minutes which shall fully and clearly
describe all matters discussed in any meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of any actions taken, and the reasons therefor, including a description of each of
the views expressed on any item and the record of any roll call vote, reflected in the
vote of each member on the question. All documents considered in connection with any
action shall be identified in such minutes.
K. The Interstate Commission shall collect standardized data concerning the interstate movement of juveniles as directed through its rules which shall specify the data
to be collected, the means of collection and data exchange and reporting requirements.
Such methods of data collection, exchange and reporting shall insofar as is reasonably
possible conform to up-to-date technology and coordinate its information functions with
the appropriate repository of records.
ARTICLE IV
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
The Interstate Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
1. To provide for dispute resolution among compacting states.
2. To promulgate rules to effect the purposes and obligations as enumerated in this
compact, which shall have the force and effect of statutory law and shall be binding in
the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in this compact.
3. To oversee, supervise and coordinate the interstate movement of juveniles subject
to the terms of this compact and any bylaws adopted and rules promulgated by the
Interstate Commission.
4. To enforce compliance with the compact provisions, the rules promulgated by
the Interstate Commission and the bylaws, using all necessary and proper means including, but not limited to, the use of judicial process.
5. To establish and maintain offices which shall be located within one or more of
the compacting states.
6. To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds.
7. To borrow, accept, hire or contract for services of personnel.
8. To establish and appoint committees and hire staff which it deems necessary for
the carrying out of its functions including, but not limited to, an executive committee
as required by Article III of this compact which shall have the power to act on behalf
of the Interstate Commission in carrying out the powers and duties of the Interstate
Commission under this compact.
9. To elect or appoint such officers, attorneys, employees, agents or consultants,
and to fix their compensation, define their duties and determine their qualifications; and
to establish the Interstate Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to,
among other things, conflicts of interest, rates of compensation and qualifications of
personnel.
10. To accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies,
materials and services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of such money, equipment,
supplies, materials and services.
11. To lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations of, or otherwise own, hold,
improve or use any property, whether real, personal or mixed.
12. To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, whether real, personal or mixed.
13. To establish a budget and make expenditures and levy dues as provided in Article
VIII of this compact.
14. To sue and be sued.
15. To adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and operation of the
Interstate Commission.
16. To perform such functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the
purposes of this compact.
17. To report annually to the legislatures, governors, judiciary and state councils
of the compacting states concerning the activities of the Interstate Commission during
the preceding year. Such reports shall also include any recommendations that may have
been adopted by the Interstate Commission.
18. To coordinate education, training and public awareness regarding the interstate
movement of juveniles for officials involved in such activity.
19. To establish uniform standards for the reporting, collecting and exchanging
of data.
20. To maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the bylaws.
ARTICLE V
ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION
OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
Section A. Bylaws
1. The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of the members present and voting, within twelve months after the first Interstate Commission meeting, adopt bylaws
to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of
the compact, including, but not limited to:
a. Establishing the fiscal year of the Interstate Commission;
b. Establishing an executive committee and such other committees as may be necessary;
c. Providing for the establishment of committees governing any general or specific
delegation of any authority or function of the Interstate Commission;
d. Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the Interstate Commission, and ensuring reasonable notice of each such meeting;
e. Establishing the titles and responsibilities of the officers of the Interstate Commission;
f. Providing a mechanism for concluding the operations of the Interstate Commission and the return of any surplus funds that may exist upon the termination of the
compact after the payment or reserving of all of its debts and obligations;
g. Providing start-up rules for initial administration of the compact; and
h. Establishing standards and procedures for compliance and technical assistance
in carrying out the compact.
Section B. Officers and Staff
1. The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of the members, elect annually
from among its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson, each of whom shall have
such authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws. The chairperson or, in the
chairperson's absence or disability, the vice-chairperson shall preside at all meetings
of the Interstate Commission. The officers so elected shall serve without compensation
or remuneration from the Interstate Commission; provided that, subject to the availability of budgeted funds, the officers shall be reimbursed for any ordinary and necessary
costs and expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as officers of the Interstate Commission.
