Illinois NOW
Legislative Report #19 8/9/03
From Executive Director
Susan Bramlet-Lavin
(For more information
or to see the full text of legislation go to
www.legis.state.il.us
)
****PLEASE CALL/EMAIL
THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND URGE GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH TO SIGN INTO LAW THE BILLS
ON THIS LIST THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO HIM. GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH’S
PHONE IS 217/782-0244
OR EMAIL
GOVERNOR@STATE.IL.US
FYI-
Fall Veto Session Dates: October 23; November 4,5,6,18,19,20.
Senate Bills
Reproductive Rights/Women’s Health
Civil Rights
SB 30 (Obama)
State Police-Cultural Diversity
Requires
the Department of State Police to provide training to State Police officers
concerning sensitivity toward racial and ethnic differences. Requires the
Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to provide for similar
training for probationary police officers. Provides for a 4-year traffic stop
statistical study based on information that must be recorded on the face of a
uniform traffic citation, warning citation, or uniform stop card by State and
local law enforcement officers. Signed into law by Governor 7/18.
SB 101 (Ronen)
Human Rights Act-Sexual Orientation
Amends
the Human Rights Act. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed as
requiring any employer, employment agency, or labor organization to give
preferential treatment or special rights or implement affirmative action
policies or programs based on sexual orientation. Provides that discrimination
against a person because of his or her sexual orientation constitutes unlawful
discrimination under the Act. Referred to Senate Rules.
This bill may be voted on during the
Fall Veto Session.
PLEASE CALL your state senator. Also
call the Republican leader of the Senate and urge his support for SB101: Senator
Frank Watson (R-Carlyle) 217-782-5755
We REALLY NEED calls to the following Senators from people in their districts:
Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) 815-455-6330, 815-455-8284 Fax
Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) 708-687-9696, 708 687-9801 Fax
Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) 630-969-0990, 708-969-1007 Fax
Sen. Denny Jacobs (D-Moline) 309-797-0001, 309-797-0003 Fax
Sen. Edward Maloney (D-Chicago) 773-881-4180, 773-881-4243 Fax
Sen. James Meeks (D-Calumet City) 708-862-1515, 708-862-4745 Fax
Sen. Louis Viverito (D-Burbank) 708-430-2510, 708-430-2610 Fax
Economic Justice
SB 2 (Ronen)
Equal Pay Act
Creates
the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that no employer may discriminate between
employees on the basis of sex by paying wages solely on the basis of the
employee's gender. Prohibits retaliatory discharge or discrimination against an
employee on the basis of the employee's use of the Act and provides for
penalties for violations of the Act.
Passed Both Houses-Signed by
Governor.
SB 1036 (Collins) Dept Labor-Workplace
Study-Women
Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of
Illinois. Requires the Department of Labor to
conduct a study to determine the causes of and remedies for any barriers that
minorities and women face in gaining access to apprenticeship programs in the
State and to report the results of the study to the Governor and General
Assembly no later than Labor Day in 2004. Referred to Senate Rules.
Violence Against Women
SB 406 (Rutherford)
Criminal Code-Sexual Assault-Consent
Amends
the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a victim may not be deemed to have
consented to an act of sexual penetration or sexual conduct if the victim
initially consented to the sexual penetration or sexual conduct and later
withdraws consent if the accused continues the act of sexual penetration or
sexual conduct after the victim withdraws consent.
Signed by Governor on 7/25
**SB 407
(Silverstein) Criminal Code-Hate Crimes-Electronic
Amends
the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that harassment through electronic
communications by reason of the harassed person's actual or perceived race,
color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental
disability, or national origin is a hate crime. Sent to Governor on 6/18.
SB 681 (Ronen)
Gender Violence Act
Creates
the Gender Violence Act. Defines "gender-related violence". Provides a cause of
action for any person who has been subjected to gender-related violence.
