A reader sent me an email in which the subject line read, “The Zinke Law?”

Peoria’s State Senator David Koehler

It referenced Senate Bill 2695, which passed yesterday in the House.

Sponsors in the Senate were David Koehler and Bill Cunningham. In the House, Michael Unes, Brian W. Stewart, Michael J. Zalewski, John D. Anthony and Ron Sandack had their names on the bill.

Note that there is no local sponsorship, which probably means the bill was introduced to address a problem elsewhere.  Senator Koehler is from Peoria, while Senator Cunningham is from Chicago.

But no local sponsorship could be attributable to most of those who represent McHenry County in the Illinois General Assembly having supported Andy Zinke for the Republican nomination for Sheriff over Bill Prim. (The only vocal supporter of Prim was State Senator Dan Duffy.)

I do note that Grundy County Deputy Sheriff John Anthony is one of the House sponsors.

An earlier article published before the March primary election, which makes it clear that this legislation is not about Zinke, can be found here.

The new language in the Official Misconduct statute below is underlined.

(720 ILCS 5/33-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 33-3)
Sec. 33-3. Official Misconduct.)

(a) A public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity or capacity as a special government agent, he or she commits any of the following acts:

(b) An employee of a law enforcement agency commits misconduct when he or she knowingly uses or communicates, directly or indirectly, information acquired in the course of employment, with the intent to obstruct, impede, or prevent the investigation, apprehension, or prosecution of any criminal offense or person. Nothing in this subsection (b) shall be construed to impose liability for communicating to a confidential resource, who is participating or aiding law enforcement, in an ongoing investigation.