SPRINGFIELD – Under a newly-signed law sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), school boards across the state will have the option to include safe firearm storage in their safety education curriculum.
“Guns are the leading cause of death of children in Illinois,” Villa said. “By giving students the opportunity to learn about safe, responsible firearm ownership, we are giving them the tools to protect themselves and others.”
Under House Bill 5193, safe gun storage will be added to existing safety education instruction taught in schools in Illinois. Automobile safety, CPR training, safety in the home, and safety while carrying out vocational training or work are all examples of what is already included in statewide safety education curriculum.
Read more: Villa’s new law increases awareness of safe firearm storage
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce supports a new law that aims to reduce catalytic converter theft.
“We are seeing a record number of catalytic converters being stolen,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Something needed to change, and this new law will help reduce unauthorized cash sales of these converters.”
The law, previously House Bill 107, adds catalytic converters to the definition of recyclable metal, requiring businesses to keep record on catalytic converter sales. The license plate number of the vehicle, photographs or video of the seller, a verified name and address of the seller, and a signed declaration by the seller stating that the catalytic converter was not stolen is now required.
Read more: Joyce commends new law to crack down on catalytic converter theft
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois now has a new law on the books to address the growing need for mental health services for first responders, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.
Hastings (D-Frankfort) sponsored House Bill 1321, which creates the First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Program to provide grants to municipalities, law enforcement agencies, fire protection and school districts, hospitals and ambulance services. It was signed into law on Friday.
“Every day our brave officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” Hastings said. “First responders across Illinois have difficult jobs and often find themselves in high stress situations. This new program will help provide municipalities and law enforcement agencies among many others offer better services for officers looking for the tools to check in on their mental health.”
Read more: Hastings’ champions new law to provide mental health resources to first responders
ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman joined domestic violence prevention advocates Tuesday to celebrate the recent signing of a law he championed to protect and empower survivors of domestic violence and abuse.
“The burden of trauma and abuse can weigh heavily on the lives of victims coping with their grief, and this law can help them take the first steps towards healing,” Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “We are empowering survivors by giving them the choice to file for protective orders in the comfort and safety of their own home. By doing this, we are giving them the chance to move forward at their own pace.”
Stadelman’s measure, Public Act 102-0853, gives people the option to file a protective order either online or in-person. The law also requires any court in a county with a population above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order. It allows both the petitioner and the respondent to appear for related hearings remotely or in-person – and the courts would also have the discretion to grant or deny the request for a remote hearing.
Read more: Stadelman law gives power to survivors of abuse who file orders of protection
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