Review New Illinois Laws That Take Effect Jan.1, 2016

Hundreds of new Illinois laws go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Here are 25 of the most significant and interesting changes to laws governing police, pets, drunken drivers, teen drinking, intoxicants, health, hunting, breastfeeding, the elderly, schools, divorce, child custody, driving violations, animal cruelty and more.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Body Cameras, Chokeholds, Fired Officers and Reform
New law establishes rules and regulations for the use of officer-worn body cameras and implements a package of police reforms.

Body-camera regulations: Does not require police departments to use body cameras. If they choose to do so, officers must keep their cameras on when conducting law enforcement activities. Officers would be allowed to turn the camera off when talking to a confidential informant, or at the request of a victim or witness. Requires officers to let people know they are recording if they enter a home. Videos will be kept for 90 days, unless flagged for specific reasons. Allows for grants via a $5 fee increase for each $40 on criminal and traffic offenses, to go toward cameras and new training.
Police reforms: Prohibits police from using chokeholds, except when deadly force is justified; requires an independent review of officer-involved deaths, and makes investigation reports part of the public record if an officer involved in a death is not charged with a crime; expands police officer training to include topics like use of force; creates a database of officers who have been fired or resigned due to misconduct.

Fake 9-1-1 Calls
Making a phony 9-1-1 call could cost you. If one does so without reasonable grounds for making the call or transmission and further knows the call or transmission could result in the emergency response of any public safety agency, the caller could be forced to pay up. Reimbursement will be capped at $10,000.

ANIMALS
Cruelty to Animals in Front of a Child
In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person convicted of a cruel treatment of animals violation upon a pet in the presence of a child shall be subject to a fine of $250 and ordered to perform community service for no less than 100 hours.

Humane Care for Animals
“No owner of a dog or cat may expose the dog or cat in a manner that places the dog or cat in a life-threatening situation for a prolonged period of time in extreme heat or cold conditions.” You’d think that already would have been stipulated in the law, but now it is.

Bobcat Hunting
In 2000, bobcats were removed from the Illinois Threatened Species Act. Hunting of bobcats was banned in 1972. You will be able to hunt bobcats from Nov. 1 to Feb. 15.

ALCOHOL
Powdered Alcohol
You won’t be able to find “palcohol,” powdered alcohol, on any Illinois store shelves. The substance, which could be used to surreptitiously spike someone’s drink, is banned.

Drunken Drivers
Four-time DUI convicts will be required to use an interlock device — a breath-testing contraption connected to a vehicle’s ignition — for the rest of their lives. There are about 5,000 four-time DUI offenders in Illinois who are currently banned from driving. Under a new law, they may apply for a restricted driving permit if they can prove they’ve turned their lives around. Another conviction, however, will result in a lifetime ban from driving.

Teen Drinking
Underage drinkers who call 911 for a friend in medical need will have immunity from criminal charges. The law is designed to encourage teens not to avoid calling for emergency medical help for fear of being arrested.

SCHOOLS
High-School Concussions
All Illinois schools must have a concussion-oversight team to develop a protocol for student athletes, including education and recovery plans.

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide detectors will now be required in all schools.

School Discipline
Suspensions and expulsions in public schools will be curtailed. “Zero tolerance” can no longer rule the school. Administrators will be required to try every option before expelling a student or imposing an out-of-school suspension.

DRUGS
Synthetic Drugs
Synthetic marijuana, or K2, will be illegal. One may not possess, distribute or manufacture the synthetic drugs, nor any chemical analogs.

Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Changes
Stipulated that nothing in the law may be construed to require an employer or a property and casualty insurer to reimburse a person for costs associated with the medical use of cannabis.