* SB2122 would toss out as an inadmissible any statement by a juvenile given to “a law enforcement officer, juvenile officer, or other public official or employee,” when that official “knowingly engages in deception.” 270 witness slips were filed against the bill, mainly by local law enforcement agencies.

Here’s Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas at the Daily Herald…

“The intent behind the bill is, what can we do to protect juveniles, especially in these situations,” said state Sen. Laura Fine, a Democrat from Glenview and one of the bill’s co-sponsors.

Proponents, including some law enforcement leaders and prosecutors, say minors are two to three times more likely than adults to be coerced into false confessions. As a result, they say, innocent juveniles can end up serving time for crimes they didn’t commit. […]

In fact, in a 2018 report called “Reducing Risks: An Executive’s Guide to Effective Juvenile Interview and Interrogation,” the International Association of Chiefs of Police warn that officers should “think twice” before misleading young suspects.

“The use of deception also may cause an innocent juvenile — even one who initially had a clear recollection of not committing a crime — to mistrust his memory, accept that the ‘evidence’ proves his guilt, and eventually confess to a crime that he did not commit,” the report states.

The bill wasn’t called before the Third Reading deadline, but that deadline was extended until Friday.

More here.

* Crain’s…

Illinois is rolling out the welcome mat for cryptocurrency investors and the firms that serve them.

Springfield is on the verge of clearing legislation that would establish a new state trust charter for companies that hold bitcoin and other digital currencies on behalf of investors. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign it.

The bill, which passed the House unanimously on April 21, would make Illinois one of just a very few states to establish and regulate cryptocurrency deposit holders. Sponsors hope the initiative spawns a new industry creating jobs in a part of the tech world that’s growing rapidly. […]

“We’re not scared of crypto and blockchain,” said freshman state Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, the bill’s chief sponsor. “We’re going to create a stable regulatory structure.”

The only thing I would say is I’ve seen lots of bills pass one chamber without opposition only to wind up dead in the other chamber. But I have no idea whether that’ll happen here.

* This will cause a stir in the House, where Republican Rep. Tim Butler has a bill to merge the township with the county…

A bill that would create three and potentially four new elected positions in the government of Capital Township would give township residents more direct representation, the bill’s Democratic sponsor said.

But Republicans in Sangamon County government who currently handle those jobs and would lose the responsibilities said Monday the bill needlessly expands bureaucracy and would create confusion for taxing bodies and financial burdens for Capital Township taxpayers.

State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, who previously served on the Springfield City Council and Sangamon County Board, said constituents of the township have told her that they were unhappy about not being able to directly elect several township officials. […]

Turner’s legislation, Senate Bill 826, which passed the Illinois Senate on Thursday with no Republican votes and remains pending in the House, calls for township-wide elections for the Capital Township supervisor, assessor, clerk and tax collector.

* This bill was picked up by Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham…

Illinois community college students would have a path to guaranteed admission into the University of Illinois system under legislation passed by the state House on Tuesday.

State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, a Republican from Elmhurst, sponsored the legislation, HB 796, which would require the U of I to create a “pilot program” that promises admission beginning in the 2022-23 school year to all Illinois community college students who graduated from a state high school, have a 3.0 GPA and completed 36 graded credit hours. The bill passed 111-0.

It would fall on the University of Illinois and individual community colleges to reach an “articulation agreement” on requirements for programs that usually have higher admissions standards, such as engineering.

* Lake County News-Sun…

Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, designed to soften the financial impact of COVID-19 on Illinois school districts like those in Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion and Round Lake — which rely heavily on state funding — is a step closer to reality.

Johnson’s proposed legislation was approved by the state Senate, 49-6, Thursday in Springfield, modifying the formula for evidence-based funding to eliminate inequities because of a drop in attendance for the current school year related to the coronavirus pandemic.

* More…

* State Lawmakers Advance Bill to Replace Toxic Lead Service Lines

* It’s the teachers’ union — not charter schools — lobbying for an elected Chicago school board