Provides for damages for violation of the Act. Sets a 10-year limitation for
bringing a cause of action under the Act. The Senate PASSED
HB536, a gender violence act that does not include sexual orientation. HB
536 is now on concurrence in the House. IL NOW supported the more inclusive
SB681. SB681 referred to Rules.
SB1035 (Collins)
Criminal Code-Limitations
Changes
the statute of limitations for a prosecution of certain sex offenses committed
against a person under 18 from 10 years to 20 years after the victim reaches the
age of 18. Signed by Governor on 7/24.
**SB 1543 (Radogno) Nursing
Home-Sex Assault Review
Creates the Residential Health Care
Facility Resident Sexual Assault and Death Review Team Act. Requires the
Director of Public Health to appoint a residential health care facility resident
sexual assault and death review team in each of the Department's administrative
regions outside
Cook County and at least one such team
in Cook County. Provides that a team shall review
every sexual assault of a nursing home resident and every death of a nursing
home resident occurring in its region. Sent to Governor on
6/27/03.
Family Law
House Bills
Reproductive Rights and Women’s
Health
HB 211 (Feigenholtz)
Insurance Coverage-Contraceptives
Amends the
Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the
Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Requires coverage under those Acts to
include benefits for outpatient prescription contraceptive drugs and devices and
outpatient contraceptive services. Signed into law by Governor on July
7.
Illinois NOW Legislative Report
#19 8/9/03
From Executive Director Susan
Bramlet-Lavin
(For
more information or to see the full text of legislation go to
www.legis.state.il.us
)
****PLEASE CALL/EMAIL THE
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND URGE GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH TO SIGN INTO LAW THE BILLS ON
THIS LIST THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO HIM. GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH’S PHONE IS
217/782-0244
OR EMAIL
GOVERNOR@STATE.IL.US
FYI-
Fall Veto Session Dates: October 23; November 4,5,6,18,19,20.
Senate
Bills
Reproductive Rights/Women’s Health
Civil
Rights
SB
30 (Obama) State Police-Cultural
Diversity
Requires the
Department of State Police to provide training to State Police officers
concerning sensitivity toward racial and ethnic differences. Requires the
Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to provide for similar
training for probationary police officers. Provides for a 4-year traffic stop
statistical study based on information that must be recorded on the face of a
uniform traffic citation, warning citation, or uniform stop card by State and
local law enforcement officers. Signed into law by Governor 7/18.
SB
101 (Ronen) Human Rights Act-Sexual Orientation
Amends the
Human Rights Act. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed as
requiring any employer, employment agency, or labor organization to give
preferential treatment or special rights or implement affirmative action
policies or programs based on sexual orientation. Provides that discrimination
against a person because of his or her sexual orientation constitutes unlawful
discrimination under the Act. Referred to Senate Rules.
This bill may be voted on during
the Fall Veto Session.
PLEASE
CALL your state senator. Also call the Republican leader of the Senate and urge
his support for SB101: Senator Frank Watson (R-Carlyle) 217-782-5755
We REALLY NEED calls to the following Senators from people in their districts:
Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) 815-455-6330, 815-455-8284 Fax
Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) 708-687-9696, 708 687-9801 Fax
Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) 630-969-0990, 708-969-1007 Fax
Sen. Denny Jacobs (D-Moline) 309-797-0001, 309-797-0003 Fax
Sen. Edward Maloney (D-Chicago) 773-881-4180, 773-881-4243 Fax
Sen. James Meeks (D-Calumet City) 708-862-1515, 708-862-4745 Fax
Sen. Louis Viverito (D-Burbank) 708-430-2510, 708-430-2610 Fax
Economic Justice
SB
2 (Ronen) Equal Pay
Act
Creates the
Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that no employer may discriminate between
employees on the basis of sex by paying wages solely on the basis of the
employee's gender. Prohibits retaliatory discharge or discrimination against an
employee on the basis of the employee's use of the Act and provides for
penalties for violations of the Act.
