From a ban on latex gloves to an official state snake: Nearly 200 new laws take effect Jan. 1
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Starting Sunday, Illinois has a new state snake.
It also has an official state rock.
And, food service workers will no longer be allowed to wear latex gloves during food preparation.
Those are just a few of nearly 200 laws that take effect on Jan. 1. They range from the highly publicized debate over the SAFE-T Act, which ends cash bail and makes several other criminal justice reforms, to the lesser-known laws such as one that designates Theatre in the Park in Petersburg as the official state theater.
Related: Judge rules end of cash bail is unconstitutional, setting up Illinois Supreme Court review
There will be 195 new laws added to the books starting Jan. 1, according to state Sen. Dave Syverson, a Republican from Rockford. Illinois Senate Democrats also released a list of dozens of the laws going into effect in the new year.
Below, we highlight 15 new laws that hit the books in the new year.
Minimum wage increase
The minimum wage will increase from $12 per hour to $13 per hour on Jan. 1 as part of the state’s multi-year approach to raise the rate to $15 an hour by 2025.
Annual wage increases continue by $1 an hour until Jan. 1, 2025, when the minimum wage hits $15.
The minimum wage for restaurant servers and others who receive tips will increase to $7.80 an hour on Sunday.
The law: 820 ILCS 105
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Ban on latex gloves
Restaurants and other food-service establishments can no longer allow employees to use latex gloves when preparing or handling food.
The law also states that if for some reason a crisis interrupts an establishment’s ability to source nonlatex gloves, a sign shall be prominently placed at the point of purchase notifying customers of the temporary change.
The bill: HB 209
Intoxication and consent
Lawmakers closed a loophole in the criminal code by expanding the legal definition of consent involving sex with an intoxicated person.
The change makes it clear that it is a crime to engage in sex with a person who is too intoxicated to knowingly give consent, even if the accused person did not provide the drugs or alcohol.
The bill: HB 5441
Career and technical education
School districts are required to establish a career and technical education pathway program for students in grades 6 through 12. The program is designed to allow students to explore career opportunities in a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage and in-demand career fields.
The bill: HB 3296
Related: Harlem High School to build $16M addition for career and technical education
Expanding pool of substitute teachers
The law expands the eligibility for substitute teachers by requiring the State Board of Education to issue a substitute teaching license to college students who have earned at least 90 credits and are enrolled in an Illinois-approved educator preparation program.
The bill: HB 4798
Official state snake
The eastern milksnake will become the official snake of the state of Illinois.
That change was pushed forward by Gentry Heiple, a seventh grader at Carterville Junior High School.
The bill: HB 4821
Official state rock
The official rock of the state of Illinois is dolostone.
This initiative was brought forward by a group of students from Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge and Maplebrook Elementary School in Naperville.
The bill: HB 4261
Official state theater
Theatre in the Park, which is part of the New Salem State Historic Site that reconstructs where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adulthood, is now the official state theater.
It replaces the former state theater, The Great American People Show, a New Salem nonprofit known for plays about Abraham Lincoln. The theater company dissolved in 1996.
The bill: HB 4986
Illinois vehicle rebate
People who own a vehicle manufactured in Illinois can get a small, one-time break on their registration fee.
Drivers can get a $25 discount if “the vehicle is manufactured in this state and the application for title is made no more than one year after the month in which the vehicle was manufactured.”
The bill: SB 3609
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Investigating missing persons
Coroners and medical examiners with custody of human remains that cannot be identified within 72 hours are required to notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They must inform the FBI the location of the remains and the failure to identify the remains.
The bill: SB 3932
Addressing a spike in car thefts
Three laws take effect Sunday that are designed to address a spike in vehicle thefts in Illinois.
One expands the offense of possession of burglary tools to include having a device that unlocks or starts a vehicle without possession of a key or fob.
A second provides grants and financial support to assist in the identification, apprehension and prosecution of car hijackers, as well as the recovery of stolen vehicles.
A third law ensures that victims of car thefts are not liable for any fees or fines from red light or speed cameras or towing costs so long as the owner files a police report in a timely manner.
The bills: HB 601, HB 3699, HB 3772
Alzheimer’s training
All employees and people who work for organizations that contract with the Illinois Department on Aging are required to undergo at least two hours of training in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care, as well as the safety risks and behavior associated with the disease.
The bill: SB 3707
New hunting option
Deer hunters will now be able to use a single-shot centerfire rifle to harvest deer during the firearm open season.
The law states that only straight-walled rifle rounds may be used in centerfire rifles.
This is the first time centerfire rifles could be used in Illinois. Previously, deer hunting was restricted to shotguns, handguns and muzzleloading rifles.
The bill: HB 4386
Sex offenders barred from carnival business
Any convicted child sex offender is prohibited from being associated with any carnival, amusement enterprise or fair when persons younger than 18 are present.
The change expands on laws prohibiting sex offenders from living near schools and parks.
The bill: SB 3019
Leave for miscarriage, failed adoption
All employees are allowed 10 work days of unpaid bereavement leave due to a miscarriage, unsuccessful intrauterine insemination, failed adoption or adoption that is not finalized because it was contested, failed surrogacy agreement, stillbirth or diagnosis that negatively affects pregnancy.
Employees are not required to identify which category of event prompted their request for leave.
The bill: SB 3120
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.
