Happy New Year to one and all! This year, the month of January has ushered in the 100th General Assembly in Illinois, and 191 new laws. Here are a few of which you and your family should be aware:
Social media right to privacy (Public Act 99-610) Makes it illegal for an employer or prospective employer to request or require an employee or applicant to access a personal online account (such as Facebook) in the presence of the employer.
Employee sick leave (Public Act 99-841) Employees may now use personal sick leave benefits for purposes dealing with a child, spouse, sibling, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandchild, grandparent or step parent.
Traffic stop education (Public Act 99-720) Students taking drivers education courses will now be educated on safe procedures to follow during a traffic stop by law enforcement.
Vehicle registration date same as birthday (Public Act 99-644) The Secretary of State may allow an owner of a car or light truck to select his or her birthday as the motor vehicle’s registration expiration date.
Citizen privacy protection (Public Act 99-622) Limits the use of “Stingray” technology which collects information on all cell phones in its vicinity.
Molly’s Law (Public Acts 99-586 and 99-587) Lengthens the statute of limitations to sue for wrongful death and to add stiffer financial penalties to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act for non-compliance.
More education for spotting domestic violence (Public Act 99-766) Persons applying for licenses under the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding and Nail Technology Act will now be required to undergo training for spotting signs of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Local government travel expense control (Public Act 99-604) School districts, community college districts and non-home rule units of local government will now be required to regulate expenses for travel, meals and lodging for local officials and employees.
Epinephrine auto injector (Public Act 99-711) A health care practitioner may prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors in the name of an authorized entity where allergens capable of causing anaphylaxis may be present.
Making room for disabled vehicles (Public Act 99-681) On a highway of four of more lanes, drivers approaching a disabled vehicle which has its hazard lights on must move into a lane not adjacent to the disabled vehicle if it is safe to do so.
REAL ID Compliance (Public Act 99-511) To bring Illinois into compliance with the federal REAL ID Act this law ends the practice of printing and distributing plastic ID cards at Secretary of State offices. Instead a new license, which is much more difficult to counterfeit, will be produced and mailed to the applicant.
Higher fine for train crossing violations (Public Act 99-663) Fines for trespassing into a railroad grade crossing while warning signals are showing and sounding will double from $250 to $500.
For more detail on these and other new laws taking effect, you can visit my website at www.repwehrli.com or call my office at (630) 696-4160.
From my family to yours, best wishes for a very happy and healthy 2017!
