SPRINGFIELD – Illinois would join a growing list of states allowing for the cultivation of industrial hemp under a plan passed this afternoon by State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights).

“Illinois has some of the best farmland in the Midwest,” Hutchinson said. “And with more than 80 percent of our land use tied to agriculture, farmers would finally have the chance to grow and produce a product that is already available in our stores.”

Hutchinson’s plan, contained in Senate Bill 2298, would create the Industrial Hemp Act, allowing farmers to apply to the Illinois Department of Agriculture for a license to cultivate and process industrial hemp. In 2014, the federal farm bill for the first time allowed universities and state departments of agriculture to develop pilot programs to study the cultivation and marketing of industrial hemp. Illinois passed legislation in 2015 allowing state universities with four-year agriculture degrees to research hemp.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) passed a proposal out of the Senate Thursday afternoon that would increase stability for the thousands of Illinois families who rely on the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

House Bill 4965 would bring Illinois in line with federal law by moving to a 12-month redetermination process for CCAP families instead of the current system, which redetermines eligibility every six months.

“Working families must have certainty that child care access will be available past an arbitrary six-month deadline,” Hutchinson said. “Increasing the eligibility period to 12 months brings that certainty to families who are doing exactly what we tell them they are supposed to be doing, which is waking up every morning and going to work or school.”

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – Victims of human trafficking would have the ability to seal their criminal records under a proposal advanced this week by State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights).

“We know most victims of trafficking are being forced to commit crimes by their trafficker,” Hutchinson said. “Allowing the sealing of criminal records gives survivors more ability to move past their abuse and exploitation and towards recovery and a chance at a normal life.”

House Bill 5494 would create a petition process that would allow trafficking victims to petition for the immediate sealing of criminal records upon completion of their sentence. Currently, only charges that result in an acquittal or dismissal are eligible for immediate sealing.  

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – Law enforcement officers who sexually abuse or rape individuals in custody could face charges under a proposal advanced yesterday afternoon by State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights).

“The general public should have complete faith that law enforcement officers are held to the same standards as everyone else in our society,” Hutchinson said. “No one person should be immune to consequences for their actions, and our laws should reflect that reality.”

House Bill 5597 would expand the definition of custodial sexual misconduct to include law enforcement officers who engage in sexual conduct with an individual in police custody. Illinois is one of 34 states that allow police officers to evade sexual assault or rape charges by claiming that sexual activity with someone detained or in custody is consensual.

Read more ...