Devine praises hate-crimes bill's advancement
At a press conference this week, Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine praised the House of Representatives' Judiciary and Criminal Law Committee for approving a bill that would strengthen the state's hate-crimes law.
The bill, written by Devine's office, would amend the Illinois Hate Crimes Act to: create the offense of conspiracy against civil rights; to make clear that hate-crime charges can be brought if hate is just one of many motivating factors in a crime; to increase penalties for hate crimes committed near religious institutions, cemeteries, schools, parks or community centers; to create mandatory fines and community service and to increase penalties for repeat offenders.
The bill, HB 136, was sponsored in the House by Rep. Jeff Schoenberg ( D-Evanston ) , and is expected to go before the full House this week. The Senate version of the measure, SB 73, was set for a hearing last week in the Judiciary Committee.
Senate committee passes
sterile syringe bill
In other legislative news, the Senate Public Health Committee has approved, 6-3, a bill that would allow adults to buy sterile syringes at pharmacies without a prescription. Under committee amendments, Senate Bill 155 would only be in effect for four years, and the Illinois Department of Public Health would have to give a report on the law's effectiveness on HIV/AIDS and hepatitis rates to the General Assembly and the governor by January 1, 2005.
The bill now goes before the full Senate for a vote.
A House version of the bill, HB 923, passed the Human Services Committee last week, 7-2.
House committee OKs sex ed bill
Also, the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee has approved a bill calling for stronger, statewide sex education requirements.
House Bill 875 passed the committee 16-2 and now advances to the full House. It would amend the Illinois School Code to require medically accurate information to be included in sex education, family life and health education programs.
BUNGALO to sponsor lobby day
The Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay and Lesbian Organization is urging activists to call their state representatives March 26 to urge support for House Bill 101.
The bill would add sexual orientation to the state's human-rights act, and recently advanced to the full House after passing the Human Services Committee.
Berwyn's representatives are William O'Connor ( 43rd district ) and James Durkin ( 44th district ) .
O'Connor can be reached at ( 217 ) 782-5821; Durkin's contact is ( 217 ) 782-1061.
GenderPAC to hold event here
Chicago activist Lynnell Stephani Long will participate in a GenderPAC event in Chicago later this month.
Joining Long are: Riki Wilchins, executive director of GenderPAC; Becca Hover, co-chair of GenderPAC's board of directors and Simon Fisher, youth organizer and GPAC campus coordinator. The panel is 7 p.m. March 23 at DePaul's Schmitt Academic Center, 2320 N. Kenmore, # 254. A post event party, Funk Yer Gender Nite, will be held at Autonomous Zone, 2304 W. Division. See www.gpac.org .
