Newly Enacted Illinois Laws for 2014

Over 200 laws were passed last year in the Illinois General Assembly that took effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

Last year, Illinois' 97th General Assembly, passed over 200 new laws that went into effect Jan 1, 2014. Below, the Chicago Citizen Newspaper has highlighted new laws we feel are particularly noteworthy (To download a full list of all new Illinois laws, go to http://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/images/PDFS/2013/BillseffectiveJan1-2014.pdf.):

Transportation

House Bill 1009 (HB 1009)

Prohibits the Secretary of State from issuing a driver’s license to people under 18 if they have an unresolved traffic citation; allows prosecutors to petition the court to have the driver’s licenses of minors convicted of accidents involving a death or serious injury invalidated

House Bill 1247 (HB 1247)

Prohibits using cell phones for any purpose while driving; exempts GPS systems and hands-free devices

House Bill 2585 (HB 2585)

Creates an aggravated offense for driving while using a cell phone for both misdemeanors and felonies if the usage results in death or serious injury.

Senate Bill 1214 (SB 1214)

Allows the Toll Highway Authority to publish the names of toll violators if they owe more than $1,000 and after other avenues to collect have been taken.

Senate Bill 1479 (SB 1479)

Allows secretary of state to revoke someone’s driver’s license for operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol; requires BAC testing if an accident occurs.

Civil Law

House Bill 3128 (HB 3128)

Strips parental rights from fathers when the child is conceived by sexual assault

Senate Bill 1207 (SB 1207)

Allows accused perpetrators under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to ask Department of Children and Family Services to amend or remove their report if they were found not guilty; provides for hearings and changes the deadline for filling.

Senate Bill 1287 (SB 1287)

Prohibits felons who threatened or harmed minors from becoming the guardians of disabled people.

Senate Bill 1287 (SB 1287)

Prohibits felons who threatened or harmed minors from becoming the guardians of disabled people.

Senate Bill 1399 (SB 1399)

Takes out the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases concerning the awarding of damages going forward.

Senate 1606 (SB 1606)

Specifies how condominium associations can change their governing rules.

Criminal Law

House Bill 0804 (HB 0804)

Creates the offense “failure to report sexual abuse of a child;” expands the definition of sexual penetration.

House Bill 0821 (HB 0821)

When a court issues a certification of innocence it must also enter an expungment order with the state police.

House Bill 0827 (HB 0827)

Requires state’s attorneys to notify victims and their family members of their rights to testify at sentencing hearings.

House Bill 0958 (HB 0958)

Increase the penalties for domestic battery if the defendant has prior convictions.

House Bill 1199 (HB 1199)

Prohibits using electronic tracking devices on vehicles without the consent of the owner or a legitimate law enforcement purpose.

House Bill 1309 (HB 1309)

Increases the penalty for assault if one audio or video records the assault with the intent of disseminating the recording.

House Bill 2404 (HB 2404)

Makes “minors” persons 17 and under instead of 16 and under for the purposes of delinquency and criminal records.

House Bill 2590 (HB 2590)

Employers can seek an order of protection to protect an employee.

House Bill 3010 (HB 3010)

Allows for second chance probation under the criminal code for the those who are convicted of a drug charge and it is their first offense; this does not apply to violent offenders or crimes of deceptive practice or fraud.

House Bill 3038 (HB 3038)

Parents/guardians cannot be sued for eavesdropping on electronic communications of minors in their care.

Senate Bill 1006 (SB 1006)

Creates harsher sentences for criminals accused of using electronic communications to create flash mobs.

For additional information about these laws and others passed last year visit http://www.ilga.gov/