SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner led a measure through the Senate that would increase public safety by suspending EMS professionals who have been charged with a crime while performing their duties.

“EMS professionals who cause harm to the public need to be held accountable,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Public safety has to be at the forefront of our priorities, especially during an emergency.”

Senate Bill 3134 would allow the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, or their designee, to determine if the suspension of an EMS professional should extend statewide. This would apply in situations when an EMS professional has been charged with a crime while performing their official duties and continuing to practice poses the possibility of harm to the public.

The current suspension system has the potential to put the public at risk while an EMS professional's investigation regarding their suspension is conducted — the individual can continue to work within other EMS systems outside of the one they are suspended from.

“We have to put guardrails in place to prevent the bad actors from continuing to work across Illinois,” said Turner.

Senate Bill 3134 passed the Senate and heads to the House for further consideration.