SPRINGFIELD –Thanks to State Senator Laura Murphy (D—Des Plaines), more counties across the state will be able to fight and prevent crime on expressways with more access to expressway camera funding.
“Expressway cameras are helpful tools for investigations of crimes committed on the road,” Murphy said. “Investing in these cameras is a small step to assist law enforcement in reducing the rising rates of crime in Illinois and in making our communities are safe.”
Cameras are an important resource for law enforcement to investigate crimes that occur on the road. Before this legislation, the Illinois Department of Transportation had to rely on revenue from the Road Fund to fund any cameras on expressways under their jurisdiction. Murphy’s House Bill 4481 expands the funds available for cameras by including expressways under the Illinois Tollway Authority’s jurisdiction. The Tollway must include funds intended for cameras in their annual budget request.
House Bill 4481 also expands this law to allow for expressway cameras to be purchased for Boone, Bureau, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Macon, Madison, McHenry, Morgan, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair, Will and Winnebago counties—making sure these communities are also able to monitor and investigate any unlawful activities on their expressways.
This measure was part of the Senate Democrats’ public safety initiative, a group of bills aimed at addressing rising rates of crime throughout the state. Senator Murphy hopes this measure will help bring justice in the event of a crime on expressways, and deters them from happening in the first place.
“Public safety is one of the biggest issues concerning Illinoisans,” Murphy said. “I am proud to advance legislation that will help our families feel safer and provides law enforcement the additional tools they need to investigate crimes and ensure justice is served.”
HB 4481 was signed into law on June 3, 2022. It goes into effect immediately.
SPRINGFIELD – In response to the rise of car thefts across the state, State Senator Laura Murphy supported a legislative package to give law enforcement more tools to reduce carjackings that was signed into law Thursday.
“The rising rates of car theft need to be addressed to protect motorists and families on the roadways,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “These new laws make it easier for law enforcement to effectively respond to car theft, and ensure victims of these crimes aren’t responsible for associated fines and fees.”
In Illinois, there has been a 13% increase in car thefts from 2019-2020 alone—with new technology being a major factor. House Bill 601 expands the legal definition of “burglary tools” to include modern technologies used to steal cars, such as devices that unlock or start vehicles without a key and devices that duplicate a signal from a key fob. This makes the process of bringing car thieves who utilize this technology to justice more straightforward for police and prosecutors.
House Bill 3699 provides grants to offer financial support to federal and state agencies, local governments, and neighborhood organizations for law enforcement to identify and prosecute vehicle hijackers. In addition, House Bill 3699 helps ensure victims of carjacking do not have to pay any red-light camera or speed camera violations when their car is stolen and being used by someone else, as well as any towing fees, parking tickets, or toll payments. Murphy hopes these measures will bring residents more peace of mind following the rise of reported carjackings.
“Having your car stolen is a massive financial and emotional burden for people to face—and can be even more frustrating if the victims are being charged for speeding tickets from the stolen car,” Murphy said. “With these laws, victims will not have to pay for a thief’s ticket, and are more likely to have their car returned with more investment into tools for law enforcement to identify vehicle hijackers. I am in strong support of these laws.”
HB 601, HB 3699, and HB 3772 were signed into law May 26, 2022. All three take effect Jan. 1, 2023.
SPRINGFIELD –First responders will have more access to overnight child care, allowing them to go to work without having to worry about finding someone to watch their children thanks to a new law supported by State Senator Laura Murphy.
“Our first responders often work through the night to keep our community safe,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Like all parents, first responders struggle with child care concerns. I’m glad this legislation begins to address child care access for those men & women who sacrifice personally and physically for this job.”
Many first responders have struggled to find child care coverage for later shifts. The new law requires the Department of Human Services to establish an off-hours child care program to help first responders access child care for night or overnight shifts so they can work without worrying about their child’s safety. It also creates an Off-hours Child Care Program fund to finance the program through the state treasury.
“It can be difficult for first responders to find child care when working essential overnight shifts,” Murphy said. “This law addresses this oversight, and may even encourage people to become first responders without worry that they would not have access to child care.”
HB 1571 was signed into law Friday, May 27. It goes into effect January 1, 2023.
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy’s (D—Des Plaines) initiative to allow more health care workers to administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines was signed into law Friday.
“Vaccines protect us from illnesses, like the flu and COVID-19, and are essential to maintaining public health,” Murphy said. “This law will allow more types of health care providers to administer vaccines—making sure more people can get vaccinated sooner if they choose.”
To ensure more people can get vaccinated at a timely rate, Murphy’s law authorizes optometrists—doctors specializing in eye care—to administer vaccines to patients 17 years or older. Optometrists who wish to distribute these vaccines will be required to complete four hours of approved education and be certified in basic life support.
“Many health care providers are certified to give vaccines already,” Murphy said. “With additional training, these providers should be able to administer vaccines to make sure people can get vaccinated for the flu as soon as possible and make sure everyone in our community remains healthy.”
HB 4929 was signed into law Friday, May 13. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023.
Page 21 of 112