Passed Both Houses-Signed by
Governor.
SB
1036 (Collins) Dept Labor-Workplace Study-Women
Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
Requires the Department of Labor to conduct a study to determine the causes
of and remedies for any barriers that minorities and women face in gaining
access to apprenticeship programs in the State and to report the results of the
study to the Governor and General Assembly no later than Labor Day in 2004.
Referred to Senate Rules.
Violence Against Women
SB 406
(Rutherford) Criminal
Code-Sexual
Assault-Consent
Amends the
Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a victim may not be deemed to have
consented to an act of sexual penetration or sexual conduct if the victim
initially consented to the sexual penetration or sexual conduct and later
withdraws consent if the accused continues the act of sexual penetration or
sexual conduct after the victim withdraws consent.
Signed by Governor on 7/25
**SB 407 (Silverstein)
Criminal Code-Hate Crimes-Electronic
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961.
Provides that harassment through electronic communications by reason of the
harassed person's actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry,
gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or national origin is
a hate crime. Sent to Governor on 6/18.
SB 681 (Ronen)
Gender Violence Act
Creates
the Gender Violence Act. Defines "gender-related violence". Provides a cause of
action for any person who has been subjected to gender-related violence.
Provides for damages for violation of the Act. Sets a 10-year limitation for
bringing a cause of action under the Act. The
Senate PASSED HB536, a gender violence act that does not include sexual
orientation. HB 536 is now on concurrence in the House. IL NOW supported the
more inclusive SB681. SB681 referred to Rules.
SB1035 (Collins) Criminal Code-Limitations
Changes the
statute of limitations for a prosecution of certain sex offenses committed
against a person under 18 from 10 years to 20 years after the victim reaches the
age of 18. Signed by
Governor on 7/24.
**SB
1543 (Radogno) Nursing Home-Sex Assault Review
Creates the
Residential Health Care Facility Resident Sexual Assault and Death Review Team
Act. Requires the Director of Public Health to appoint a residential health care
facility resident sexual assault and death review team in each of the
Department's administrative regions outside Cook County and at least one such
team in Cook County. Provides that a team shall review every sexual assault of a
nursing home resident and every death of a nursing home resident occurring in
its region. Sent to Governor on
6/27/03.
Family Law
House Bills
Reproductive Rights and Women’s Health
HB 211
(Feigenholtz) Insurance Coverage-Contraceptives
Amends the
Illinois
Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary
Health Services Plans Act. Requires coverage under those Acts to include
benefits for outpatient prescription contraceptive drugs and devices and
outpatient contraceptive services. Signed into law by Governor on July
7.
**HB 274 (Soto) Women and Minorities
Research
Creates the Inclusion of Women and Minorities in
Clinical Research Act. Provides that in conducting or supporting a project of
clinical research, a grantee receiving State funds must ensure that women and
members of minority groups are included as subjects in research projects.
Provides that a grantee must conduct or support outreach programs for the
recruitment of women and members of minority groups as subjects in projects of
clinical research. Passed Both Houses-sent to
Governor 6/5.
HB 2486 (Nekritz)
Access Clinics
Creates the offense of
unlawful interference with access to reproductive health services. Establishes
penalties. Provides that a person aggrieved by a violation of this Act may bring
a civil action to enjoin the violation, for compensatory and punitive damages,
and for the costs of suit and reasonable fees for attorneys and expert
witnesses. Provides that the Attorney General, a State's Attorney, or a
municipal attorney may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of this Act,
for compensatory damages to persons aggrieved by a violation of this Act, and
for the assessment of a civil penalty against each violator of this Act. Referred
to Senate Rules.
Civil Rights
HB 469
(Currie) State Lawsuit Immunity-Federal Law
Amends the State Lawsuit Immunity
Act. Provides that an employee, former employee, or prospective employee of the
State who is aggrieved by any conduct or action or inaction of the State that
would constitute a violation of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 may bring
a civil action under that Act against the State. Signed by Governor 8/5.
