Tryon Highlights Bills about to Become Law

Mike Tryon

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

I hope you are finding time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends during this holiday season.

As I like to do every year, I would like to provide you with a list of new laws that will take effect on January 1, 2012. It is not a complete list, but rather a list of new laws that I thought might be of general interest to the constituents I serve:

HB  78: Beginning January 1, the offense of “criminal trespass to a safe school zone” will be added to the state statutes.   This new law will improve safety of children during the school day by providing that a person commits the offense of criminal trespass to a safe school zone when he or she knowingly enters or remains in a safe school zone without a lawful reason for being there.  Under the new law, criminal trespass to a safe school zone is classified as a Class A misdemeanor.

HB 83: This new law’s intent is to ensure that minors committed to a youth judicial system receive appropriate treatment in the least restrictive setting possible, based on a belief that serving time in a confined area is often unnecessary and troubling for minors when some form of juvenile treatment center could produce more favorable results in the long term. According to the provisions of the new law, before the court commits a minor to the Department of Juvenile Justice, the court must find reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for the minor to be removed from the home, or reasonable efforts cannot, at this time, for good cause, prevent or eliminate the need for removal, and removal from home is in the best interests of the minor, the minor’s family, and the public.

HB 141: People who enter into leases for housing will receive additional protection as of January 1 through the provisions of this law. The new law provides that if a lessee notifies a lessor of a positive radon test in a leased dwelling unit, the lessor must disclose that risk to any prospective lessee of that unit, unless a subsequent test by the lessor indicates that a radon hazard no longer exists.

HB 147: This legislation will provide for quicker information being given to the Secretary of State regarding school bus drivers who fail an alcohol and/or drug test.  It also provides that school bus driver shall be subject to reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing, and those who refuse testing or test positive for the presence of alcohol, drugs or intoxicating compounds will be suspended for three years.

HB 195: This law closes an existing loophole in the state statutes regarding elected officials who are found guilty of crimes. Although felons are barred from holding municipal or village offices, they are not barred from being a township official. In respect to township directors, this law provides that a conviction in any court shall constitute a resignation from that office. Such a conviction that disqualifies an officer occurs on the date of the entry of a plea of guilty in court; the return of a guilty verdict; or in the case of a trial by the court, the entry of a finding of guilt.

HB 219:If you are ever a back seat passenger in a vehicle, this new law affects you. Starting January 1, every driver and passenger of a motor vehicle operated on a street or highway in Illinois must wear a properly adjusted safety belt.. A violation of shall be a petty offense and subject to a fine not to exceed $25. Previously, only drivers, front seat passengers and backseat passengers under the age of 19 were required to wear a belt.

HB 233:This new law amends the Criminal Code of 1961 by providing that aggravated battery that causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement is a Class X felony when the aggravated battery was intentional and involved the infliction of torture as the infliction of or subjection to extreme physical pain, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain, suffering, or agony of the victim. According to the law, the penalty for the offense of aggravated battery that causes great bodily harm or permanent disfigurement when the aggravated battery was intentional and involved the infliction of torture as defined in the statute concerning first degree murder is a Class 1 (rather than a Class X) felony.

HB 263:A new law will take effect on January 1 which creates a statewide database of individuals who have been convicted of first degree murder. Much like the sex offenders’ database, those people who have been convicted of first degree murder will be required to supply their name, address, place of employment, schools attended, and a photo for the database. Offenders will remain in the database for a period of 10 years after their release from a penal institution or other facility.

Many bills that have successfully passed through both chambers of the General Assembly remain on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature. They include many of the measures that received House and Senate approval during veto-session.

The General Assembly will return to Springfield at the end of January for a day, and then session will move into full swing in February.

Again, have a very safe and happy holiday season, and as always, if my staff or I can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to call my Crystal Lake office at 815-459-6453.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Tryon, State Representative, District 64


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