This week Senate lawmakers passed more than 100 bills ahead of the April 11 deadline to get legislation out of the Senate and to the Illinois House for consideration in that chamber. House lawmakers will either approve these bills and send them to the Governor for final consideration, or amend them and send them back to Senate legislators for concurrence on those changes.
Sometimes Senate bills get held in the House and do not advance at all. You can see a full list of legislation passed by the Senate and Senate committees at the Senate Republicans “Senate Action” page.
Armed Violence (SB 3101): This is an Initiative of the DuPage County State's Attorney to change the armed violence statute by adding "instrument" in the definition of a "Category III weapon." The current language is out of date and does not reference weapons that criminals actually use today. In addition, only items that do not have a "legitimate purpose" can be considered category III weapons (like a bludgeon) under the armed violence statute. Under a recent Second District court decision, a mag light type flashlight was used to fracture a victim's face and a metal studded belt was used to severely beat a child but did not qualify as Category III weapons under the statute.
The problem is that "legitimate" objects such as a baseball bat, tire tool, or iron pipe are often more dangerous than many of the outdated objects currently listed.
Marijuana and Epilepsy (SB 2636): Adds seizures (including those characteristic of epilepsy) to the list of "debilitating medical conditions" that medical marijuana may be used to treat. Requires Department of Public Health to develop rules for the issuance of a registry ID card to persons under the age of 18 who suffer from seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy.
In committee, the stated purpose of this legislation was to authorize the use of CBD Oil for children with Epilepsy or conditions that cause seizures. This legislation succeeds in that authorization, however, it contains no limits on which forms of marijuana may be prescribed to a child.
Big 10 Feasibility Study (SB 3526): Requires the Board of Higher Education to examine the possibility of another Illinois school becoming part of the Big 10 Athletic Conference
Amish Photo Exemption (SB 3302): Allows for a religious exemption to certain state licensing acts that ordinarily require a photo ID card. Anyone seeking religious exemption to the photograph requirement must furnish a copy of IRS Form 4029 and shall submit fingerprints with their applications.
LLC Lower Filing Fee (SB 2776): Reduces filing fees for Limited Liability Companies from $500 to $39; this would be the lowest initial fee in the country, but place Illinois more in line with neighboring states. Also reduces the cost to file a restated article of organization for domestic LLC's with multiple business interests from $750 to $59.
Urgent Care (SB 3506): Authorizes use of the terms “urgent” or "urgi" for facilities who provide care at a walk-in medical clinic. Current law prohibits these terms from being used in the name of the facility.
Watercraft Seizure (SB 3434): Allows for the seizure and forfeiture of a watercraft used with the knowledge and consent of the owner in the commission of specified offenses involving the operation of a boat or other watercraft under the influence of drugs, alcohol or other intoxicating compounds.
Facility Closures (SB 822): Provides that when a mental health facility closes and is sold, the Department of Human Services may use to 25% of the proceeds, if necessary, for infrastructure. From the remainder of the net proceeds, 40% must remain in the facility's geographical area. If another mental health facility closes and is sold within one year, 20% of the proceeds must be used to provide services in the geographical area of that facility. The remainder of the proceeds may be spent anywhere in the State.
Abuse of Elderly/Disabled (SB 2955): This is designed to prevent heirs who have abused an elderly or disabled person from inheriting that person’s estate. It provides that the property, benefit, or other interest of an abused or exploited elderly person or person with a disability shall be distributed as if a person who is found civilly liable for financial exploitation of the individual died before the elderly or disabled person.
Definition of Beer (SB 3103): Adds to the definition of "beer" by adding beverages that are brewed or fermented wholly or in part from malt products. This is an effort by the industry to bring the Illinois definition of beer up to the Code of Federal Regulation's definition of beer, which includes a beer as one that is "...brewed or produced from malt, wholly or in part..." There has been a significant increase in products that fall under this category and this bill would address malt based ciders.
State Fairgrounds Foundation (SB 2903): Authorizes an Illinois State Fairgrounds Foundation as a not-for-profit foundation through Dept. of Agriculture that can solicit and accept funds to support, the state’s Springfield and DuQuoin state fairgrounds. An amendment requires that projections financed by the Foundation fall under the Prevailing Wage Act.
Valet Licensing (SB 3135): Allows municipalities to license valets. Chicago is seeing a problem with counterfeit parking receipts from valets who, instead of parking cars in an off-street lot or garage, are parking vehicles in metered spaces using the counterfeit receipts. This lowers the valet’s costs, and when a ticket is written, it can be thrown away and the owners of the car later receive the fine for not paying the parking ticket.