New Laws Impacting Judicial Proceedings

Over 200 new laws went into effect on January 1st. Some of them directly impact judicial proceedings and the people who interact with the court system.

Transcript

1. NEW LAWS IMPACTING JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ACCESS THE COURTS
2. Over 200 new laws went into effect on January 1st. Some of them directly impact judicial proceedings and the people who interact with the court system. Here are a few of the most notable new laws that affect the courts and individuals that interact with the court system.
3. Bail Reform Act Known as the Bail Reform Act, this law increases penalties for threats against social workers, caseworkers, attorneys, or investigators employed by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services while providing reforms to the bail system that will help reduce the prison population. (SB 2034)
4. Friends don’t get friends high The state is cracking down on drug abuse and overdose by creating mandatory prison terms for people who deliver a fatal dose of a controlled substance to another person. (SB 639)
5. Anti-discriminatory Jury Selection This new law prohibits jurors from being excluded from jury service on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or economic status. (SB 889)
6. Show some restraint People who violate no contact orders will be subject to increased penalties under a new safety law. (HB 3718)
7. Another reason not to drink and drive Another new safety law removes the statute of limitations on prosecution for aggravated DUI causing death. (HB 3084)
8. Also Known As... Under this new law, courts granting a name change to a person with a criminal record (who has not received a pardon), or who has a pending arrest or charge, must forward a copy of the name change order to the Illinois State Police. (HB 2559)
9. The Gift of Life Allows driver's license or identification card applicants who are 16 years old or older (rather than 18) the opportunity to be included in the First Person Consent organ and tissue donor registry. (HB 1805)
10. Stop the Hate This law adds the offenses of intimidation, stalking, cyberstalking, or transmission of obscene messages as possible hate crimes and creates a civil penalty for hate crimes. (HB 3711)
11. Divorce the human, keep the pet When pets are considered marital assets, determining who is awarded custody can become part of the divorce proceedings.
12. A positive sign of the times This important equality measure allows an individual to change their sex designation on their birth certificate without undergoing a gender transition.
13. Abortion This measure removes the trigger provision from Illinois law that would reinstate previous state policy banning abortion in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. (HB 40)
14. Safe Neighborhoods Reform Act The Safe Neighborhoods Reform Act creates tougher sentencing guidelines for repeat gun offenders while working to keep nonviolent offenders out of prison. (SB 2034)
15. Common sense record sealing Allows records of charges that result in an acquittal or dismissal with prejudice, except for minor traffic offenses, to be immediately sealed after the final disposition of the case.
16. Stifling Synthetic Substances This law adds and removes several scheduled substances from the Illinois Controlled Substances Act to prohibit synthetic drugs like bath salts.