Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Improve Public Safety

CHICAGO - July 18, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a package of legislation that will further enhance public safety. The new laws protect minors from sexually explicit images through “sexting.” The new laws also protect children from being exploited through means such as computers and by strengthening sex offender registry requirements.

“Modern technology has made communication faster and easier, but it has also made children more vulnerable to exploitation,” said Governor Quinn. “This package of bills will help keep children safe from harmful sexual predators.”

Under House Bill 4583, sponsored by Rep. Darlene Senger (R-Naperville) and Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), minors who are involved in “sexting” or distributing indecent photos of other minors electronically may be taken into custody by law enforcement officers.

The new law states that minors who are involved in distributing lewd images of another minor using a computer or cell phone are subject to adjudication or supervision. A minor found to be in need of supervision may also be ordered to receive counseling or to perform community service.

Currently, the only laws that address “sexting” are those involving child pornography. This bill would offer a standalone remedy for law enforcement and prosecutors that does not put the minor in the same category as child pornographers and require the minor to register as a sex offender.

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 5321, sponsored by Rep. Senger and Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), which makes it a crime to sexually exploit a child using a computer or Internet-based software. The new law is aimed at catching sex offenders who utilize Internet chat rooms to engage in sex acts with someone whom they believe to be a child.

In an effort to strengthen sex offender registry requirements, Governor Quinn also signed Senate Bill 2462, sponsored by Sen. James Clayborne (D-Belleville) and Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago). The new law requires convicted sex offenders to provide local law enforcement agencies with a copy of the terms of their parole or mandatory supervised release upon registering. These three new laws go into effect January 1, 2011.

Governor Quinn also signed the following bills as part of the package of public safety legislation:

House Bill 5043, House Bill 5791, House Bill 6124, House Bill 6464, Senate Bill 1702, Senate Bill 2589, Senate Bill 2824, Senate Bill 3176, and Senate Bill 3293. Descriptions of the bills are listed below.

Bill No.: HB 5043
Provides that a person convicted of certain additional sex offenses against victims under 18 years of age is also defined as a sexual predator.
An Act Concerning: Sex Offenders
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011

Bill No.: HB 5791
Expands the Attorney General’s ability to notify crime victims regarding certain sexual offenses.
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011

Bill No.: HB 6124
Extends the window of civil complaints for childhood sexual abuse from 10 years to 20 years.
An Act Concerning: Civil Law
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011

Bill No.: HB 6464
Makes it a criminal offense for a parent or guardian to leave custody or control of a child with a child sex offender.
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011

Bill No.: SB 1702
Increases the fees associated with the Sex Offender Registration Fund and creates the Attorney General Sex Offender Awareness, Training and Education Fund.
An Act Concerning: Sex Offenders
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011

Bill No.: SB 2589
Increases penalties for public indecency and sexual exploitation of a child when the person committing the act is an adult and the offense occurs within 500 feet of a school.
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011

Bill No.: SB 2824
Prohibits a child sex offender or a sexual predator from being in or loitering near a public park.
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011

Bill No.: SB 3176
Shortens the amount of time a sex offender can be outside of their hometown before they must register with local law enforcement.
An Act Concerning: Sex Offenders
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011

Bill No.: SB 3293
Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act to require that any sex offender subject to the Act’s requirements must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of any change in their telephone number within 3 days of the change and the State Police must be notified of the change by the appropriate law enforcement agency within 3 days.
An Act Concerning: Sex Offenders
Action: Signed
Effective Date: January 1, 2011