End of the Week Update from Springfield:

Two Victories and One Setback

Thanks for your Help!

March 4, 2005

Thanks to all Action Alert members who responded to our request for calls to legislators on critical legislation in the past few weeks. We appreciate your assistance! This week, with your help, we were successful in defeating a measure that would have instituted government-mandated censorship in our public libraries (House Bill 2458) and in advancing a measure that ensures a more accessible state remedy for victims of discrimination, especially the disabled (House Bill 1000). Unfortunately, we suffered one setback, House Bill 779 - mandating the collection of DNA from all persons arrested for a felony in Illinois - moved out of Committee and onto the floor of the House. We thought it might be helpful to provide you this overview of actions on these issues this week.

On Wednesday, the House Judiciary I - Civil Law - Committee defeated (by a vote of 8 to 6) House Bill 2458. House Bill 2458 mandates that all public libraries in the State of Illinois use faulty filtering software that censors constitutionally protected materials, and requires adults to explain to library personnel their reason for seeking access to constitutionally protected material - contrary to federal law. We thank all those who made calls to members of the Committee - your efforts made a difference on this legislation.

Also on Wednesday, the House Judiciary I - Civil Law - Committee sent House Bill 1000 to the floor of the House by a vote of 10 to 1. House Bill 1000 includes (as does the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the majority of state's Human Rights Act) doctors and lawyers offices, among others, as places of public accommodation under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Under current state law, a dentist can refuse to treat a patient that is blind, and the victim will have no remedy under state law. House Bill 1000 is now set for a vote in the full House. Please contact your state representative by calling the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000 and ask to be connected to his/her office. Urge your state representative to support House Bill 1000 when it is considered in the full House. You can learn more about this important legislation at http://www.aclu-il.org/legislative/alerts/hb1000.pdf. If possible, please email ACLU Legislative Director Mary Dixon at mdixon3@attglobal.net to let her know you were able to contact your representative. Her ability to lobby is greatly enhanced by knowing that legislators are hearing from their constituents.

Finally, we were disappointed this week when the House Judiciary II - Criminal Law - Committee voted (13 to 1) to send House Bill 779 to the full House for a vote. House Bill 779 requires law enforcement agencies to collect a DNA sample from all persons arrested for felonies in the State of Illinois, greatly expanding the current mandate that DNA be gathered from all persons convicted. Please contact your state representative by calling the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000 and ask to be connected to his/her office. Urge your state representative to oppose House Bill 779 when it is considered in the full House. You can learn more about this expensive, troubling proposal at http://www.aclu-il.org/legislative/alerts/hb779.pdf. If possible, please email ACLU Legislative Director Mary Dixon at mdixon3@attglobal.net to let her know you were able to contact your representative. Her ability to lobby is greatly enhanced by knowing that legislators are hearing from their constituents.