ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Neglected child (Public Act 97-803), Property Tax Code (Public Act 97-812) and Victims' rights (Public Act 97-815). More information on each bill is available below the video.

Neglected child. Public Act 97-803 (Haine, D-Alton; Mayfield, D-Waukegan) creates an additional definition of “neglected child” in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. It includes an environment that is injurious if (1) the child’s environment creates a likelihood of harm to the child’s health, physical well-being, or welfare and (2) the likely harm to the child is the result of a blatant disregard of parent or caretaker responsibilities. “Blatant disregard” is defined as if the real, significant, and imminent risk of harm would be so obvious to a reasonable parent or caretaker that it is unlikely that a reasonable parent or caretaker would have exposed the child to the danger without exercising precautionary measures to protect the child from harm. Effective July 13, 2012.

Property Tax Code. Public Act 97-812 (Tyron, R-Crystal Lake; Althoff, R-Crystal Lake) requires that complaints must be filed on or before 30 calendar days after the date of publication of the assessment list. Under current law those complaints must be filed on or before the 10th day of August in counties with less than 150,000 inhabitants and on or before the 10th day of September in counties with 150,000 or more but less than three million inhabitants). Effective July 13, 2012.

Victims’ rights. Public Act 97-815 (Mayfield, D-Waukegan; Link, D-Lincolnshire) makes the following changes to the statute governing victims’ rights. (1) Requires the investigating law enforcement agency to provide a crime victim with a written statement and explanation of the their rights within 48 hours of law enforcement's initial contact with a victim. (2) Requires that the clerk of the circuit court post the rights of crime victims within three feet of the door to any courtroom where criminal proceedings are conducted. Effective January 1, 2013.