**HB 2345 (Hamos)
Housing Initiative-Low Income
Creates the
Illinois Housing Initiative Act of 2003.
Requires that a task force, composed of all key State agencies with functions
related to housing and other experts in housing, develop an annual comprehensive
housing plan that prioritizes the development of a range of permanent housing
for certain underserved populations, including low-income and homeless persons.
Provides for funding housing construction and rehabilitation and supportive
services. Requires every municipality to create a local development plan. Sent
to Governor on
6/27/03.
**HB3023 (Feigenholtz) Public Aid-Rights &
Responsibilities
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code in relation to rights
and responsibilities of applicants and recipients. Prohibits discrimination on
account of marriage status. Requires the establishment of review procedures in
cases of termination of benefits for reasons other than financial eligibility or
death of the recipient. Requires determinations of eligibility for other
assistance. Requires that a recipient with employment or earned income be
provided with information concerning Family Assist, Family Care, and available
education and training opportunities. Sent to Governor 6/27.
Violence Against Women
HB 206 (Davis, M.)
DV-Training
Amends the Code of Criminal
Procedure of 1963 and the IL Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that a
violation of an order of protection shall (now, may) be enforced by a criminal
court under certain circumstances. Signed by Governor 7/24.
HB 571 (Dunn) Criminal
Code-Murder-Tech
Eliminates the provisions making a sentence of probation
available to a defendant convicted of criminal sexual assault when the defendant
was a family member of the victim. Signed by Governor 8/5.
HB 1400 (Fritchey) Civil No
Contact Order
Sets forth procedures under
which a victim of non-consensual sexual conduct or non-consensual sexual
penetration may petition a court for a civil no contact order requiring the
person who committed the non-consensual sexual conduct or non-consensual sexual
penetration to stay away from the victim. Signed by Governor 7/22.
HB2525 (Jones,L.) CriminalCode-Domestic Battery
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Includes a
prior conviction under the laws of another jurisdiction that is similar to a
violation under the laws of this State for which the defendant is guilty of a
Class 4 felony for domestic battery. Signed by Governor 7/24.
HB 3044 (Washington)
DHS-Public Aid- Violence Victims
Adds categories of
non-citizens who are eligible for public aid to children or adults who are
victims of domestic violence. Signed by Governor 7/24.
**HB 3486 (Bailey) DV-Employment
Leave (IL VESSA)
Creates the Victims of
Domestic Violence Employment Leave Act. Provides that specified employers may
not discharge or discriminate against an employee for taking time off from work
to seek relief as a victim of domestic violence. Also prohibits those employers
from discharging, discriminating, or retaliating against an employee who is a
victim of domestic violence for taking time off from work to seek medical
attention or counseling for injuries or psychological trauma caused by domestic
violence. Sent to Governor 6/27..
HB 3547 (Howard)
Insurance-Domestic Violence
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code relating to coverage for
subjects of abuse. Extends the restrictions on denying coverage for subjects of
abuse to property and casualty insurers. Signed by Governor 7/14.
**HB 3552 (Berrios)
Adoption Act Consents
Removes requirement that a rape victim get
offender's consent to allow adoption of a child conceived through rape.
Passed Both Houses-Sent to Governor 6/11.
Family Law
HB 2863 (McCarthy)
Marriage Act-Child Support
Amends the IL Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
Raises the minimum amount support percentage of the supporting party’s net
income to 28% for 2 children (from 25%) Effective immediately. Signed
by Governor 7/10.
HB 2895 (Lyons, E.) IDPA-Child
Support-Find Parent
Amends the
Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that if a
custodial parent who is receiving child support enforcement services under the
Code provides the Department of Public Aid with credible information concerning
the location of the putative father or noncustodial parent of the child, the
Department must attempt to locate the putative father or noncustodial parent
within 60 days after receiving that information. Governor vetoed on 8/7.
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