Governor Ryan Signs Legislation to Crack Down on Domestic Abuse, Stalking; Mandates DNA Samples from Felons

CHICAGO -- Governor George H. Ryan today signed key law enforcement bills into law that will strengthen penalties for domestic battery; crack down on stalkers and clarify the definition and penalties of permitting sexual abuse of a child. The Governor also signed a bill requiring every convicted felon to submit a DNA sample to state police.

"Collecting the DNA samples will be a helpful investigative tool for law enforcement with the potential of cracking many unsolved cases," Governor Ryan said.

HB 4081 will make changes to the definition of stalking and add offenses to the list of prior convictions that increase the penalty for domestic battery or a violation of an order of protection from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class 4 Felony, 1 to 3 years prison and/or a $10,000 fine. The bill also amends the definition and penalties for the offense of permitting sexual abuse of a child and makes technical changes required by federal law.

Effective immediately, HB 4081 will amend the Criminal Code so that certain convicted felons violating an order of protection or committing a battery against a family or household member will be charged with a Class 4 Felony. The bill will also help law enforcement crack down on repeat stalkers and charge them with a Class 3 felony, two-to-five years imprisonment and/or a fine up to $25,000.

The legislation for HB 4081 was an initiative of the Cook County State's Attorney supported by the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Department of Children and Family Services, the DuPage County State's Attorney, the Illinois State's Attorney's Association, the Illinois Sheriff's Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

Effective January 1, 2003, House Bill 5874 will prohibit a registered child sex offender from living within 500 feet of the home of the victim.

Senate Bill 2024 is effective immediately and requires all convicted felons to submit blood, saliva or tissue samples to the Illinois State Police for genetic marker indexing and inclusion in the state's Combined Data Index System (CODIS). All inmates will be required to comply as a condition of their parole or mandatory supervised release.

SB 2024 was an initiative of DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett. The legislation was modeled after a Virginia statute that has resulted in 70 DNA matches for murder and 170 matches for rape.

HB 4081 was sponsored in the House by Representatives Harry Osterman (D-Chicago); Mary Kay O'Brien (D-Coal City); Julie Hamos (D-Chicago); Eileen Lyons (R-Western Springs); Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago); and in the Senate by Senators Kathleen Parker (R-Northbrook); Robert Molaro (D-Chicago); Lisa Madigan (D-Chicago); Barack Obama (D-Chicago).

HB 5874 was sponsored in the House by Representative Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox); and in the Senate by Senator Christine Radogna (R-LaGrange); Barack Obama (D-Chicago).

SB 2024 was sponsored in the House by Leader Lee A. Daniels (R-Elmhurst); Tom Cross R-Oswego); Patricia Bellock (R-Hinsdale); Eileen Lyons (R-Western Springs); and Anne Zickus (R-Palos Hills). Senate Sponsors were Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale); Lisa Madigan (D-Chicago); Adeline Geo-Karis (R-Zion); Kathleen Parker (R-Northbrook); and Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora).