SPRINGFIELD – To improve accessibility and offer additional protections to workers, the Illinois Senate approved an initiative by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) to modernize the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

“Illinois’ OSHA protects all state and local government workers,” said Glowiak Hilton, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. “To ensure employees have adequate working conditions, it’s critical for employers to have inspection details and citations as quickly as possible.”

In collaboration with the Illinois Department of Labor, Glowiak Hilton’s measure allows post-inspection notices and citations to be sent via email instead of solely USPS certified mail.

In addition, the proposal streamlines the process to match state and federal standards, declares intentional violations can be penalized per occurrence by up to $10,000 and expands discrimination provisions to maintain consistency with existing law.

House Bill 4604 passed the Senate Wednesday and moves to the governor for final consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To recognize the agency’s 100 years of service to residents across the state, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) supported an initiative declaring April 2022 as Illinois State Police Centennial Month.

“For the last 100 years, the Illinois State Police have worked to improve integrity, service and pride in communities across the state,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By recognizing the agency’s centennial on April 1, 2022 and throughout the month, we can offer support to the thousands of brave men and women who have stepped up to assist, comfort and protect Illinois residents.”

Under the Public Works and Buildings Department, the Illinois State Police was created on April 1, 1922. The agency was initially responsible for enforcing road weight laws. At the beginning, there were only eight patrolmen, and their equipment included World War I uniforms, motorcycles and portable scales for weighing trucks.

Now, with leadership from Director Brendan Kelly, ISP operates 21 patrol districts, eight investigative zones, six forensic science laboratories, and five regional crime scene service centers. The agency works to promote public safety, assist local law enforcement departments, decrease roadway crashes and reduce crime across the state.

Senate Resolution 934 was adopted by the Senate Tuesday.

SPRINGFIELD – To offer stability to retailers, bring support to state prosecutors and promote statewide economic growth, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) joined officials with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and Attorney General’s office to discuss a legislative proposal to curb Organized Retail Crime in Illinois at a press conference Tuesday.

“In recent months, high-profile smash-and-grab crimes have created local concerns for store owners, patrons and communities statewide,” said Glowiak Hilton, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. “To make a collaborative effort at controlling the frequency, magnitude and severity of Organized Retail Crimes, this proposal addresses systemic concerns raised by prosecutors and retail advocacy groups to bring offenders to justice.”

In partnership with IRMA and the office of the attorney general, Glowiak Hilton’s measure defines Organized Retail Crime as a specific criminal charge and provides prosecutors with additional resources to hold perpetrators accountable. House Bill 1091 codifies ORC as the theft of retail merchandise with the intent to sell.

“The provisions of Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 1091 should serve as a strong deterrent to retail theft and the resale of stolen merchandise, and even more important, it empowers our law enforcement officials to get these criminals off the street and held accountable for their actions,” said State Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove). “The multi-jurisdictional approach to this legislation strips away any perceived shield these criminals think they may enjoy by acting in one particular location, as these organized operations ultimately result in stolen goods being transported and resold throughout the state.”

Under the proposal, prosecutors would have additional opportunities to bring charges against offenders regardless of where the crime takes place. For example, if the conspiracy, theft and selling occurred in different jurisdictions, each jurisdiction would have the ability to prosecute the entire crime. The Illinois Attorney General would also have the ability to prosecute via a statewide grand jury.

“The impact of organized retail crime reaches far and wide, leaving fewer tax dollars to fund important government services, threatening the safety of employees and customers and putting our communities at risk of further crime including illegal firearm purchases, human trafficking and even terrorism. Inaction and half measures will not suffice, lest we continue to surrender to criminals exploiting the current loopholes in our laws,” said Rob Karr, president & CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. “Working in partnership with the Illinois Attorney General’s office, we have helped craft a comprehensive proposal that will bring about real change by investing in law enforcement, holding criminals responsible and making it tougher to resell stolen goods. On behalf of our state’s retailers, we thank Sen. Glowiak Hilton for her efforts to shepherd this legislation through the Senate along with her colleague Sen. John Curran, and look forward to working in a collaborative manner to curb these horrific crimes.”

To prevent stolen goods from being sold online, the measure also requires third-party sellers to verify users’ identity with bank account numbers or other information. Sellers who do not comply may be suspended.

“As organized retail theft becomes more prevalent across the country, Illinois is responsible for updating its laws to fight back against the uptick and prioritize public safety for its residents, workers and business community,” said State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield). “By creating the Organized Retail Crime Act, our state has an opportunity to enact one of the most comprehensive crime-curbing efforts in the nation.”

House Bill 1091 awaits consideration by the Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate voted against one of the governor’s picks to continue serving on the Prisoner Review Board — due to her approval of granting early prison release for criminals convicted of murdering police officers. Attributing to her vote against the appointment, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) released the following statement:

“When police officers lose their lives at the hands of criminals — their families, departments and communities suffer insurmountable, unjustifiable loss. By releasing these convicted criminals early from prison, our state is setting a dangerous precedent concerning the integrity of the criminal justice system. 

“Conscientious individuals must serve on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, and I urge the governor to choose accredited, diligent appointees.”