2. The Interstate Commission shall, through its executive committee, appoint or
retain an executive director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for
such compensation as the Interstate Commission may deem appropriate. The executive
director shall serve as secretary to the Interstate Commission, but shall not be a member
and shall hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the Interstate
Commission.
Section C. Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification
1. The Interstate Commission's executive director and employees shall be immune
from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for
damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising
out of or relating to any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that
such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate
Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that any such person
shall not be protected from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused
by the intentional or wilful and wanton misconduct of any such person.
2. The liability of any commissioner, or the employee or agent of a commissioner,
acting within the scope of such person's employment or duties for acts, errors or omissions occurring within such person's state may not exceed the limits of liability set forth
under the Constitution and laws of that state for state officials, employees and agents.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or
liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional or wilful and
wanton misconduct of any such person.
3. The Interstate Commission shall defend the executive director or the representatives or employees of the Interstate Commission and, subject to the approval of the
Attorney General of the state represented by any commissioner of a compacting state,
shall defend such commissioner or the commissioner's representatives or employees in
any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error
or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties
or responsibilities, or that the defendant had a reasonable basis for believing occurred
within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from intentional or
wilful and wanton misconduct on the part of such person.
4. The Interstate Commission shall indemnify and hold the commissioner of a compacting state, or the commissioner's representatives or employees, or the Interstate Commission's representatives or employees, harmless in the amount of any settlement or
judgment obtained against such persons arising out of any actual or alleged act, error
or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties
or responsibilities, or that such persons had a reasonable basis for believing occurred
within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from intentional or
wilful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons.
ARTICLE VI
RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
A. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate and publish rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of the compact.
B. Rulemaking shall occur pursuant to the criteria set forth in this article and the
bylaws and rules adopted pursuant to this article. Such rulemaking shall substantially
conform to the principles of the "Model State Administrative Procedures Act", 1981
Act, Uniform Laws Annotated, Vol. 15, p. 1 (2000), or such other administrative procedures act, as the Interstate Commission deems appropriate consistent with due process
requirements under the United States Constitution as now or hereafter interpreted by
the United States Supreme Court. All rules and amendments shall become binding as
of the date specified, as published with the final version of the rule as approved by the
Interstate Commission.
C. When promulgating a rule, the Interstate Commission shall, at a minimum:
1. Publish the proposed rule's entire text stating the reason or reasons for that proposed rule;
2. Allow and invite any and all persons to submit written data, facts, opinions and
arguments, which information shall be added to the record, and be made publicly
available;
3. Provide an opportunity for an informal hearing if petitioned by ten or more persons; and
4. Promulgate a final rule and its effective date, if appropriate, based on comment
from state or local officials and other interested parties.
D. Not later than sixty days after a rule is promulgated, any interested person may
file a petition in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the
federal district court where the Interstate Commission's principal office is located for
judicial review of such rule. If the court finds that the Interstate Commission's action
is not supported by substantial evidence in the rulemaking record, the court shall hold
the rule unlawful and set it aside. For purposes of this subsection, evidence is substantial
if it would be considered substantial evidence under the Model State Administrative
Procedures Act.
E. If a majority of the legislatures of the compacting states rejects a rule, those states
may, by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the
compact, cause that such rule shall have no further force and effect in any compacting state.
F. The existing rules governing the operation of the Interstate Compact on Juveniles
superseded by this compact shall be null and void twelve months after the first meeting
of the Interstate Commission.
G. Upon determination by the Interstate Commission that a state-of-emergency exists, it may promulgate an emergency rule which shall become effective immediately
upon adoption, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in this article
are retroactively applied to the emergency rule as soon as reasonably possible, but no
later than ninety days after the effective date of the emergency rule.
ARTICLE VII
OVERSIGHT, ENFORCEMENT AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
BY THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
Section A. Oversight
1. The Interstate Commission shall oversee the administration and operations of
the interstate movement of juveniles subject to this compact in the compacting states
and shall monitor such activities being administered in non-compacting states which
may significantly affect compacting states.
