August 13, 2025 • 5 mins
Illinois lawmakers are stepping up to protect communities and ensure every voice is heard. Senator Turner’s new law improves police vetting to ensure only the most qualified officers serve. Senator Halpin gives local governments the power to enforce human trafficking training and issue fines to noncompliant businesses. Senator Loughran Cappel bolsters early childhood disability representation in state education policy.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to this edition of the News Brief, part of
the Sound of the State podcast series from the Illinois
Senate Democratic Caucus, keeping you up to.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Date with what's happening in Springfield and around the state.
I'm Colby Huff.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
A more comprehensive review of prospective law enforcement officers prior
to hiring will be required under a new law spear
headed by State Senator Doris Turner of Springfield in response
to the horrific murder of Sonya Massey. Senator Turner joined
Governor Pritsker, members of the Massey family, and state and
local leaders at a recent bill signing at the Capitol.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I believe that Cenebille nineteen fifty three goes a long
way to prevent individuals of backgrounds such as Sean Grayson's
from ever becoming associated with law enforcement. It requires law
enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a
prospective officer's past employment to ensure his or her physical
and psychological fitness for duty as a police officer before
(00:53):
making an offer of employment. If that would have happened
with Sean Grayson, Sanya would still be here with us today. Additionally,
to ensure the highest degree of integrity and professionalism in
the hiring processes of shaff's deputies and other personnel. The
legislation expands the creation of Sheriff's merits boards and Shriff's
merit commissions for counties with a population of at least
(01:14):
seventy five thousand. When we call law enforcement, it's never
a good day, and the expectation is that the responding
officer will live up to the model, protect and serve.
With Governor Printszer's signature on this legislation today, I feel
confident that going forward and over time, our communities and
(01:36):
law enforcement will have built a trusting relationship and I
will have kept my promise to my childhood friend and
Slien Smith.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Kenny Winslow
adds the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police is dedicated
to advancing the law enforcement profession and promoting best practices.
The Association firmly believes there should be minimum background standards
for individuals seeking to protect and serve our communities. The
Association is grateful for the collaboration with Senator Doris Turner
(02:07):
and law enforcement leaders across Illinois on the development of
this important legislation, we are one step closer to ensuring
that background checks will be more thorough and only those
candidates of the highest moral character will be among the
police force. Senate Bill nineteen fifty three takes effect January first.
With human trafficking on the rise around the country and
across the state, State Senator Mike Halpin of Rock Island's
(02:29):
effort to address the growing blight was recently signed into law.
Senator Halpin set in part by empowering local governments to
ensure local businesses are giving the right training, our state
can better combat human trafficking. This method of enforcement creates
a targeted approach that will allow law enforcement and the
Department of Human Services to enforce this necessary training. The
law will give municipalities the legal authority to act if
(02:51):
a business is not complying with training laws. In addition,
the new law will allow local governments to issue fines
of up to one thy five hundred dollars per offense.
Previous law required human trafficking recognition training at hotels, restaurants,
and truck stops, but does not have enforcement measures at
the local level. The Human Trafficking Hotline received over seven
hundred sixty signals from Illinois in twenty twenty three. These
(03:12):
signals can range from labor trafficking to sex trafficking, though
some are unknown or unspecified. Even with Illinois combatting the
human trafficking epidemic, the issue remains one of the most
underreported and underidentified crimes. In addition, the sinister dynamics of
human trafficking mean that most victims do not reach out
for help. According to the Illinois State Police, trafficking hotspots
(03:33):
like hotels, restaurants, and truck stop employees need the proper
training to identify this crime. Senate to Bill fourteen twenty
two is recently signed into law and will take effect
on January first. After acknowledging a gap in early childhood
disability advocacy, State Senator meg Lockring Caple championed a new
law that ensures stronger representation for young children with disabilities.
(03:54):
Senator Lockery Cappel Sharrewood said, when early childhood education is
being discussed, it's essential we incl flude a representative to
advocate for what's in the best interest of all children,
including those with disabilities. In Illinois, we have made strides
in our early childhood education efforts, and this law continues
to prove that we care about all children getting the
education they need. The law adds the Secretary of the
(04:14):
Illinois Department of Early Childhood as a member of the
Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities. The
role of the Council, which is housed under the Illinois
State Board of Education, is to be a protective body
advising the Governor, Legislature, and State Board of Education on
current issues relating to the education of children with disabilities.
Senator to Locran Capital continues, we already know that early
(04:35):
detection of a disability in children makes for better long
term outcomes. Adding the Secretary of Early Childhood to the
Advisory Council shows the inclusiveness of our education system and
gives young children with disabilities a proper voice for better
advocacy in schools. Senate Bill fifteen fifty five was recently
signed into law and took effect immediately upon the signature
of the governor.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
For more on the story heard and others, visit Illinois
Senate Democrats dot com and subscribe to our weekly Majority
Report newsletter. You can listen to the Sound of the
State podcast series as well as our Spanish version, Estado
dell Astado with Carlos Mendez, featuring regular updates and in
depth conversations with our senators on your choice of platforms
including the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Pandora,
(05:23):
and more. From the Springfield Office of Senate to President
Don Harmon, I'm coldy huff
Welcome to this edition of the News Brief, part of
the Sound of the State podcast series from the Illinois
Senate Democratic Caucus, keeping you up to.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Date with what's happening in Springfield and around the state.
