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* Excerpt of HB92’s synopsis, which was signed into law in July and takes effect next June…

Provides that whenever a peace officer is aware of a warrant of arrest issued by a circuit court of the State for a person and the peace officer has contact with the person because the person is requesting or receiving emergency medical assistance or medical forensic services for sexual assault at a medical facility, if the warrant of arrest is not for a forcible felony, a violent crime, or an alleged violation of parole or mandatory supervised release, the peace officer shall contact the prosecuting authority of the jurisdiction issuing the warrant, or if that prosecutor is not available, the prosecuting authority for the jurisdiction that covers the medical facility to request waiver of the prompt execution of the warrant. Provides that the prosecuting authority may secure a court order waiving the immediate execution of the warrant and provide a copy to the peace officer.

* The Tribune has a story about the new law…

One woman was pinned to the emergency room floor by officers after her rape kit was done. Another woman was handcuffed to her hospital bed before the exam could begin. Both were sexual assault survivors who went to an Illinois emergency room seeking help. Both were arrested instead.

Police officers who respond to emergency room calls can and do jail sexual assault survivors who have warrants out for their arrest, even after offenses like unpaid parking tickets, shoplifting or failure to appear in court.

“This doesn’t seem fair, nor the right time,” said Sarah Layden, director of programs and public policy at survivor support nonprofit Resilience. […]

In one case report by ICASA, a woman went to an emergency room for a rape exam and medication to prevent exposure to HIV. Instead, police officers found a drug-related warrant and arrested her as she wept. “Once the officers placed her under arrest, she changed her mind about everything,” her advocate told ICASA. “She was crying and saying that she should have never come to the hospital.”

* Greg Bishop has a large roundup of new laws, but here’s an excerpt…

In Illinois, more than 250 new laws take effect Jan. 1 that will affect parents, employers, drivers, students and those in the criminal justice system.

For parents, one new law allows minors 12 and older to get preventative STD treatments such as HIV PrEP medications without parental consent. ID cards for minors will cost $5, not $10. If your child is a paid performer, a new law requires at least 15 percent of gross earnings be deposited into a trust fund they can access when they turn 18.

If you’re out and need to use a baby changing table, one new state law requires every public building with public restrooms to have at least one safe, sanitary, convenient and publicly accessible baby diaper changing station accessible to women. Also, any single-occupancy bathrooms in public must have a sign that notes “restroom” and not any specific gender.

If you have cats, you’ll have to get rabies inoculations.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:02 am

Comments

– If you have cats, you’ll have to get rabies inoculations. –

I believe the cats get the vaccinations, not the owners.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:22 am
Capitalism punishes the victimized poor…by design.

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:23 am
do we need that many new laws every year? when will we have enough? I’d like to see -250 laws next time.

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:24 am
=== I’d like to see -250 laws next time===

Two bills, cannabis legalization and the Reproductive Health Act, took a lot of laws off the books. Did you support them?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:27 am
I have been telling people at work about the following for months and yet I have not seen one state facility change a sign. I wish when the State made laws, they would quickly comply whereas I know they will take months to do so.

any single-occupancy bathrooms in public must have a sign that notes “restroom” and not any specific gender

Comment by Lurker Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:28 am
HIV Prep costs $12,000 a year (ridiculous I know). I’m sure the parents will quickly find out if a minor is prescribed this once they get the bill.

Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:28 am
Men change diapers, too.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:29 am
Rich Miller - yes I supported those 2 laws - probably more than that. But do you think only conservatives disagree with passing laws to address every darn thing in our lives? Or with reviewing laws that are no longer needed?

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:32 am
Did the cannabis law writers and reproductive rights writers actually to review all the laws in the books to see which weren’t needed any more? If so, that would contribute to my desired “laws eliminated” list, which we don’t see every year.

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 11:34 am
@nogifts, you can access all the compiled statutes for free right here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs.asp
What’s stopping you?

Comment by people caring loudly Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 12:10 pm
The messed up thing about HB92 is that cops aren’t (and weren’t) *obligated* to promptly execute outstanding warrants in every situation. They’re supposed to be capable of using their best judgement, and if they fail in this respect, they should be disciplined or fired. This law doesn’t fix the “cops acting inhumanly” problem, it just makes a special new procedure in certain circumstances. Note also there’s _no_ enforcement mechanism attached - a rogue cop who violates HB92 and handcuffs a rape victim to their gurney will suffer no consequences.

Comment by lincoln's beard Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 12:20 pm
@JoanP, I was also wondering how the heck the Women’s Caucus would let that outdated legislation through. Good news - looks like Greg overlooked the part of the law that also requires a changing station accessible to men. Here’s the text from the new 410 ILCS 35/18:
(b) Every public building with restrooms open and
accessible to the public shall have:
(1) at least one safe, sanitary, convenient, and publicly accessible baby diaper changing station that is accessible to women entering a restroom provided for use by women and at least one safe, sanitary, convenient, and publicly accessible baby diaper changing station that is accessible to men entering a restroom provided for use by men; or
(2) at least one safe, sanitary, convenient, and publicly accessible baby diaper changing station that is accessible to both men and women.

Comment by Wonk Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 12:21 pm
“one new state law requires every public building with public restrooms to have at least one safe, sanitary, convenient and publicly accessible baby diaper changing station accessible to women”

As a father who is frequently out and about with two children in diapers and very rare access to changing stations.. its very disappointing this legislation is limited to women’s accessibility

Comment by Matt B Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 12:24 pm
Hit post too soon, thanks for that follow up Wonk.

Comment by Matt B Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 12:25 pm
Matt B- if you read the whole statue provided by “Wonk” above you would see that it does provide diaper stations for both men and women. This isn’t limited to women alone. That was the purpose behind passing this law in the first place was to provide for men’s access to diaper changing stations.

Comment by Policynerd Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 1:04 pm
It’s good the new diaper table law covers both men and women. It’s silly that it needs to be there, since these changing stations are available for around $200-300, no excuse for a public business to have one in just the ladies room.

I respond to the dirty looks I get (from the line of waiting women) carrying my daughter out of the ladies room with an apology. Sorry, ladies, no changing table in the mens room.

Comment by Shark Sandwich Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 1:18 pm
Thanks, Wonk, that makes so much more sense.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 2:09 pm
The messed up thing about HB92 is that cops aren’t (and weren’t) *obligated* to promptly execute outstanding warrants in every situation. They’re supposed to be capable of using their best judgement, and if they fail in this respect, they should be disciplined or fired.

No. Warrants are court orders addressed to “law enforcement officers of the state of Illinois.”

Firing a cop for following a court order? Please. Don’t be a dope. In fact, if a victim has a warrant for a forcible felony, they must execute the warrant.

Police supported this bill. Dope.

Comment by Miso Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 2:18 pm
Why oh why am I always blocked.

Comment by Miso Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 2:20 pm
===why am I always blocked===

Tone it down.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 2:43 pm
I read the last item as that owners of cats (not the cats) must get vaccination. I was like - what the -

Comment by RIJ Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 2:58 pm
-Why oh why am I always blocked.-

I’m guessing you work for the State. A lot of us are being blocked so I am assuming it is not Rich.

Comment by R A T Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 3:17 pm