2. The courts and executive agencies in each compacting state shall enforce this
compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's
purposes and intent. The provisions of this compact and the rules promulgated under
this compact shall be received by all the judges, public officers, commissions and departments of the state government as evidence of the authorized statute and administrative
rules. All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules. In any judicial
or administrative proceeding in a compacting state pertaining to the subject matter of
this compact which may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the Interstate
Commission, the Interstate Commission is entitled to receive all service of process in
any such proceeding, and has standing to intervene in the proceeding for all purposes.
Section B. Dispute Resolution
1. The compacting states shall report to the Interstate Commission on all issues and
activities necessary for the administration of the compact as well as issues and activities
pertaining to compliance with the provisions of the compact and the bylaws and rules
of the Interstate Commission.
2. The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a compacting state,
to resolve any disputes or other issues which are subject to the compact and which may
arise among compacting states and between compacting and non-compacting states.
The Interstate Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and
binding dispute resolution for disputes among the compacting states.
3. The Interstate Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall
enforce the provisions and rules of this compact using any or all means set forth in
Article XI of this compact.
ARTICLE VIII
FINANCE
A. The Interstate Commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable
expenses of its establishment, organization and ongoing activities.
B. The Interstate Commission shall levy on and collect an annual assessment from
each compacting state to cover the cost of the internal operations and activities of the
Interstate Commission and its staff which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover
the Interstate Commission's annual budget as approved each year. The aggregate annual
assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the
Interstate Commission, taking into consideration the population of each compacting
state and the volume of interstate movement of juveniles in each compacting state and
the Interstate Commission shall promulgate a rule binding upon all compacting states
which governs said assessment.
C. The Interstate Commission shall not incur any obligations of any kind prior to
securing the funds adequate to meet such obligations; nor shall the Interstate Commission pledge the credit of any of the compacting states, except by and with the authority
of the compacting state.
D. The Interstate Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Interstate Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all
receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Interstate Commission shall be
audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit
shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Interstate Commission.
ARTICLE IX
THE STATE COUNCIL
Each compacting state shall create a State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision.
While each state may determine the membership of its own state council, the membership of a state council shall include at least one representative from the legislative,
judicial and executive branches of government; victims groups; and the compact administrator, deputy compact administrator or designee. Each compacting state retains the
right to determine the qualifications of the compact administrator or deputy compact
administrator. Each state council shall advise and may exercise oversight and advocacy
concerning that state's participation in Interstate Commission activities and other duties
as may be determined by that state including, but not limited to, development of policy
concerning operations and procedures of the compact within that state.
ARTICLE X
COMPACTING STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT
A. Any state is eligible to become a compacting state.
B. The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of
the compact into law by not less than thirty-five states. The initial effective date shall
be the later of July 1, 2004, or upon enactment into law by the thirty-fifth state. Thereafter
the compact shall become effective and binding as to any other compacting state upon
enactment of the compact into law by that state. The governors of non-compacting
states or their designees shall be invited to participate in the activities of the Interstate
Commission on a non-voting basis prior to adoption of the compact by all states.
C. The Interstate Commission may propose amendments to the compact for enactment by the compacting states. No amendment shall become effective and binding upon
the Interstate Commission and the compacting states until it is enacted into law by
unanimous consent of the compacting states.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL, DEFAULT, TERMINATION
AND JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT
Section A. Withdrawal
1. Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each
compacting state. A compacting state may withdraw from the compact by specifically
repealing the statute which enacted the compact into law.
2. The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repeal.
3. The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the chairperson of the Interstate
Commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in
the withdrawing state. The Interstate Commission shall notify the other compacting
states of the withdrawing state's intent to withdraw within sixty days of its receipt
thereof.
4. The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the
performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal.
5. Reinstatement following withdrawal of any compacting state shall occur upon
the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by
the Interstate Commission.
