The Illinois Senate passed a criminal justice omnibus bill early Wednesday morning after a grueling 20 hours of politicking during Tuesday’s lame duck session. The House followed suit Wednesday morning, clearing the way for the bill to head to the governor.
Sun-Times file
A sweeping police reform bill approved in the waning hours of Illinois’ lame duck legislative session has turned up the heat on the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police to cut a contract deal with Mayor Lori Lightfoot or risk having it imposed on them.
Championed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the 764-page bill passed the House and Senate on Wednesday and is headed for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.
It doesn’t eliminate qualified immunity for police officers, which would have made it easier for officers to be sued for actions they take on the street.
By DeAsia Paige | Belleville News-Democrat
• Jan 13, 2021
Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, (right) speaks to Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, on Jan. 11 on the floor of the Bank of Springfield Center, the acting Illinois House chamber to ensure COVID-19 precautions. The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is putting forward a massive bill to reform policing in the state. Justin Fowler / The State Journal-Register, published with permission
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by the Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
Metro East Black leaders say a far-reaching criminal justice reform bill under consideration this week by Illinois lawmakers represents a long-overdue step toward addressing systemic injustice.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker took questions on a massive criminal justice omnibus bill backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus on Monday, noting he was generally "in favor of the process and the work that the Black Caucus has done overall."