South Central Reporter

Doris Turner introduced SB0081 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 17, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Legacy Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits a Class 1 felony offense of aggravated battery when the person is 21 years of age or older and, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee. Provides that a person commits a Class 2 felony offense of aggravated battery when the person is 21 years of age or older and, in committing a battery, other than by discharge of a firearm, he or she knows the individual battered to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee. Provides that "Department of Children and Family Services employee" includes any Department caseworker or investigator employed by an agency or organization providing social work, case work, or investigative services under a contract with or a grant from the Department of Children and Family Services."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, referred to as the Knight-Silas Legacy Act, amends the Criminal Code of 2012 by classifying certain acts of aggravated battery against Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) employees as felony offenses. Specifically, it establishes a Class 1 felony for individuals aged 21 or older who knowingly cause great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to a DCFS employee while performing, preventing, or retaliating against their official duties. Additionally, a Class 2 felony is designated when a battery is committed against a DCFS employee without causing great harm. The bill specifies that a "Department of Children and Family Services employee" includes caseworkers or investigators working under contracts or grants from the department, thereby providing legal protection to those individuals in their professional roles.

Doris Turner is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 48th Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Andy Manar in 2021.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB0081	01/17/2025	Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Legacy Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits a Class 1 felony offense of aggravated battery when the person is 21 years of age or older and, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee. Provides that a person commits a Class 2 felony offense of aggravated battery when the person is 21 years of age or older and, in committing a battery, other than by discharge of a firearm, he or she knows the individual battered to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee. Provides that "Department of Children and Family Services employee" includes any Department caseworker or investigator employed by an agency or organization providing social work, case work, or investigative services under a contract with or a grant from the Department of Children and Family Services.
SB0082	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Auditing Law of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that certain provisions concerning audit requirements shall become inoperable in fiscal year 2026. Provides that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, if a municipality has a population of 1,000 or more, then the municipality shall file annually with the Comptroller an audit report and annual financial report. Provides that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, a municipality with a population of less than 1,000 shall file annually with the Comptroller an annual financial report. Provides that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, a municipality with a population of less than 1,000 that owns or operates public utilities or has bonded debt shall file an audit report once every 4 years unless the latest audit report filed with the Comptroller contains an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion. Provides that, if the audit report contains an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, then the municipality shall file an audit report annually until the audit report shows no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion. Provides that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, municipalities shall submit completed audit reports and annual financial reports within 180 days after the close of such fiscal year, unless an extension is granted by the Comptroller in writing.
SB0083	01/17/2025	Amends the Small Estates Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Allows a small estate affidavit to be used to transfer personal property in a decedent's estate if: (1) no letters of office are outstanding on the decedent's estate and no petition for letters is contemplated or pending in the State or in any other jurisdiction; and (2) the decedent's personal estate passing to any party by intestacy or under a will is limited to tangible and intangible personal property not exceeding $150,000 and motor vehicles registered with the Secretary of State. Makes a corresponding change in the form for a small estate affidavit. Provides that the changes made to the Act apply to a decedent whose date of death is on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
SB0084	01/17/2025	Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the MC/DD Act, the ID/DD Community Care Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the administrator of a facility or establishment under any of those Acts shall ensure that the facility or establishment has an automated external defibrillator and policies and procedures for the rendering of automated external defibrillation in the facility or establishment. Provides course requirements for persons certified to provide automated external defibrillation. Provides that a facility or establishment shall contract with or employ a physician who shall be the automated external defibrillation medical director for the facility or establishment and who shall oversee and coordinate specified requirements.
SB0129	01/17/2025	Creates the Workforce Development Act. Contains only a short title provision.