Creates the Firearm Crime Charging and Sentencing Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that, in a criminal case, if a defendant is charged with an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm and subsequently enters into a plea agreement in which in the charge will be reduced to a lesser offense or a non-weapons offense in exchange for a plea of guilty, at or before the time of sentencing, the State's Attorney shall file with the court a written statement of his or her reasons in support of the plea agreement, which shall specifically state why the offense or offenses of conviction resulting from the plea agreement do not include the originally charged weapons offense. Provides that, in a criminal case in which the original charge is or was for an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm, if a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty of the original charge or lesser offense or a non-weapons offense, in imposing sentence, the judge shall set forth in a written sentencing order his or her reasons for imposing the sentence or accepting the plea agreement. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides for adult prosecution of a minor who was at least 16 years of age at the time of the offense who is charged with armed robbery or aggravated vehicular hijacking while armed with a firearm. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to provide for enhanced penalties for committing various offenses with a firearm. Makes other changes concerning criminal procedure and law enforcement. Amends various other Acts to make conforming changes. Provides that the amendatory provisions amending the Illinois Police Training Act and the School Code are effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Restores the death penalty for the first degree murder of a peace officer killed while performing his or her official duties. Enacts the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023. Provides specified funding and resources for cases in which a sentence of death is an authorized disposition. Creates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Provides that all unobligated and unexpended moneys in the Death Penalty Abolition Fund are transferred into the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Amends the State Appellate Defender Act. Provides that in cases in which a sentence of death is an authorized disposition, the State Appellate Defender shall provide trial counsel with legal assistance and the assistance of expert witnesses, investigators, and mitigation specialists from funds appropriated to the State Appellate Defender specifically for that purpose by the General Assembly. Provides that the Office of State Appellate Defender shall not be appointed to serve as trial counsel in capital cases. Amends the Freedom of Information Act, the State Finance Act, and the Criminal Code of 2012 to make conforming changes.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that the period for early voting by personal appearance begins the 40th day preceding a general primary, consolidated primary, consolidated, or general election and extends through the end of the day of the Friday immediately preceding election day (rather than it extends through the end of the day before election day). Makes a conforming change.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides for the reinstatement of a lapsed Professional Educator License upon the payment by the applicant of the lesser of a $50 penalty or a $10 penalty for each year the license has lapsed (rather than a $50 penalty). Effective immediately.
Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that a public body shall not conduct a closed meeting by audio or video conference, and shall conduct such meetings only with the physical presence of a quorum of the members of the public body. Makes conforming changes.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of "all-terrain vehicle" to mean certain vehicles that are 74 (instead of 50) inches or less in width. Permits the operation of all-terrain vehicles meeting certain criteria on any street, roadway, or highway in this State, unless the highway is an interstate system or is near a grade-separated portion of the highway. Provides that an all-terrain vehicle may be registered in the same manner as provided for snowmobiles and shall comply with the registration, fees, insurance, and other requirements for snowmobiles under the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act. Outlines the vehicle equipment requirements for the operation of an all-terrain vehicle on a roadway. Makes other changes.
Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.
Requests that the unemployment insurance system operated by the Illinois Department of Employment Security undertake an audit, ideally carried out by private-sector examiners under the supervision of the Office of the Illinois Auditor General, on the subject of unemployment insurance recipient fraud during the 36-month period of time beginning on February 1, 2020, and concluding on January 31, 2023.
Designates the section of I-72 between Decatur and Champaign as the "Officer Oberheim Memorial Highway".
Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that the wearing of masks shall not be required for any member of the House of Representatives, or the staff thereof, while present on the floor of the House of Representatives. Provides that any such rule or provision of law mandating the wearing of masks on the floor of the House of Representatives is void. Effective immediately.