Section B. Technical Assistance, Fines, Suspension, Termination and Default
1. If the Interstate Commission determines that any compacting state has at any
time defaulted in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under this
compact, or the bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission, the Interstate Commission
may impose any or all of the following penalties:
a. Remedial training and technical assistance as directed by the Interstate Commission;
b. Alternative Dispute Resolution;
c. Fines, fees and costs in such amounts as are deemed to be reasonable as fixed by
the Interstate Commission; and
d. Suspension or termination of membership in the compact, which shall be imposed
only after all other reasonable means of securing compliance under the bylaws and rules
have been exhausted and the Interstate Commission has determined that the offending
state is in default. Immediate notice of suspension shall be given by the Interstate Commission to the Governor, the Chief Justice or the chief judicial officer, the majority and
minority leaders of the legislature and the state council of the defaulting state. The
grounds for default include, but are not limited to, failure of a compacting state to perform
such obligations or responsibilities imposed upon it by this compact, the bylaws, or
rules and any other grounds designated in the bylaws and rules of the Interstate Commission. The Interstate Commission shall immediately notify the defaulting state in writing
of the penalty imposed by the Interstate Commission and of the default pending a cure
of the default. The Interstate Commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time
period within which the defaulting state must cure its default. If the defaulting state fails
to cure the default within the time period specified by the Interstate Commission, the
defaulting state shall be terminated from the compact upon an affirmative vote of a
majority of the compacting states and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by
this compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination.
2. Within sixty days of the effective date of termination of a defaulting state, the
Interstate Commission shall notify the Governor, the Chief Justice or chief judicial
officer, the majority and minority leaders of the legislature and the state council of the
defaulting state of such termination.
3. The defaulting state is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities
incurred through the effective date of termination including any obligations, the performance of which extends beyond the effective date of termination.
4. The Interstate Commission shall not bear any costs relating to the defaulting state
unless otherwise mutually agreed upon in writing between the Interstate Commission
and the defaulting state.
5. Reinstatement following termination of any compacting state requires both a
reenactment of the compact by the defaulting state and the approval of the Interstate
Commission pursuant to the rules.
Section C. Judicial Enforcement
The Interstate Commission may, by majority vote of the members, initiate legal action
in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or, at the discretion of
the Interstate Commission, for the federal district where the Interstate Commission has
its offices, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact and the rules and
bylaws of the Interstate Commission, against any compacting state in default. In the
event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs
of such litigation including reasonable attorney's fees.
Section D. Dissolution of Compact
1. The compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of
the compacting state that reduces membership in the compact to one compacting state.
2. Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes void and shall be of
no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission shall
be concluded and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
ARTICLE XII
SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION
A. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause,
sentence or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact
shall be enforceable.
B. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.
ARTICLE XIII
BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS
Section A. Other Laws
1. This compact does not prevent the enforcement of any other law of a compacting
state that is not inconsistent with this compact.
2. All compacting states' laws other than state constitutions and other interstate
compacts conflicting with this compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict.
Section B. Binding Effect of the Compact
1. All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission, including all rules and bylaws
promulgated by the Interstate Commission, are binding upon the compacting states.
2. All agreements between the Interstate Commission and the compacting states
are binding in accordance with their terms.
3. Upon the request of a party to a conflict over meaning or interpretation of Interstate Commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the compacting states, the Interstate Commission may issue advisory opinions regarding such meaning or interpretation.
4. If any provision of this compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the
legislature of any compacting state, the obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction sought
to be conferred by such provision upon the Interstate Commission shall be ineffective
and such obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction shall remain in the compacting state
and shall be exercised by the agency of the compacting state to which such obligations,
duties, powers or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this compact
becomes effective.
(P.A. 03-255, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 03-255 effective July 1, 2004, or upon enactment by thirty-five jurisdictions, whichever is later; Illinois
became the thirty-fifth enacting jurisdiction on August 26, 2008 (Revisor's note: A reference in paragraph F. of Article
VI to "this act" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "this compact" for consistency with other references in the
compact).