I'm Colby Huff.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
A more comprehensive review of prospective law enforcement officers prior
to hiring will be required under a new law spear
headed by State Senator Doris Turner of Springfield in response
to the horrific murder of Sonya Massey. Senator Turner joined
Governor Pritsker, members of the Massey family, and state and
local leaders at a recent bill signing at the Capitol.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I believe that Cenebille nineteen fifty three goes a long
way to prevent individuals of backgrounds such as Sean Grayson's
from ever becoming associated with law enforcement. It requires law
enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a
prospective officer's past employment to ensure his or her physical
and psychological fitness for duty as a police officer before
(00:53):
making an offer of employment. If that would have happened
with Sean Grayson, Sanya would still be here with us today. Additionally,
to ensure the highest degree of integrity and professionalism in
the hiring processes of shaff's deputies and other personnel. The
legislation expands the creation of Sheriff's merits boards and Shriff's
merit commissions for counties with a population of at least
(01:14):
seventy five thousand. When we call law enforcement, it's never
a good day, and the expectation is that the responding
officer will live up to the model, protect and serve.
With Governor Printszer's signature on this legislation today, I feel
confident that going forward and over time, our communities and
(01:36):
law enforcement will have built a trusting relationship and I
will have kept my promise to my childhood friend and
Slien Smith.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Kenny Winslow
adds the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police is dedicated
to advancing the law enforcement profession and promoting best practices.
The Association firmly believes there should be minimum background standards
for individuals seeking to protect and serve our communities. The
Association is grateful for the collaboration with Senator Doris Turner
(02:07):
and law enforcement leaders across Illinois on the development of
this important legislation, we are one step closer to ensuring
that background checks will be more thorough and only those
candidates of the highest moral character will be among the
police force. Senate Bill nineteen fifty three takes effect January first.
With human trafficking on the rise around the country and
across the state, State Senator Mike Halpin of Rock Island's
(02:29):
effort to address the growing blight was recently signed into law.
Senator Halpin set in part by empowering local governments to
ensure local businesses are giving the right training, our state
can better combat human trafficking. This method of enforcement creates
a targeted approach that will allow law enforcement and the
Department of Human Services to enforce this necessary training. The
law will give municipalities the legal authority to act if
(02:51):
a business is not complying with training laws. In addition,
the new law will allow local governments to issue fines
of up to one thy five hundred dollars per offense.
Previous law required human trafficking recognition training at hotels, restaurants,
and truck stops, but does not have enforcement measures at
the local level. The Human Trafficking Hotline received over seven
hundred sixty signals from Illinois in twenty twenty three. These
(03:12):
signals can range from labor trafficking to sex trafficking, though
some are unknown or unspecified. Even with Illinois combatting the
human trafficking epidemic, the issue remains one of the most
underreported and underidentified crimes. In addition, the sinister dynamics of
human trafficking mean that most victims do not reach out
for help. According to the Illinois State Police, trafficking hotspots
(03:33):
like hotels, restaurants, and truck stop employees need the proper
training to identify this crime. Senate to Bill fourteen twenty
two is recently signed into law and will take effect
on January first. After acknowledging a gap in early childhood
disability advocacy, State Senator meg Lockring Caple championed a new
law that ensures stronger representation for young children with disabilities.
(03:54):
Senator Lockery Cappel Sharrewood said, when early childhood education is
being discussed, it's essential we incl flude a representative to
advocate for what's in the best interest of all children,
including those with disabilities. In Illinois, we have made strides
in our early childhood education efforts, and this law continues
to prove that we care about all children getting the
education they need. The law adds the Secretary of the
(04:14):
Illinois Department of Early Childhood as a member of the
Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities. The
role of the Council, which is housed under the Illinois
State Board of Education, is to be a protective body
advising the Governor, Legislature, and State Board of Education on
current issues relating to the education of children with disabilities.
Senator to Locran Capital continues, we already know that early
(04:35):
detection of a disability in children makes for better long
term outcomes. Adding the Secretary of Early Childhood to the
Advisory Council shows the inclusiveness of our education system and
gives young children with disabilities a proper voice for better
advocacy in schools. Senate Bill fifteen fifty five was recently
signed into law and took effect immediately upon the signature
of the governor.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
For more on the story heard and others, visit Illinois
Senate Democrats dot com and subscribe to our weekly Majority
Report newsletter. You can listen to the Sound of the
State podcast series as well as our Spanish version, Estado
dell Astado with Carlos Mendez, featuring regular updates and in
depth conversations with our senators on your choice of platforms
including the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Pandora,
(05:23):
and more. From the Springfield Office of Senate to President
Don Harmon, I'm coldy huff
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